Playing video games is certainly a popular pastime but not one likely to lead to many future benefits. Kids today spend so much time in front of a screen that they miss out on the many amazing things right outside their front door. Encourage your child to let go of the controller and spend some time on a hands-on hobby. The following are just a few ideas we’ve found great success with to help get you started.
Astronomy
Ancient man spent many countless night staring at the stars in an effort to understand life. While your children have the benefits of constellation maps, guidebooks and even student-grade telescopes, there are still many mysteries to explore. Sky & Telescope has a great backyard astronomy guide for beginners that goes into more detail on how to get started scoping out the stars. And with more than 100 billion galaxies, your child may become the next Nicholas Copernicus or Edwin Hubble.
Rock, fossil, and mineral collecting
Just as the stars were a source of intrigue millions of years ago, remnants of yesterday give the modern man cause for pause. Collecting rocks, minerals, and fossils is an easy hobby that you can start right in your own backyard. Take the time to research your location to see what’s common. Once you know what you’re looking for, help your child pick a few pieces of basic equipment. This should include a rock hammer, bucket, work gloves and small pick. Help them catalog their collection for display.
Coin collecting
If you have loose change hiding under your sofa cushions, your child already has a head start as a numismatic, which is just a fancy word for coin collector. Coins have been in production since the 700 BC and make a great gateway to discuss history. If your child is interested in the origins of coinage, let them start by reading this article by the British Museum.
Science
Rock collecting and stargazing aren’t the only science hobbies that makes sense. If your child has an interest in chemistry, for example, encourage them to experiment with safe products you already have around your home. Elephant toothpaste, baking soda lava, homemade puffy paint, and DIY vinegar and citric acid cleaners are all simple science experiments for even the youngest Einstein.
Hiking
Exposure to the outdoors is important for children of all ages as it promotes both health and happiness. Furthermore, being outside opens up more opportunities for hobbies such as photography and birdwatching. One of the easiest activities for kids of all ages is hiking. Parks and recreation areas across the country (and world) offer hikes and nature walks for families. Conservation areas offer everything from paved trails to vigorous hikes suitable for families with teens.
Music
Learning to play a musical instrument will enhance your child’s ability to concentrate while developing hand eye coordination and fine motor skills. It’s even suspected that taking music lessons can boost your child’s IQ by as much as seven points. While that might not seem like much, that could be the difference from having a child classified as bright and having one classified as gifted, the latter of which may open up opportunities for academic enrichment and scholarships down the road. And, fortunately, the type of instrument chosen isn’t all that important. Your child should be given the chance to try many different types of music until they find something that fits.
This list is only a fraction of the many hobbies children can enjoy. Whatever their interest, you can find an activity to keep their minds sharp and engaged. By pulling away from the PlayStation, you may even help prevent your child from being labeled as having a gaming disorder – a modern diagnosis that, according to the World Health Organization, may have severe consequences. For more hobby ideas, please check out HobbyJr.Org to help get your kiddo started on the path to a pastime they can have for a lifetime.
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