Tonight with your 13 to 17 year old
The prompt
“What does being bored actually feel like for you lately?”
What to listen for
If they describe restlessness or a craving for something meaningful to do, that's often a teen who needs more real stimulation or connection, not just more activities to fill time. Listen for whether boredom sounds like emptiness or just downtime.
If they describe it as relaxing or needed, that's a good sign too, not all boredom is a problem to solve, sometimes it's just a teenager's nervous system finally getting a break.
If they say they're never bored, that might mean their schedule or screen time is so full there's no space left to notice, worth a gentle mental note, not a lecture tonight.
What this tells you
How they experience boredom tells you whether their days feel too empty, too full, or just about right for what they need right now.