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Hobby Hopping Eleven-year-old Jonathan likes baseball. He’s pretty good at basketball, and then there’s tennis, soccer, and swimming and those are just the sports. “Right now I just play the saxophone…I’m about to pick up the guitar again…I used to play the piano and the guitar, but I stopped cause I started playing the saxophone,” explains Jonathan. Jonathan’s mom likes the fact that he tries a lot of things. “I want them to try as many things as they can…because I know they’ll find the things that are important to them,” she says. Experts agree with this to a point. Children find themselves by exploring different activities, but constant hobby hopping without any real commitment should be a concern. “I would be concerned if I have a child that’s engaged in activities and he or she seemed to be pretty good at it, and after a year at it, they just decide I’m gonna stop this,” says psychologist Dr. Jennifer Kelly. However, convincing a child to keep up an activity when the’re not inclined can be a tough task. Experts say you should push your child gently to stay in an activity they’re good at, encourage them, and talk about how their skills have developed. |
“Right now I just play the saxophone…I’m about to pick up the guitar again…I used to play the piano and the guitar, but I stopped cause I started playing the saxophone.” -Jonathan, 11 |
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WHAT PARENTS SHOULD KNOW It is often frustrating for a parent who just bought that “must have” tennis racket if the child decides tennis is boring and he is ready for that “must have” basketball goal. Experts say that hobby hopping, especially at a young age, isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It gives children the opportunity to try new activities, discovering strengths and talents along the way. It also allows them the opportunity to feed their curiosity with a variety of things. But parents should look into why the child is changing activities, and assess if there is a deeper reason behind the switch. One reason many kids change activities is a desire to be with their friends. If your child started an activity with friends and the friends change activities, she will probably be inclined to do the same. Another factor is packed schedules, sometimes leading to burnout. If a child has too much to do, the fun can begin to dissipate. Another possible reason for wanting to quit could be a bad environment. If a child seems resistant to an activity that was formerly enjoyable, she could be having trouble with the instructor or another child. A parent suspicious of this should talk to the child and the instructor about anything that could possibly be causing discomfort for the child. . . |
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Resources
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Sports Parents-www.sportsparents.com BC Parent-News Magazine Department of Education –http://www.ed.gov/pubs/Safe and Smart/intro.html |
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