Key Points from this article:-
- Observe the child’s interests and give them options as to what they can pursue.
- Put them into action
- Provide them with required room and tools
- Get involved with them in their trial period and talk about how they can manage their hobbies
- Be supportive of their hobby even it seems out of the ordinary to you
- Be very careful to not get carried away in pushing your children into hobbies that are your interests
- Always respect their changing interests
- Never undermine even their smallest of achievements
Being creative is not a hobby it’s a way of life.
There are multiple benefits to learning skills that extend beyond academia. Yes, studying and getting good grades are important but there is so much more to life than just that. Children can learn valuable life lessons whilst also fine tuning their skills and master a skill they will cherish for life. Before we get to developing hobbies, it’s important to choose the right hobby to pursue. Listed below are some of the things that you as a parent can do to help your child in finding the right hobby for him/her.
- Observe the child’s interests and give them options as to what they can pursue.
Observe the various likes and dislikes of your child. Observe them when they’re engaged in playing games with their friends or at home when watching television. The genre of hobbies your child can be interested in could be science, arts, sports any topic that interests your child. Don’t worry if your child doesn’t seem interested in one particular thing. That’s when you come in as parents or guardians. You already know the likes and dislikes of your children. Talk to them. Give them your opinion on things and then let them choose what they want to choose. Ask them if there’s something they’d like to try.
- Put them into action:
Kids look up to you as role models. Children look up to those they love the most. Try matching their likings to their interest levels. For example, if your child shows more interest in dance or music then join a dance team with them. It could also be a skill you already know and hence have a common ground. Something to do together and bond over. If your kids are studying at Shivneri boarding school then they’ll be away from their parents, doing something together is an effect way for you to feel closer to your child even though he/she is far away. Involve them in activities that they enjoy doing, starting with baby steps. You as an adult will be a much higher level to grasp the complexity of learning a skill. Children are still kids and shouldn’t be compared to adults.
- Provide them with required room and tools:
Provide your child with the right tools she/he requires to develop and nurture his/her skill. If you child is interested in cricket, get them to join the cricket team at Shivneri boarding school. Every hobby requires some sort of investment and at Shivneri boarding school these facilities are provided to children in house with great indoor and outdoor activity areas. It is the perfect place for your child to nurture and develop his skills.
- Get involved with them in their trial period and talk about how they can manage their hobbies:
When kids are young they are also far more likely to change what they are interested in. Today they could would be into football, tomorrow it’s dancing. Before investing your money into hobbies that kids will may or may not change, let them have a trial period where they join multiple hobbies and then narrowing down their options. Every opportunity is an opportunity to learn. At Shivneri boarding school we have a vast variety of hobbies for your kids to fall in love with. Encourage them to join multiple clubs and then decide what they like and dislike.
- Be supportive of their hobby even it seems out of the ordinary to you:
Your child might be interested in something that you don’t understand. In such a case, do not discourage them. Talk to them about it, so you both are on the same page and you understand their intentions without being judgemental. Your child must be able to express who he/she is in front of his parents. Your child may chose singing over playing sports, as parents you must understand that not liking the same things you like is not your failure. Encourage them to pursue their hobbies and dreams. At Shivneri boarding school students will have a vast variety of hobbies and activities to choose from.
- Be very careful to not get carried away in pushing your children into hobbies that are your interests:
In the pursuit of finding your child’s hobby, you may stumble upon something you like immensely or it could be a hobby that you have perused as a child and you unknowingly push your child to follow the same. Be cautious not to do that.
In saying that one way to see if your child is interested in the same thing as you are is by communicating with them. Tell your children why you love that particular hobby or why are you interested in learning that skill. Try doing it with your child. If your child is interested in cooking, ask him/her to join you in the kitchen and don’t be afraid to give them a few tasks. If they continue staying engaged and are eager to learn more, then you know it’s a skill worth learning.
- Always respect their changing interests:
It is too early for a child to decide what they enjoy doing the most. There could be phases; they start out with painting as a hobby, then might move to studying astronomy. This shift in interest needs to be acknowledged and respected. Only by trying out different hobbies does one get to know which they enjoy the most. At Shivneri boarding school we have many hobbies, clubs and sports teams for your child to join which means that everything is available to him on campus.
- Never undermine even their smallest of achievements:
Every achievement, every failure must be acknowledged and celebrated. Reward your kids when they perform amazingly at their hobby, also don’t forget to talk to them when they fail. It’s important for parents to be supportive of what their child likes and dislikes. This is very important for kids to feel appreciated, loved and cared for. Talk to your children. If they’re facing any difficulty get help them out. The best way to help your child is constant communication.
Learning new skills and developing hobbies are great because there are many valuable lessons to learn from them. By engaging in hobbies they like, they are likely to excel in them. Kids may even turn their hobbies into their professional life and there’s nothing better when passion meets work. Starting at an early age will give your kids an added advantage in life.