• Published by Tania Purnomo, M.S., BCBA from Enreach Behavioral Services 

Having hobbies and interests are important for children and can benefit your children in several ways. Not only does having hobbies and interests help them relax and discover talents, but it also helps them form a personal identity, build self-esteem and confidence, and let them feel a sense of accomplishment (Leiter-Weintraub, 2021). Not only that, having hobbies will help your child make use of their leisure time enjoyably when they retire at later age. Here are some suggestions on how you can find and nurture your child’s hobbies and interests:

1. Expose them to new things:

The first step to finding a new interest or hobby is knowing what activities are available out there. A great way to expose them to new activities is to take them on field trips (e.g., zoo, sports centers, community centers, etc.), watch different films, or read different books.

2. Pick 2-3 activities:

We suggest picking two to three activities that you think your child will enjoy. Notice what activities they gravitate or show interest in when reading books, watching videos, and when you go on trips. For example, if you find them asking a lot of questions or enjoying videos about tennis, you might consider adding tennis to the list of activities to try out.

Parents might also consider choosing a sports related activity (e.g., badminton, golf, running, etc.) and an activity that can be done at home (e.g., art, singing, calligraphy, cooking, etc.) to try out. Choosing a sports related activity as a potential hobby will cultivate healthy habits starting an early age. Additionally, choosing an activity that can be done at home will give them a way to relax if they are required to stay home for a long period of time (this is very important given the current situation with covid-19).

3. Test Things Out:

Although your child may show interest in an activity, they might not enjoy the activity when they try it. It might take a few tries for your child to gain enough skills and understanding of the activity before enjoying it.  So, do not be afraid to try out the activity for a few weeks before committing and investing in a new hobby.

4. Involve Their Friends:

It might be more enjoyable for your child to try out different hobbies and activities with their friends. Specifically, for children who has a hard time socializing with new peers, having a familiar peer around when trying out an unfamiliar activity might be comforting.

5. Their Lead, Not Yours:

The idea of sharing the same hobbies as your child sounds great! However, remember that your child may not enjoy the same hobbies. Make sure to not force your child into hobbies they do not enjoy, but instead ask them what they would like to try out instead.

6. Letting them Move On:

It is not uncommon for children to “get bored” or to be no longer interested in hobbies or activities they previously enjoyed. Even adults can grow out of different interests. It is important to not let them have the freedom to move on and help them find new hobbies to pursue.

Finding a hobby for your child may take time, however, the benefit of having a hobby is worth the effort of finding one!

Written By: Tania J. Purnomo, M.S., BCBA

Resources: 

Leiter-Weintraub, T. (n.d.). 9 steps for extracurricular activities to help your child ... connectionsacademy.com. Retrieved April 15, 2022, from https://www.connectionsacademy.com/support/resources/article/9-steps-for-extracurricular-activities-to-help-your-child-find-new-hobbies 

hobbies, development, leisure skills, play, sports, children, parenting, nurture

Children 4 Years - 6 Years / 4 Tahun - 6 Tahun / Cognitive Development / Tumbuh Kembang Kognitif / Education / Pendidikan / How to Find and Nurture your Children’s Hobbies and Interests

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