Raw Parenting Podcast Newsletter - March 2026
Subject: What Are Our Kids Losing When They’re Never Bored?
Dear Parents,
We all know screen time is not great for kids. But lately we’ve been asking a deeper question:
Just how bad is it really?
And maybe an even more important one:
What do our kids lose when they are never bored?
As parents, we get it. Screens can feel like survival. They buy you a few quiet minutes to make supper, drink your coffee, fold laundry, or just catch your breath. We use screens sometimes too. We’re not writing this from a place of perfection.
But after digging into recent research and thinking hard about the future our kids are growing into, we’ve realized this conversation is a lot bigger than “too much TV.”
It’s about creativity, attention, emotional health, and whether our kids are developing the exact skills they’ll need most in a world that is changing faster than ever.
The Bigger Loss Isn’t Just Attention. It’s Creativity.
When a child is always stimulated, they never have to create their own fun.
They do not have to wonder. They do not have to imagine. They do not have to solve their own boredom.
And that matters more than we think.
Boredom used to be normal. It pushed kids outside. It made them build forts, ride bikes, collect bugs, invent games, and turn cardboard boxes into spaceships. Creativity was not something parents had to “teach.” It happened naturally because there was room for it.
Now, when every quiet moment is filled with a screen, that room disappears.
And the question becomes: if our kids are never bored, how will they learn to create?
Why Creativity Matters More Than Ever
This is not just about childhood magic. It is about the future.
We are raising kids in a world where AI is moving fast, jobs are changing, and many of the skills that used to guarantee a stable future may not be enough anymore.
If the future rewards anything, it will reward people who can think differently, solve problems, adapt, imagine, and create.
Those skills do not grow best in constant stimulation. They grow in open space. They grow in curiosity. They grow in boredom.
That is why this matters so much to us.
What the Research Is Showing
Some of the newer research is honestly hard to hear.
The earlier screens are introduced, the more they appear to shape the brain in ways that can affect attention, learning, and emotional regulation later on.
Higher screen use in older kids has also been linked with higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. Other studies have connected heavy screen use with struggles in reading, math, focus, communication, and school performance.
That is not small.
It means screen time is not just about whether your child is quiet for an hour. It may be shaping how they feel, how they think, and how they function long term.
And yes, that should make all of us pause.
Is Today’s Screen Time Different From Ours?
We asked ourselves this too.
After all, we grew up with screens. We watched TV. Some of us watched a lot of TV.
So what is different now?
A few things stand out:
- Screens are portable now. They go everywhere.
- There are no natural stopping points. Streaming never ends.
- Kids can personalize everything. One swipe and they get exactly what they want.
- It is far more interactive. They are not just watching. They are tapping, swiping, gaming, scrolling, and being fed more and more.
- There are fewer breaks. Back in the day, there were commercials, schedules, and limits built into the system.
We used to wait for cartoons to come on. Now cartoons are available all day, every day, and in a format built to keep attention locked in.
That is a huge difference.
What We Do In Our Home
We are not a zero-screen family, but we are intentional.
Our kids do not have iPads. They do not have phones. They watch on a big TV only, and we choose what they watch.
We also try to pick slower, calmer shows instead of fast, overstimulating ones. Think older-style cartoons and gentler pacing.
We also waited as long as we could before introducing screens. Our oldest did not really watch until after two, our middle was around that age too, and our youngest has not been introduced yet.
That does not make us perfect. It just means we are trying to be thoughtful.
What Can Parents Actually Do?
This is the part that matters most.
If you are listening to all of this and thinking, Okay, but what do I actually do now? here are the biggest things we believe help:
1. Be the example.
Kids notice everything. If we are always on our phones or always watching TV, that becomes normal to them. We try not to watch TV in front of our kids, and we try to keep our own screen habits in check too.
2. Let them be bored.
Not all day. But enough to let their mind wake up. Enough for them to start creating instead of consuming.
3. Give them open-ended tools.
Paper. Craft supplies. Cardboard boxes. Toilet paper rolls. Magnatiles. Lego. Buckets. Sticks. The best toys are the ones that can become many things.
4. Declutter the toy overload.
Too many toys can become their own kind of overstimulation. Fewer toys often leads to deeper play.
5. Get them outside.
Outside changes everything. Kids tend to play better, think bigger, and create more when they have room to move and fewer eyes on them.
6. Build independence slowly.
Give them moments where they are not being entertained by you. Let them figure out what to do next.
The Bottom Line
We really believe this:
Creativity is one of the most important gifts we can protect in our kids.
And one of the easiest ways to protect it is to make sure they still experience boredom.
Not endless boredom. Not neglect. Just enough quiet, enough space, and enough slowness for their imagination to come alive.
The world is changing quickly. AI is here. Life is getting more digital, more automated, and more overstimulating.
That is exactly why we think creativity, independence, and curiosity matter more than ever.
So if you are worried about the future, this is where we would start:
Less stimulation. More space. More boredom. More creativity.
Because the kids who learn how to imagine, build, wonder, and create may be the ones who thrive in what is coming next.
With love, Tom & MalorieThe Raw Parenting Podcast
Join the Conversation!
We’d love to hear from you! Do you think today’s kids are getting more creative… or less? Hit reply and let us know, or join the conversation on our latest post.
Reading with your little ones is such a special bonding experience. Let’s make sure the books we choose bring joy, learning, and positivity into their lives!
With love,
Tom & Malorie
The Raw Parenting Podcast
P.S. Want more real talk on parenting? Check out our latest podcast episode for a deep dive into this topic! 🎙️
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P.S.: “Growing as parents through deep, real conversations to raise better kids.”
See you next month!
