The Best Ways to Support Your Child in Their Hobbies*

As I mentioned in my post about getting kids outside, our children have had it rough the last two years. It felt like their childhood was completely on hold, while they were growing up faster than usual because they were having to deal with adult problems. As we start to move out the other end of the pandemic, it’s time to encourage kids and teens to put themselves back out there and find something they really love. Clubs and societies are reopening and my daughter wants to do everything. In the last year she’s taken up the violin, completed her grade one in ballet, joined the netball, tag rugby teams and even captained a hockey team! I am so proud of her and completely understand her need to do all this because after all, she spent way too much time isolated and playing on her Switch by herself between the ages of 8 & 10.

But I can understand that to busy parents, a kid wanting to do so many extra curricular can seem like a problem, not even just where money is concerned. I try to see it as an investment in my child’s happiness and her future. Just like say taking a holiday would be an investment in my own happiness, it’s time to put on my big mama pants and put my daughter’s interests first. At least until she maybe starts to get bored haha.

Here are a few ways you can support your child in their hobbies (and most of them won’t cost you a penny)

Show an Interest

I get it, some days you’re tired and your child is talking incessantly about something that does not interest you. You have done a full day at work and you’re exhausted, and you’re also human. But sometimes, showing interest in their hobby is a great bonding experience and it’s such a little thing you can do in your day to help make them feel like their likes and dislikes are valued. If they take classes, ask them how it went, if they are learning a new skill, ask them to demonstrate. They’ll go away feeling even more accomplished than when they actually were physically partaking in their hobby.

Make Sure they are Equipped

One of the best things you can do to support your child in their hobby (or hobbies as in my daughter’s case) is to make it an investment. If they are learning the guitar, maybe get them a guitar to practice on at home. If they are taking badminton, make sure they have badminton shoes. If they attend a Scouts or Brownies, get them the correct uniform. Yes, it can add up, but it helps your child feel like they’re not only is their interest valued by you, but that they’re also part of the team or club they belong to.

Do Not Make it Feel Like a Chore

Growing up, this is something I struggled with.. my parents made everything I wanted to do, feel like a chore for them. It wasn’t about the money being spent, it was about the time in their day it was taking up. I did dance, theatre and learned to play the flute. While I am so grateful that my parents allowed me to do these things, they made the rehearsals and the practicing feel like an issue for them. That each one eventually fell aside because I felt like it was upsetting them. I never want my daughter to feel like that, so no matter how exhausted I am, I make sure I let her know that her hobby and classes are still a priority for me. If she ever wants to stop, that’s her choice and I don’t want to have been the one to influence it.

Be Encouraging

Kids can be fickle creatures. One moment they’re heavily into football, the next week it’s raining and they want to skip their session. Yes it can be quite easy to just let them give up, but it’s important to keep encouraging them. All hobbies and interests reach a hurdle or two and it’s your job to keep them going. It instills a great work ethic and not wanting to quit the moment it gets hard. But also at the end of the day, if you kid really wants to give up, it’s important to encourage them to have the confidence to walk away too.