Timewas, a child was guaranteed many opportunities of boredom. There were long carjourneys, visits to old aunts and doctors’ waiting rooms. But today, everythingis different. Sitting around bored? Don’t worry, there is an app for that.There are normally friends at the other end of a chat app, or immersive gamesto play. Children can sit for hours watching videos. As long as the phone ischarged and the WiFi is working, boredom is as old hat as hula hoops.

Technologyis allowing them to evade boredom altogether. Childhood has become so erodedthat we have even robbed our offspring of boredom. They have little idea ofwhat it is like to have to sit around with no one to talk to or nothing to do.

Theupshot is that this denial of boredom is a serious societal issue. One day,many of the kids will have to sit through a strategy meeting, watch 24-pagePowerPoint presentation or feign interest in the deep thoughts of a seniorcolleague. How will they cope? As concerned parents, it falls to us to put someboredom back into our kids’ lives. It’s tough love but it’s the least we cando.