All parents want their children to find a hobby they can be passionate about. Not only are hobbies great for developing a child’s self-worth and self-esteem but can also benefit them socially, physically and mentally. With so many different hobbies to choose from, finding an activity that your child truly enjoys can be tricky and overwhelming. We’ve put together some ways parents can help kids discover a hobby they love and hopefully pursue for many years to come.
Encourage conversation
Talking to your children and discussing likes and dislikes is a great place to start when trying to discover their interests and passions. Asking open ended questions will also encourage them to think about any areas they would actually like to pursue, rather than choosing the same things as their friends. You may even find some that can be turned into hobbies.
Write it down
Get your kids to write down their five favourite things and go through them together to see if you can transform any into a hobby. Writing things down will also make your kids choose carefully, so we guarantee there will be at least one that can be pursued- you might just need to think outside the box. For example, if your child enjoys reading comics, maybe they may like to find out how they can learn to draw cartoons.
Avoid being pushy
It’s so important to let your kids choose their own hobbies and passions. There’s nothing worse for children than being pushed into an activity their parents want them to do, when in reality they don’t actually enjoy it. The key to sticking to hobbies is for them to be involved and build upon the things they naturally love to do.
Research what’s local to you
We guarantee you’ll be surprised at the wide variety of classes and courses for young children that are available in your local area. From roller-skating to drawing classes, urge your kids to try a taster class and see what they think afterwards. It’s impossible for kids to be interested in something they don’t know exists, which is why it’s important they’re exposed to as many new experiences as possible. You really never know what your child may gravitate towards to next.
Short term first
If your child wants to sign up to a new hobby, we always recommend testing the water with short term options first. Signing up for a short number of sessions provides flexibility, which can be helpful, especially as children can change their minds quickly. It’s also a great way for your kids to try out experiences, and discover new likes and dislikes without having to commit long term.
