Today’s post is a ANOTHER awesome guest article written by Julie Morris. She runs http://juliemorris.org
Normally I keep the focus of my articles on guitar tips (how to learn the guitar faster, practice more efficiently, etc).
Sometimes it’s good to take a step back and look at learning as a whole. It’s tough for us to learn something new. Getting starting can be confusing or even daunting. Julie gives us some tips about how to ease kids into a new hobby.
Here’s Julie:
The Best Hobbies for Kids: How to Get Them Started
Helping a child get involved with a new hobby can be tricky for many parents; you want to make sure they’re comfortable with it so their self-esteem will remain intact, but it’s also important to help them try new things so that they can grow and learn. For many children, trying something new can be daunting because it involves new social interaction, moving them into different circles and changing things up a bit. And while this can ultimately be a positive thing, it can be very difficult in the beginning.
Fortunately, there are some great hobbies out there for little ones that will help boost their self-esteem and get them involved with new and different activities, such as science-based projects. The key is to figure out the best way to help them get started. Many schools offer programs for kids that will foster their skills in a positive environment, from learning an instrument to playing a sport, so contact your child’s school for some ideas, and keep reading to learn how to help your child get involved.
Get Started at Home
There are many different things you can do at home with your child to help him learn and have fun at the same time. From crafts to science experiments, there are tons of activities you can do together that will have a big impact on their imagination and help them enjoy learning. Many of these projects you can do with simple household items; just make sure you have everything you need before you begin.
Play Music
Music can be hugely beneficial for kids when it comes to learning and applying math and language concepts to real-life situations. Learning to play an instrument can help boost your child’s ability to socialize, raise his confidence, and keep him motivated to go to school and do his best (especially if he’s in a music program sponsored by his school). If the school doesn’t offer a music program for your child’s age group, look for one at a local YMCA or consider looking for lessons online.
Create a Hobby Room
It can help your child immensely to have a specific area in the home where he can go to practice his hobby. Not only will this help him stay motivated, but it will also allow him to be creative without worrying about having someone looking over his shoulder. If he’s into art, make sure he has plenty of art supplies; a music room should be in a quiet spot, and you can look into soundproofing it in a relatively affordable way. Creating a hobby room will give your child a better chance of being successful at his favorite hobby.
Bird Watching
Bird watching is a great hobby because it’s a quiet activity that can be done alone or with the whole family, and you don’t need a lot to get started. You might have your child help you build a birdhouse, or set up a birdbath in the backyard to attract some feathered friends. Invest in a good set of binoculars (or two), and encourage your child to write down some observations about what he sees. This is a great preface to Earth sciences and can help your child foster a love of nature.
The best hobbies for kids are simply the ones that allow them to be creative while enjoying learning. This means your child may enjoy a few different things, or it may take him a little while to find his favorite. Give him a little freedom in choosing, and show your encouragement to help him stay motivated.
Photo via Pixabay by Skitterphoto