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| Image Credit: UnSplash |
{This is a collaborative post}
Childhood should be fun, and it should include hobbies that
your kids engage in. Unfortunately, childhood hobbies and interests are less
common now than they were before the advent of social media, as a lot of kids
spend more time at a device than trying out different hobbies. As parents, our
job is to teach kids to explore and experience more out of life, and this means
introducing them to different hobbies.
This post will explore why hobbies are such an important
part of childhood, as well as how we as parents can balance our view of our
kids’ hobbies and, hopefully, help them get the most out of them.
Why Hobbies Are Important
One of the ways that children learn best is through having fun, and hobbies are meant to be fun. The best hobbies involve developing
different skills that your kids might not learn while they’re in school.
Hobbies also provide opportunities for children to develop
as people and to find things out for themselves. They become their own person,
rather than just an extension of their parents. Even if a hobby is short-lived,
it’s beneficial.
Another reason why it’s good for kids to have hobbies is
that it can give them another opportunity to meet new people and make more friends. While it’s common for children to have just one or two good
friends, it’s good for them to branch out as well so they can learn from each
other.
Celebrating Their Interests
So, your kid has a hobby. What do you do about it? As a
parent, it’s important to do what you can to support your child’s hobbies and
interests by matching their enthusiasm. Even if the hobby isn’t something
you’re actually interested in or even understand, you should still be there for
your child.
Give them opportunities to express themselves and to excel.
Talk to them about their hobbies. If they reach a milestone, find a way to
celebrate it. If your kid enjoys a sport, for example, you can take them to
games, help them learn to play, and even give them sports-themed stickers
when they achieve something they’re proud of.
Knowing When to Step Back
But it’s important to have balance as a parent and to know
when to step back and allow your child’s hobby to remain just that, their
hobby.
Some parents, especially if their child’s hobby matches
their own interests or if their child shows some real talent, can take things
too far. You might be trying to help your child, but if you keep on pushing
them, you risk taking the fun out of the hobby. In some cases, kids lose
interest because of this behaviour.
There’s also the fact that, for many kids, hobbies are
temporary. It’s important not to invest too much time and money into something
too soon, because some children might just move on to something else in a few
months or even weeks. This doesn’t have to be a bad thing; it’s just part of
being a kid.
