What if boredom isn't something to fix-but something to protect? In a world where childhood is increasingly scheduled, supervised, and stimulated, boredom has come to feel like a problem. Screens fill the gaps. Activities crowd the calendar. Adults rush to entertain. Yet beneath this well-intentioned effort lies an overlooked truth: boredom is one of the most powerful developmental tools a child can experience. Bored, But Better challenges modern assumptions about parenting and reframes boredom as a foundation for confidence, resilience, curiosity, and independence. Rather than promoting neglect or disengagement, this book offers a thoughtful, evidence-informed perspective on how unstructured time helps children develop the inner skills they need to thrive-emotionally, socially, and cognitively. Across ten in-depth chapters, Jamie Bred explores how boredom supports self-directed play, strengthens attention and focus, builds emotional regulation, fosters creativity, and cultivates lasting motivation. You will learn why constant stimulation can undermine confidence, how stepping back builds resilience, and how children grow more capable when adults resist the urge to manage every moment. This is not a rigid parenting system or a set of rules. It is a shift in mindset. A guide for parents who want to raise children who can think for themselves, tolerate discomfort, initiate action, and engage deeply with the world-without needing constant direction or entertainment. For parents who worry they are not doing enough, Bored, But Better offers reassurance: sometimes the most powerful support is space. And sometimes, the best thing that can happen to a child is nothing happening at all.