If your child is bored at the weekend or if you feel as though all they do is come home from school and sit in front of the television then you will know how frustrating this can be. You may want them to go outside and play with their friends and you may also want them to do something more productive with their time as well. Unfortunately you can’t just click your fingers and have them find something to do, and the constant nagging may even force them to dig their heels in even more when it comes to playing outside or even socialising with friends. This is something that every child goes through from time to time, but it is more than possible for you to help them.
Provide Support when they Need It
A lot of hobbies require some form of equipment. You will also need to go out there and buy the right items. It’s important that you don’t go out and buy them absolutely everything at this stage because if you do then this can make the whole thing feel intimidating and they may feel overwhelmed. One thing that you can do here is buy them things as they need them, and gradually build up their interest. If you want your child to get into art or even crafts then try and take them to a local funfair where they can learn about it or even see what is available in your local area. This is a great way for you to give them that spark of creativity and there are plenty of printable sheets online that can be used for activities as well. It’s important to know that your child might not delve into their new hobby right away, after all, it does take time for you to realise whether you actually like something or not, but by working with them and by giving them the support that they need, you can be sure to get a good result.
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Give them Space
It’s really important that your child has their own designated space for their hobby and it is also important that you help to ensure that they are happy as well. If they can’t lay out their paints and do their art well, or if they can’t find the pieces that they need to assemble their model aeroplane because the room is too cluttered then this will only discourage them. If the hobby involves art, consider clearing off some space at the dining table or buy organisational boxes so that they can keep everything safe for their project. Having a hobby isn’t all about arts and crafts though, because sport is also another great hobby for them to have and it can also encourage them to go out and meet new friends. Even with this, the same concept still applies. If you have a garden, clear out any rubbish and make sure that you have lots of open space. If they are excited to play football, consider marking out two traffic cones for the goal, or if they like to play golf, make sure that the lawn is mowed really well. Little things like this can really encourage them and even though you may not feel like it does, it can make a huge difference to them.
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Not Every Hobby Has to Be Creative
Video games are known for providing children with an exceptional immersive experience and even though you may feel as though this is the last thing you need, it can be really good for their development. When you work with your child, make sure that they are choosing a hobby that they want and not a hobby that you want. For example, if they are happy to play a game or try and build an empire in Final Fantasy 15 then you should really let them do this. As long as they aren’t devoting too much time to it and as long as their academic performance isn’t suffering, there is no reason for you to stop them just because it is a video game and not a hobby that you approve of. Of course, video games are also a great way for you to encourage them to socialise with others as well, and a lot of these games can pair you with other people either online or in person if their friends are playing it at school.
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Be Encouraging and Helpful
Your child will probably need a huge level of encouragement along the way and they will also need you to work with them so that you can provide them with everything that they need. A lot of younger people end up going into a career that is related to their hobby and they even end up pursuing it professionally as well. If you can give your child the encouragement that they need when they are struggling or if you can help them to try and guide them through the more difficult or frustrating aspects of their hobby then this will really pay off for them in the future. If they have a hobby such as cycling, hiking or even gardening then try and set aside a day or two for this every single week so that they can really devote themselves. If they are constantly being pulled away from what they are trying to do then this won’t do them any favours, so this is something that you do need to keep in mind.
So if you want your child to have a hobby, there is no need at all to stress over it and there is no need to push them into something that they don’t want to do either. Your child will find something that interests them in their own time and as long as you provide the supplies, the space and the time, you really won’t have any problems at all in giving them the help they need. If you’re really struggling, why not get them to join a day club, or a weekend group? That’s a great way for them to try a lot of different things.
Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.
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