When children reach their teenage years, they often associate their identity with something they excel at. This could be books, writing, sports, painting, dancing or a fandom they particularly love. But before they get obsessed about this particular thing, it starts off as just a hobby they have nurtured for years. This is why it is important to nurture your child’s hobbies because it is something that will follow them for the rest of their lives. After their teenage years have ended, their hobby could become their future career.
In order to inspire you and your child, here is a list of five new hobbies your child could grow to love!
Performing
A lot of notable celebrities started out performing as their hobby when they were young. Such as, actors, comedians, magicians and the most famous of singers. They started performing in their bedrooms and lounge rooms. If your child is more of an extrovert, performing will do them wonders because their self esteem and confidence will grow sky high. To get started why not host a dinner party with your closest family and friends? You’re child could do a short stand up show or perform a short play. You could also use this hobby as another way to teach them about history and improve their communication skills.
Arts and Crafts
Being creative can help younger children strengthen their motor skills and bilateral coordination –the ability to use both hands together. Drawing is really good for strengthening your child’s motor skills from an early age. For older children, encourage them to build things. Such as jewellery and wood work.
Science
They could start a bug collection or start experimenting in the backyard. As long as the experiments are age appropriate. They could do an experiment where they change the colour of water, make a paperclip float, see optical illusions and build their own volcano. They are having fun while they learn about the interworking of chemistry, physics and biology.
Sports
This could be anything. From soccer, football, netball and basketball, your child could play anything they like. All that matters is if they get the support they need to stay committed. Such as, a support team to cheer them on when they play at a game and help training up their skills. For instance, skateboarding requires a lot of practice and many trips to the local skating park. If your child loves the thrill of skateboarding, look at Penny Skateboards for suggestions on which skateboard would suit your child. But if skateboarding is not their thing, bike riding is also very rewarding. In twenty years time they could be competing at the Tour De France.
Collecting
Whether it is dolls, stamps or cards, collecting is a rewarding experience because not only does your child learn about history but it will pay off in time. Some baseball cards and Barbie dolls from years ago are worth thousands of dollars today. Though the value increases if these items stay in their original packaging.
Thanks for the encouragement to do more with my youngest (nearly 3) he’s so easy going and we are so busy with two teens as well, that he tends to just “tag along” and “go with the flow”. Time to make a it more effort with him!
I am the same Kylie. By time the 3rd child comes along you get a little complacent and they just go along with what you do.
My two eldest are playing soccer, whilst my youngest (almost three) loves dressing up and role playing so she may go down the performing arts road. All the kids loved collecting those Woolworths animal cards and most of all they love collecting stamps in their passports!
My boys have only recently started showing an interest in sport. My 7 year old loves karate, my 5 year old loves soccer and the little miss is only 8 months old so she just loves putting everything in her mouth. hahaha. My boys loved those animal cards as well!!