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When kids are bored it triggers a stress response in their brains which activates their amygdala and deactivates the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for thinking and decision making. Which makes it impossible for them to take any of your good suggestions and put them to work.
They need you to hold your suggestions while you hold space for their emotional pain and discomfort so they can feel soothed and reconnect with their executive functioning skills Then they can pick something that will stimulate them in whatever way is right.
A message to all fathers: keep going with your efforts to connect with your children because they desperately need to see what a healthy, connected, caring male looks like, and it will create a secure attachment that fosters resilience.
Learn how to set compassionate limits with your child in a way that benefits their brain development and reduces reactive responses to emotions, with the timing varying depending on factors such as age, hunger, and consistency.
Learn the power of modeling self-compassion to your kids, as it inspires authenticity and problem-solving, and helps them develop their own self-treatment based on how they see you treat yourself.