#11 How To Deal With Boredom | With Lizzie Assa

How to Deal with Kids Who Say "I'm Bored" — with Lizzie AssaEpisode Summary

Parenting coach and author Lizzie Assa joins Eli to unpack why modern parents have accidentally taken over their children's play — and how to give it back. From reframing boredom as a bid for connection, to setting up "play pockets" around your home, this episode is a practical, permission-giving guide to raising kids who can play independently.

Key Takeaways

Play belongs to the child. Your job is not to optimize or entertain during play — it's to protect the time and space for it.
Boredom isn't a failure. When your child says "I'm bored," it can be a bid for connection — and it's a sign you've reserved unstructured time for them.
Be a mirror, not an entertainer. When kids invite you into play, give the control back: "Tell me what the puppy does."
Play pockets work. Bring open-ended materials to where life already happens in your home — the kitchen, laundry room, even the bathroom cabinet.
Less really is more. Too many toys create decision fatigue and actually prevent kids from entering deep imaginative play.
Independent play is a skill that takes practice. Like learning to read, it needs gradual scaffolding — not a scheduled demand.
Close the loop. Come back after the play session to notice and name what your child accomplished. This builds play confidence.

About the Guest

Lizzie Assa, MS Ed is a parenting coach, former preschool teacher, and founder of The Workspace for Children — a platform followed by over 200K parents on Instagram. She is the author of But I'm Bored!: Discover the Power of Independent Play to Raise Confident, Resilient Kids (G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2026), which she also narrated as an audiobook.

🌐 Website: workspaceforchildren.com
📸 Instagram: @theworkspaceforchildren
📬 Substack: The Workspace for Children on Substack

Resources Mentioned

📗 But I'm Bored! by Lizzie Assa — Amazon | Penguin Random House
🎧 But I'm Bored! Audiobook (read by Lizzie herself) — Amazon Audible
🌐 The Workspace for Children — play guides, coaching, and playspace design resources
📬 The Workspace for Children Substack — weekly ideas for independent play
🛒 Lizzie's Curated Toy & Play Favorites — open-ended toy recommendations mentioned in the episode

Learn more about secure parenting: https://www.attachmentnerd.com/secure-parenting-program

Connect with Eli:

Website: https://www.attachmentnerd.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/attachmentnerd/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@attachmentnerd

Music by Gold Child: https://www.goldchildmusic.com/

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