As parents, we’ve all been there: you give your precious child all the lessons, opportunities and equipment to pursue the dreams you never got to enjoy, only for them to give up as soon as the going gets tough. From music to sports, cooking to learning a new language and beyond, there are so many hobbies out there, and as adults we often regret having lost the skills we had in our youth because we gave up too soon. Teenagers are the worst culprits for giving up before they’ve even started. So how do you keep hormonal, tired teenagers engaged in the hobby they’re passionate about but don’t want to put any effort into? Here are our five top tips to help you to support your child without pushing them too far:
- Encourage them to take part in the same hobbies as their friends: Kids are more likely to be engaged if their friends are involved, and if it’s a sporting hobby then they will enjoy competing with their pals. Plus, you can team up with other parents to share travel arrangements and childcare, making it easier for you as well as engaging for your kid!
- Incorporate popular culture: If you’re teaching them to play music, why not give them the sheet music for the theme tune from their favourite TV show? Or the score to the latest action film? They’ll still be learning, but they’ll be more likely to enjoy it when it links to something else they enjoy.
- Structure their time, but not too much: A specific timetable will help to integrate hobbies into your child’s busy schedule, but don’t be too tough on them or they’ll view it as a chore. Set aside an evening, or a certain day on a weekend, then give them the freedom to practice at their own leisure. This is a key tip for motivating teens to learn about how to structure their own time and combine their hobby with their social life.
- Involve them in the decision-making process: Choosing a new teacher, lesson plan or piece of equipment? Then make sure that your teenager feels involved! After all, they will be the one that reaps the benefits, so they should have a role in the decision. Also, by allowing them to select equipment, clothing and other accessories, you will allow them to express themselves through their hobby and make them more likely to stick at it.
- Focus on their enjoyment, not their progress: Everyone learns at their own pace, so try not to focus too much on results. Exams, points and other measures of progress can cause stress that your child simply doesn’t need. Instead of pushing them towards results, work with your teenager to help them get the most enjoyment out of their hobby. This will help them to learn better and associate pleasant emotions with their hobby, making them more likely to keep it up.
These tips will help you to support your teenager to carry on with their hobby and learn valuable life lessons.
