As a parent, you know how difficult it can be to find time for your hobbies. Between work and taking care of kids, the idea of finding personal interests or pursuing passions often pushed aside.
The problem with this approach is that you will have less time with your kids, which means you might not be able to understand their interests. If you don’t know whether your kid has a hobby or not, this post will guide you.
You will be able to identify where your child’s interests lie and how to nurture their talent. Dive in!
Make a List of Their Interests
One way to find out what interests your child is to ask them. You may be reluctant to do this because you’re afraid of the answer, but don’t worry, it’s not like they’re going anywhere. Make sure that when you ask, you show genuine interest in their responses and emotions about what they want to do.
Another option is for you and your child to make a list of your interests together, which you can then add things that come up later on. This way, if one activity doesn’t work out or takes too long, there are plenty of more options available; it’s like having lots of backups if the first plan fails.
Be Their Role Model
Children are always looking up to their parents, so it’s vital that you show them what interests and excites you. Would you please provide an excellent example by exploring your hobbies and passions with them on the weekends or during vacations?
This will make learning about new topics more enjoyable for both of you because they’ll be able to see how excited you get about it. In addition, it is vital to show your child that they can do anything with a bit of hard work, and teaching them about your interests is one way to model this.
If you are passionate about racing, invest in a motorbike from Switchback Motorsports which you can ride along with your kid. If you like cooking and gardening, then teach them what it takes to do this by spending time in both areas together. When children see something they are interested in, it will usually lead to questions about the topic and encourage further exploration.
Give Your Child the Freedom to Explore for Themselves
Give your child the freedom to explore for themselves. If they’re not interested in reading, don’t push them to read books or do other activities with you that involve a lot of reading. Allow them time and space to figure out what interests them without any pressure from adults around them.
Kids must have some agency when it comes to what they’re interested in. They should be able to show you their passions by themselves, without any nagging from adults or friends telling them what’s cool and not cool.
This blog post concludes that it’s essential for children to be allowed to explore their interests and curiosities, as opposed to being told what they should like and not like. Encourage your child in any way you can- read age-appropriate books with them about the same topic, take them to the library, or even discuss what you know about their interests with them.