Children nowadays are more likely to spend their time watching YouTube or playing Fortnite. However, according to experts, young minds will reap benefits from developing a good hobby.
Those who are involved in extracurricular activities have been proven to do better in school than those who do not. Moreover, the effects of having a pastime and pursuing it last until well into adulthood.
How does a parent encourage a kid to get up and find a hobby?
Get to Know Your Kid
There are numerous hobbies and activities for children. To find one that they will enjoy, you first have to identify what interests them. For example, if your kid likes animals, maybe buying saddle pads and enrolling them in horseback riding lessons will get them excited. If they like reading comics, try buying them art supplies so they can explore creating their own graphic novels.
Ask them questions like what is their favorite subject in school. Talk to them about their favorite television show, movie, or video game and why they like it. Do not impose which hobby you want for your child. Although you have always dreamt of seeing your child playing the piano in a concert hall, that may not be a path they want to thread in life. Match the hobby you introduce to your child with their interests.
Allow Your Child to Wander
Some kids know at an early age what they want to do for the rest of their lives. Others will take a bit of time, and a lot of trial and error, before they find their purpose.
If your child’s interest changes from one thing to another, let them. It is understandable to feel frustrated after you have invested so much time, energy, and money supporting a venture that your child will give up after a few months. There are endless options and opportunities to the youth that it is nearly impossible for them to find what exactly they are passionate about in the first try. They will dabble and bounce around before they land on the craft they will want to pursue.
Take Things Slowly
Everyone starts as a novice. If your child does not seem like they have a true talent for a hobby they are trying to pursue, do not discourage them. The goal is to find something that they will enjoy doing. Even if you do not envision your child becoming a professional basketball player in the future, the activity will teach them lifelong lessons such as the importance of teamwork and camaraderie or guide them when deciding what career they will have when they grow up.
The Keyword is Support
Eventually, your child will find a hobby that they are passionate about. When that happens, make sure that you will be ready to support them all the way.
Do not be afraid to invest in necessary equipment if they are interested in it. Some hobbies will be expensive, like buying a piano or a snowboard. Your child’s interest in a hobby may also fade after a while. However, investing not just money but time and energy in what your child is interested in will help them pursue an interest seriously.
There are so many hobbies that your child can pursue. Whatever they choose, it may dictate what kind of career they will have in the future. Your goal as a parent is to guide your child and support them as they look for their purpose in this world.
