Despite a growing body of work in psychology, relatively few studies have examined children’s conceptions of boredom. Little is known about how primary school-aged children (7-13 years) view boredom or manage their feelings of boredom. Mass media outlets warn that today’s children are losing the ability to generate their own antidotes to boredom as they become more dependent on external sources for entertainment. However, the process of overcoming boredom is important in childhood development. It enhances creativity, self-expression, reflection, and problem solving skills.

I partnered with KidsTeam at the University of Maryland's Human Computer Interaction Lab. An inter-generational team made up of adults and children, KidsTeam practices a co-design method called Cooperative Inquiry to design new technologies for children ages 7 to 13. I designed and facilitated seven co-design sessions with KidsTeam. After each session, I reviewed all of the collected data including design artifacts, audio recordings, photographs, video footage, journal templates, and field notes. From this data, I identified recurring patterns and themes and translated these themes into key insights.