Is it so bad to let kids 'rot' all summer? Why boredom might be the break they need
As the school year winds down and the buzz of summer camps, enrichment programs and extracurricular planning ramps up, a quieter countertrend is starting to gain momentum.
It's called "kid rotting," a tongue-in-cheek term for what used to just be summer: lounging, daydreaming, doing a whole lot of nothing.
But behind the viral phrase is a serious shift in thinking. More parents and experts are beginning to ask whether kids might actually need more unstructured time, not less.
"When kids aren't scheduled every minute, they learn how to problem-solve, explore their interests and build confidence," Nicole Runyon, a psychotherapist and author of "Free to Fly," who has a master's in social work, told "Good Morning America."
She added, "Boredom opens up space in the brain for creativity."
The case for boredom
Parents may worry that unstructured time will lead to laziness or regression. But experts suggest the opposite is true, especially when it comes to imagination, independence and emotional development.
"Boredom actually opens up space in the brain for creativity," said Runyon. "When kids aren't scheduled every minute, they learn how to problem-solve, explore their interests and build confidence."
Tanyell Cole, a therapist with a bachelor's in psychology and a master's in marriage and family therapy, agrees.
"The mind isn't ever truly bored," she told "GMA." "When a child says they're bored, what they often mean is, 'I don't want to sit with my thoughts.' But learning to sit with those thoughts? That's where real growth happens."
Unstructured time allows children to discover what motivates them and what brings them joy. It encourages daydreaming, critical thinking and curiosity, the very skills that often get sidelined during a tightly structured school year.
You can say no to screens
One of the biggest hurdles to an "unscheduled summer" is screen time. What starts as a little "downtime" can quickly become hours lost to YouTube, gaming or social media scrolling.
That's where intentional boundaries come in.
"Make screens something that happen with you, not just around you," Runyon advised. "Watch a movie together, try a cooking tutorial as a family, or limit screen time to certain hours. But make the default for summer real life."
Cole suggests reframing the conversation altogether. "Instead of focusing on taking away screens, schedule in 'free time' as something exciting," she said. "Let kids decide how to use it, with games, outdoor play, coloring or simply hanging out with neighbors. Over time, that freedom becomes something they value and even look forward to."
She added, "Unstructured time is how we develop resilience, motivation, and emotional awareness. That can't be replicated by apps or programming."
The sweet spot for unstructured growth
While all children can benefit from unscheduled time, certain developmental stages are particularly well-suited for it.
"Middle childhood, ages 9 to 12, is a powerful time for self-discovery," Runyon said. "It's when kids begin separating emotionally from their parents and developing a sense of identity. Giving them space to explore their interests builds their confidence and resilience."
Cole highlighted early childhood, ages 3 to 6, as another crucial window.
"This is when kids daydream freely, without inhibitions," she said. "Too much structured time at this age can stunt their ability to be independent thinkers. It can also disconnect them from their own passions."
Low-pressure ways to foster creativity
Not every family has the option to skip child care or afford summer camps, but building independence and creativity doesn't require big budgets.
"Let kids make a mess," said Cole. "Creativity is rarely clean. It's food coloring turned into paint, flour all over the counter, dress-up clothes scattered in the bathroom. These moments are low-pressure, low-cost, and they come from what you already have at home."
Runyon agrees.
"A 3-year-old can get their own snack if it's within reach," she said "A 10-year-old can cook a meal. A teen can get a summer job or volunteer. When kids are trusted with real responsibilities, they begin to trust themselves, and that sense of capability is what drives true confidence."
Slower doesn't mean less
Ultimately, a "rot" summer might be the reset children need after a year of packed schedules and digital overstimulation. And for parents, it may be an opportunity to reframe success.
"Letting your child be still, be curious, be bored, that's not wasted time," said Runyon. "That's where they start to figure out who they are."
