KIDS AND HOBBIES

Parents always want to give their children the best – the best education, the best food, the best toys…the best and nothing less than the best – the list is endless. So why not give them the best life – a life they can enjoy – a life that they will enjoy living. Give them the freedom to choose their hobbies. Yes, “hobby” – a cute little world that changes the mood, changes lives and puts the pep in a boring life.
The brain develops permanently only in the early years hence it is imperative to inculcate creative values too in the early years.

What is a hobby?
An activity done regularly in one’s leisure time for pleasure.

Kids are a bundle of talents and lot of fun. Every child is unique and has different tastes and interests. Try to understand that facet in the child which gives him/her an intrinsic joy and makes the child’s face glow – that little act that brings that beautiful smile, and encourages them to pursue such hobbies. After all, the generation today is so wired up, lost in the magical web of technology. As parents, let us bring them out of the vicious cycle of the net into the bright sunshine of hobbies.

A few interest-based hobby ideas:
The creative little minds:

Creativity is inventiveness! The use of imagination! Let your child’s creative juices flow:

My friend’s daughter makes beautiful artefacts with chalk pieces, soaps, erasers and the like. Hobbies are plenty – could be baking, painting, pottery, reading, writing poems, cooking, quilling – something that is in vogue today, baking, digital art, candle making, origami, paper mash articles, best out of waste, making flower vases, craft building – anything that is aesthetically appealing to the eyes or comes with a purpose.

We as children used to play in the sand and pull clay to make small utensils. We ,at the age of 7 and 8 also started our own CT – Children’s Training School at the terrace, pooling up kids younger than us, and teaching them. It was fun!

Painting is the best pastime – it reminds me of the movie ‘Tare Zameen Par’, where the young Ishan is a gifted artist. True, all the kids in the whole of the universe, are the “Taare Zameen Par.” We recently celebratedthe pre-independence day in our office, and the joy and exuberance displayed by  employees,be it in painting, drawing rangoli, decorating their bays, or making best out of waste was a feast for the eyes. What I intend to stress on is the fact that hobbies last a lifetime and bring immense joy and freedom from boredom. For instance, as a child I used to write short stories, now I lose myself as I write.

Music and dance in any form – classical, semi-classical, modern, contemporary…theatre, acting, playing an instrument, home décor, building blocks, even hair styling are creative outlets for kids.

Encourage your kids to become the creative geniuses they are and inculcate a sense of accomplishment in them. Decorate your showcases not with things brought from the markets, but with those beautiful pieces of art made by your kids – look at that dash of colour, the astonished look of praise in the eyes of the guests, that look of pride in the faces of your kids, and that moment of joy – unparalleled – money can never buy this.

Our little Nature-lovers – Eco-friendly ideas – the need of the hour:
Our little Shikari Shambhus and Jim Corbetts. Such a respite – to be away from mobiles, internet and the like. Let the child explore the universe – in its natural beauty and bounty, let the child experience rain and sunshine, summer and winter – be it through having green fingers, adventurous escapades, camping-out, going on a safari, swimming, bird-watching, star-gazing, fishing, golfing, horse-riding, photography, boating, travelling, farming – anything under the sun – to name just a few.

History-Isn’t it a bore? No, not for your child, who wants to explore…Yes, your child could be into visiting museums, reading about kings and queens, emperors and dynasties, civilizations and civics, numismatics, collecting vintage, antiquities galore, delve into the past – be it manuscripts too – yes, a history lover or a collector too – be with them, and encourage them in that too.
Parents often complain “My kid is a jumping jack, a monkey, a chimpanzee out of the zoo. Can’t just make him sit at a place! Well, not to worry, your kid is high on adrenaline – let him/her go out and play, be a gymnast, a fitness freak, trek, surf not the web but the wind, scuba-diving, snorkelling, football, basketball, cricket, tennis, wrestling, kick boxing, dancing, the performing arts, – a plethora of activities to burn the calories and be sweaty, dirty, muddy, grimy and smelly. Anything and everything, good to go.

Divergent hobby ideas:

Yes, Ideation and Intellection: fond of pets, busy with crossword puzzles, loves Sudoku, interested in feng-shui, just meditates, learns languages, wants to become a director, play acts, fond of pets, twists the balloons and makes shapes and figures – improves finger dexterity, insect interest, astronomy, scrap booking – frivolously fantastic out-of-the box thinking. Give space …let the child breathe. Keep them positively engaged in various pursuits.  Could be a thinker too…

One can even plan family hobbies, for instance family outing to satiate your adventure hungry sonny or a visit to the beauty parlour for the fashionista daughter of yours, a group trekking, a poetry, painting or a singing competition, a family dubsmash – just see how much you, as parents enjoy and how much the little ones enjoy with your involvement and participation. Get involved with their activities – enjoy their growing up years!

Let your children enjoy doing what they love most. Hobbies are enchanting, engaging, entertaining, self-educative, enhancing and emancipating.

Fun, frolic, fiction and fantasy… Let them free! Let them just be…