Contents
At a Glance
- Introducing children to hobbies like reading, drawing, singing, playing music, or even collecting pieces of rocks can help them explore and develop their skills and talents.
- Aside from ensuring physical development, having a hobby may also help in developing a child’s critical thinking, cognitive skills, motor skills and bilateral coordination, imagination and creativity, self-discipline, self-esteem, and decision-making skills.
- Several studies have proven the effects of starting a hobby at the early stages of growth. For this reason, specialists recommend encouraging children to freely explore their interests and pursue more than one hobby. And once a talent is displayed or a skill is greatly developed, parents must support and motivate their children to cultivate them.
The Importance of Having A Hobby as Child
Every child has talent kept within them. Parents may not notice them until they expose their child to activities they love. These are the hobbies that will test and challenge them at the same time. Introducing them to hobbies like reading, drawing, singing, playing music, or even collecting pieces of rocks can help them explore and develop their skills and talents. Whether these hobbies are mentally or physically demanding, they all help with better brain function. And with constant practice, these talents may soon develop into full self-expertise or professional achievement.
Benefits of Child Hobbies
Helping your child develop a hobby of their interest ensures physical development and also other intangible results or values. Having a hobby may develop the following aspects:
- Critical thinking
- Cognitive skills
- Motor skills and bilateral coordination
- Imagination and guessing
- Creativity
- Self-discipline
- Self-esteem
- Decision making
Tips to find the best hobby for your child
Here are some useful tips to help you find the best hobby for your child.
Tip # 1: Match your children’s interest
If you notice that your child likes to watch how you cook, invite them to participate in the kitchen. You can begin encouraging them and even teach them some basics, especially if they show some inclination towards cooking. If you’ve seen your child sing in front of the mirror or if they love to imitate popular singers, you can enroll them in singing or music lessons. Without hesitation, support them in whatever interests them most. In return, they may develop an even deeper love in their new hobby.
Tip # 2: Look for a unique and challenging exercise
Be sure to introduce challenging and interactive activities to your child that they will truly focus on. If a family reunion or a birthday is coming up, you may ask your child to practice a musical instrument they like. Your goal is for your child to develop a taste for the hobby. This will keep them motivated to practice and aside from that, it serves as a challenge for them to pursue.
Tip # 3: Bring it to the next level
A simple hobby of collecting rocks may develop into a more profound understanding of nature and geology. If you notice your child showing a particular interest in this, why not bring them to a museum? You can also show a book about the topic or you can present a guided online article about rocks. By doing this, you are showing your child the bigger picture and what awaits them in the future. Aside from letting them learn, you are also encouraging them to ask questions. When this is the case, expect that their sense of curiosity is also stimulated.
Encourage your kid to cultivate his talents in a particular hobby by limiting the time he spends on other less active activities like watching television or playing video games (i.e. his screen time).
Tip # 4: Encourage your children to develop their hobby
Putting your child in a hobby is only the beginning. It will be an adventurous ride that you and your child will enjoy. You need to show support at all cost. Accompany your child to join friendly competitions. Let them participate in activities that will showcase their talents. Whether it be in your community or in school, you are helping them gain confidence.
In return, always help your child accept failure or victory. Boosting their confidence to explore their newfound past time motivates them to keep moving forward. Let them know by giving them warm words of continuous encouragement and assurance.
Pros and Cons of different Child Hobbies
Arts and Crafts Hobbies
Painting, Sculpting with clay, Drawing, Coloring, Photography, Scrapbooking, Sewing, etc.
- Develops creativity
- A form of expressong one’s innate feelings
- Attention to detail
- Can be messy
- Materials can be expensive
- Making a detailed piece of art could be frustrating
Outdoor Hobbies to Keep Them Active
Nature walk, Stargazing, Zoo visits, Geocaching, Biking, Scooters, Swimming, etc.
- Great way to stretch legs
- A way to reduce stress
- Improve bodily functions through being physically active
- Physically stressing
- May require constant practice to level up skills
- Exposure to danger outside your home
Hobbies for the mind
Puzzles, Games, Building blocks, Mazes, Reading, Language
- Improve critical thinking
- Improve decision making
- Develops strategizing or shortcut techniques
- May require strict guidance and explanation
- An unfinished activity like making puzzles could be frustrating
- Time consuming
Collecting Items
Rocks, stones, souvenirs, leaves, shells, stamps, coins, etc.
- Learn similarities and differences
- Reinforce counting skills
- Constant exposure to nature, other places or culture
- Requires space and storage for items
- Accumulated collection gets heavy
- Collections may depreciate after sometime
Domestic Hobbies
Cooking, Baking, Gardening, Chores, Pets, etc.
- Mastery of household skills that are beneficial in the future
- Your child can be of help at home
- Teaches parents and kids the value of patience
- Requires continuous guidance to prevent accidents or injuries
- Exposure to hazards and critical procedures
- Cannot be performed solely at the early stages of training
Performing Arts
Dancing, Singing, Acting, Instruments, etc.
- An outlet for stress and self expression
- Improves body functioning
- Improve confidence and creativity
- Can create a lot of noise
- Physically challenging
- Instruments appropriate of their cage could be expensive
Sports
Children’s sports like gymnastics, soccer, basketball, swimming, etc. might also interest your kid.
- Promotes physical activity
- Develop a sense of direction and coordination
- Teaches kids how to be a team player
- Requires physical strength
- Continuous training could be physicially exhausting
- Exposure to the harmful effects of sunlight
In A Nutshell
Did you know that 85-90 % of brain development happens at the early stages of life [Source: Rauch Foundation]? The earlier children start honing their skills, the more they develop techniques. With proper guidance and implementation of parents, children get to learn and enjoy at the same time. Close interaction with your kids will help you greatly in terms of selecting a hobby that they will focus on. The success of your child lies in your hands as a parent through continuous encouragement. Together with your child, you will be the one to direct them to what is best and what is not.
Pursuing hobbies prepares children to enter the adult stages of life. It is an assurance that by the time they step into adulthood, they have an area of specialization, which can be a potential source of income or just a past time. This will be an essential aspect that is required for their continuous self-improvement. Aside from that, hobbies expose your child to the outside world that will help them deal with several types of people.
Hobbies will not just boost your child’s community involvement. It is also an effective outlet for expressing one’s self [Source: Child Development Institute].
Aside from ensuring physical development, having a hobby may also help develop your child’s critical thinking, cognitive skills, motor skills and bilateral coordination, imagination and creativity, self-discipline, self-esteem, and decision-making skills. Read more about child hobbies and recommendations per age at kinderzeit.org.
Experts say that 85-90% of brain development happens at the early stages of life so the earlier children start honing their skills, the more they develop techniques to make them play better.
Introducing your child to hobbies like reading, drawing, singing, playing music, or even collecting pieces of rocks can help them explore and develop their skills and talents that could be helpful in identifying their strengths and weaknesses. Kinderzeit.org has more discussions about children’s hobbies and recommendations on which one should your child take.