But I'm Bored!: Discover the Power of Independent Play to Raise Confident, Resilient Kids

Good Inside meets Fair Play in this inspiring, real-world guide to fostering independent play in children--both as a vital skill for kids' development and an essential act for modern parents' well-being and sanity.

"But I'm bored." Parents constantly hear these three dreaded words from their kids, and it's no secret why--our kids don't know how to play by themselves anymore and make their own fun. Busy schedules, on-demand screens, and safety concerns have transformed the landscape of play for children today, and parents have been unfairly expected to fill in the gap. We love our kids, but we don't need to play with them 24/7 to be a good parent!

Independent play is Lizzie Assa's specialty, and she has become the go-to expert on the topic to the 200K parents who follow her on Instagram and the 20K newsletter subscribers who get her weekly updates and ideas. The key, she argues, is to prioritize independent, unstructured play. The result: kids can develop their imagination...and parents can enjoy some precious, much-needed time to themselves!

In "But I'm Bored!", Assa shows exactly how to strike this balance. Through high-impact, low-effort strategies, parents learn how to create play pockets in their home, choose open-ended toys that spark imagination, set play boundaries (and stick to them), and enforce the wonders of quiet time. Then, when parents do engage in play time with their kid, it doesn't feel like a job--it strengthens their relationship to their child and helps cultivate an overall happier, healthier environment for the whole family.

"But I'm Bored!" isn't about doing everything perfectly. It's about freeing your child to be authentically themselves...so you can be the best version of yourself. Because doesn't every child (and parent) deserve that?

Author: Lizzie Assa
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons
Published: 01/13/2026
Pages: 288
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.95lbs
Size: 9.11h x 5.91w x 1.21d
ISBN: 9798217043996


Review Citation(s):
Booklist 11/01/2025

About the Author
Lizzie Assa, MS Ed. is the founder of the beloved blog and social media platform The Workspace For Children, and the former Head of Play and Development at Lalo--a high end accessories, furniture, and toy company for babies and toddlers. She has an MS Ed from the Bank Street College of Education. Lizzie and her family reside in Marblehead, MA.