A child today tells you they're bored and reaches for a screen. Drawing on your own childhood, what would you suggest instead?

A natural way to answer

I'd gently suggest they try something hands-on, like drawing or building something. As a child, I found that boredom usually led to the most creative play. Sometimes the best thing you can do is let a child sit with that feeling and figure it out for themselves.

Key phrases to use

• use your imagination — to think creatively to invent or picture something“Use your imagination and make up a story.”
• mess about — to spend time playing or doing things in a relaxed, aimless way“We spent hours just messing about in the garden.”
• figure out — to find the answer to or solution for something by thinking“Let them figure it out on their own.”
• conjure up — to create or produce something, especially from imagination or with little to work with“She can conjure up a meal from almost nothing.”
• rise to the occasion — to perform well when faced with a difficult or important situation“Under pressure, she always rises to the occasion.”