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

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