| Instead of spending large segments of free time | | | | messy, so you need to be sure the space will handle |
| watching television or spending too much time in front | | | | that possibility. |
| of the computer, consider encouraging your child to | | | | When your child is performing their hobby, give |
| take up a hobby. It is a proven fact that hobbies are | | | | encouragement as well as guidance. By supporting |
| beneficial in a number of ways. Children who have a | | | | their hobby, you also become more intimately involved |
| hobby to occupy their minds are more likely to | | | | in their life; an idea that is sure to reap benefits for both |
| discover who they are and thus build a positive self | | | | of you as they grow up. Your input as their parent is |
| image. | | | | vital in helping them work through possible failures while |
| Directing a child to start a hobby is easy. Just observe | | | | experimenting with their hobby. You can be there to |
| an area of interest and encourage them to pursue it. | | | | help them understand that failure is not an indication of |
| Maybe it is rock collecting; that will help the child learn | | | | being a failure, but an opportunity to learn and then build |
| about geology and the formation of the earth's crust. | | | | on that failure with success. |
| Or it could be that they enjoy writing stories and that | | | | Within the hobby your child decides to pursue, be sure |
| could be instrumental for learning proper sentence | | | | to set reasonable goals by proper planning with a |
| structure and grammar. Any hobby that can instill in | | | | strong sense of organization. If they should become |
| your child a desire to explore his or her world around | | | | frustrated because they are not making the progress |
| them is a great way to help them grow healthy and | | | | they would like, explain to them that not everything |
| productive. | | | | comes easy; some things will take more time than |
| When helping your child choose a hobby, one thing you | | | | others. This will teach them patience. A worthwhile |
| need to do is provide an area for them to work on it. | | | | hobby can be a rewarding part of life, encouraging us |
| This will require a space that can be left alone while | | | | to explore the many interesting things life holds. It can |
| your child works through their hobby to conclusion. If it | | | | even result in deciding what career to follow with all |
| is more in the realm of science, it could get a little | | | | the rewards the right career can bring. |