Encouraging Children’s Interests

It’s easy to figure out some children’s interests because they talk about it or do it every chance they get. But others need some help in figuring out exactly what they enjoy. Others have so many interests it’s hard to choose just one or two.

My oldest grandson has had several interests over the last few years. He loved bird watching in his back yard. Not only did he watch for them, he looked up each bird in a book and then drew them in his sketch pad. He also enjoys writing poetry.

My second oldest grandson loved penguins from infancy. He’s now almost twelve and still loves them. But he’s also started collecting coins and has most of the state quarters.

Grandson number three was a little trickier to figure out. By the time he turned eight, he still didn’t have a hobby to enjoy like his older brothers. So we started him on stamp collecting, since it’s inexpensive and easy to do. Time will tell if it remains an interest for him.

So how do we encourage our grandsons in these interests? Here are just a few ways.

1. We talk to the boys about them. Seen any interesting birds lately? Would you read me your latest poem? Which coins are you on the lookout for? What’s the latest stamp you added to your collection? Have you seen the new stamp series that just came out?
2. We buy them birthday gifts that go along with their interest. Bird feeders, bird books, sketch pads, rhyming dictionaries, and coin books, or anything that bears an image of the interest on it, just to name a few.
3. When we vacation, we bring them stamps from another state or country, or foreign currency for the coin/money collection. We take pictures of unusual birds we see from distant lands to show them.
4. We follow their lead. Interests change as kids grow. We keep our ears open to what new hobbies they might have. Then we adapt and change as needed. We don’t make them feel guilty for not staying with previous interests.
5. Remember that interests are educational. So no matter how long (or short!) an interest may last, it’s never wasted. Kids learn what they like and what they’re good at. They may even get ideas about what type of career they might enjoy. Hobbies and interests teach kids about themselves, as well as the topics of interest.

Hobbies and interests are positive ways for kids to spend time. So encourage them, even if their interests differ from yours.