Help Kids Find Their Passions

3 Ways to Help Your Child Be Their Best Self

Written by A. Simon - December 2019

Copyright - Minnesota Kid’s Yoga Co. LLC

 

Kids are natural explorers…

Every child is born with an innate joy for curiosity. Kids are extremely genuine in their drive to learn, ability to overcome, love for human connections, and fearlessness for creativity. However, as time prevails, and as kids turn into teens, and later adults, they lose this joy. As a society we have forgotten the importance behind childhood. Too often, adults (teachers, parents, administrators, politicians, etc.) push kids to be more mature, more responsible, more successful, and be their best even in grades as young as preschool. In our modern era, we make kids perform standardized tests annually. We make kids learn more content for longer hours than ever before. We also mold kids into finding certain paths, often because they are the paths we want them to find. Some kids really do LOVE all the things their parents encourage them to do, however, many times the kids are merely trying to please mom/dad.

Therefore, how do you help your child find their “own passion?” How can parents encourage new things, without forcing them? How can parents teach their kids to find their own likes/dislikes, and to be their own person? And why should parents care at all about kids’ passions? This answers to these questions are simple: (1) finding their joy makes them genuinely happy, (2) finding their confidence helps them become assertive successful adults, (3) and finding the things that make them internally proud, provides them with a foundation of self-trust, which they will hold onto forever.

I’m sure you’ve heard of a “Career Aptitude Test.” Many of you have probably even taken one in your later college years. Although there is no “kids passions test,” you can help your child find their elementary passions by doing the following three things:

1 - Observe Your Child Play

The next time your child starts to dramatic play alone, or with a friend/siblings, take note of HOW they play. Are they naturally drawn to lead (as the town president, or army general), or do they follow orders and provide patience and compassion? Do they do all the talking, negotiating, and creating of rules, or do they sit back, play systematically, and fill in the gaps. Finally are they rigid in their ideas, or are they creative and curious to try new things each time? How your child composes themself outside of your eyes/control tells you a lot about who they are as an individual.

2 - Take Them to All Kinds of Experiences

If you are the type of parent who only takes your child to football games, only watches football on tv, and themed their bedroom with all-football memorabilia, then you have already self-chosen their passion for them! However, if you are the type of parent who takes your child to art galleries, science museums, outdoor sporting camps, and kids craft days at a local community center, then you are a parent who exposes your kids to multiple things — enabling them self-choose what they like. When you allow your kids to learn multiple things, in multiple avenues/mediums, you not only help them find their own niches, but you make them a more well-rounded, curious-rich child! Therefore, although it can be tempting to want your child to follow in your footsteps, it is also somewhat selfish. Encourage your child to find their own path. If they do indeed follow yours, then it’s a win-win. If they find a passion that inspires them (and its out of your comfort level) that’s also a win-win! Why? If your child does something new, then you can learn about it, and in turn become more well-rounded as well!

3 - Talk Kindly

Parents sometimes forget how truly powerful their words are. Kids can be sneaky about what they overhear mom/dad talking about. Further, kids are sponges. What mom/dad say, often sticks with them, much longer than one might think. If you as their parent talk badly about “art” as a career, or “yoga” as a sport, kids will change their own impressions to fit yours. If you laugh at signing your child up for chess club, or tell them that math class is more important than recess, than you are sending a signal to them that one passion trumps another. Yes, art careers may not pay as much as an accountant would, but if they are a child — they still have a long ways to go before choosing that career path. Encourage them to be confident in what they are talented at, as well as, passionate about. If your child loves art class, embellish that with them! Buy them a local art class-pack. If your child loves climbing the monkey bars at recess, build a family-friendly obstacle course in your backyard. Stop making them do extra math homework, or sending them to hockey practice if they would rather be home. Let kids be kids! Finally, use kind words for all passions and careers. When you tell your child the sky is the limit on their dreams — mean it!

Below is a list of things to do with your child (in Minnesota) to help them explore new things and find new hobbies!

Many of the things on this list you have probably already done. Some may be new to you. Set aside your assumptions, and try them all out again! When your kids are exposed to things multiple times, they take in more information, in new and exciting ways. Teachers are told that kids won’t really learn something well until it’s done (or shown to them) at least 10 times. If that’s true, then get exploring with your kids today!