The Mortar Between the Bricks

This morning as I drove the kids to school, I observed groups of other schools kids waiting for their buses to arrive, in freezing Melbourne weather. Not one student I observed was without a phone in hand, and all of them were in silence, glued to their screens. Although I have observed this ‘Techno Trance’ phenomena before, today it really bothered me. Partly because there was a ‘Techno Tantrum’ going on in the car about Fortnite and the fact that my son has not gotten it, won’t be getting it and all his mates do have it.

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As I cast my mind back to my school bus trips, I recall they were typified by deafening noise. I am also reminded of the awkward conversations that I attempted to strike up with people I didn’t know or girls I was keen on. It took me weeks to have the courage to even say ‘g’day.’ These encounters were motivated by boredom, which forced me to talk and come up with creative ways to connect with people, some who are mates to this day, despite a shaky start on my part. What is decidedly different for kids these days is the sheer lack of boredom that they face because of technology and the addiction to their screens. I would argue that boredom is a great thing and an important component of how kids develop. Let me explain…

Boredom forces us to make our own fun and in many cases, that fun leads kids outside to more active and physical pursuits. There is a great deal of research that shows boredom leads to more creative thoughts because it forces kids to find solutions to their problem of having nothing to do. As the mind brainstorms, more creative thinking is done. If this boredom can teach kids resilience, I’m in. The list of boredom benefits, along with the supporting research, is enough of a reason to give it a go. Luckily, it doesn’t take much planning.

Screen addiction is a massive problem that as adults, we must take some responsibility for, not only modelling the correct behaviour, but getting back in the parenting game by ensuring that we get a handle on the use of technology by our kids. Reducing screen time forces kids to talk and strengthens their relationships with others. Furthermore, it helps them be more observant of their surroundings as they look up from the screen and take their surrounding in (it might even help them find their way home) and have a more balanced understanding of the world through multiple lenses, not just their screen.

Schools and homes play a role in getting the balance right. If you walk into schools that have a relaxed policy on mobile phones, you can almost guarantee that the level of chatter in the school yard is minimal. Homes with few technology boundaries are pretty quiet places, too. Interestingly, the schools that are taking a tougher line on mobile phones are reporting that kids are talking to each other again, are less anxious and have fewer cyber bullying issues to deal with than their peers with personal phones. All good news!

Connecting with teachers, friends, peers and family is critical to the wellbeing and character development in a young person, the same way mortar is needed to keep bricks tied together. The travel to school, hours in class, travel back home and the hours outside of school should be filled with conversation, debate, laughter, sharing of stories, even awkward introductions. After all, this is the stuff that sustains and strengthens communities.

What could be your quick wins in getting a handle on the ‘Techno Trance?’ How could you model a new and more balanced approach to the use of technology? What will be your ‘Tech Free Boredom Buster’ activities?

Maybe boredom has more potential than we give it credit for.

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Ryan Martin


Ryan Martin, recently awarded with the Northern Territory Principal of the Year, is an experienced school leader with a proven track record in behaviour management, leadership and coaching. He has a sharp focus on changing the trajectory of students from highly complex and disadvantaged
backgrounds. Ryan has a passion for education but you might also find him surfing, skating or tinkering around with old cars.