Colman Noctor: Boredom is the playground of developing minds 

Too much screen time robs children of the opportunity to play and develop a range of social and task-based skills. Picture: iStock

When we replace idle moments with continuous digital distraction, we forgo a vital catalyst for creativity.

For younger children, free, unstructured play, often sparked by boredom, creates an environment where they set their own rules, explore, experiment, sometimes fail, and hopefully try again.