Hobbies for Kids
Finding ideas for suitable hobbies can also be … well, challenging. It’s funny how being a parent often stretches us in ways that we never expected, and helping our kids develop interests that are all their own is definitely one of those stretching exercises.
The key to a good kid hobby is to make sure that you never push too hard. You want your children to enjoy their own hobbies because it’s something they find personally rewarding, not because they are trying to please you or avoid being grounded for not performing. A hobby is something that can grow with our children throughout their lives, so encourage them in as many directions as it takes until they find something that happily occupies their free time.
Great Kid Hobbies
Musical Instruments: This is one of those hobbies that you can help your children find an interest in from a very, very early age. Depending on how old your child is, you can find instruments to fit their needs. Older children who already have the basics of reading down will often find playing the guitar rewarding because a child can teach themselves to play from a book. Other instruments like the piano will require lessons, but if your child has an interest in an instrument, the investment is well-worth it. Studies have shown that playing musical instruments stimulates the brain, developing better mathematical and cognitive skills. Practice is always an essential part of mastering musical instruments, and for the kid who loves them, this practice will while away hours of time.
Musical Instrument Recommendations by the Ages:
Toddlers: BeBop Band with CD and Songbook – http://store.musicforlittlepeople.com/5028d.html – This very cool musical toy includes four durable, easily washable instruments about 5″ in size. Each of the instruments will produce simple rhythms that you can introduce your toddler to with the included CD. Not only is your kiddo learning coordination and discipline, but they’re having fun.
Ages 3-7: Chimalong – http://store.musicforlittlepeople.com/chimalong.html – An instrument that your child can grow with, the Chimalong consists of 8-9 metal tubes with colors or numbers notated on them. Using the “Tubetunes” book, kids can play a large number of songs by matching these colors and numbers. Older children will start to recognize the standard musical notation that works alongside the colors and numbers.
Ages 7+: Handcrafted Classical Student Guitars – http://store.musicforlittlepeople.com/guitars.html – With small necks and soft nylon strings to be easy on small hands, these high quality handcrafted guitars will teach children how to play with ease. Available in a variety of colors to match your child’s personality, a guitar tuner, and a special CD, you can pair the acoustic guitar up with a guitar lesson on DVD or Video so that they have inspiration and tutoring all in one spot.
Arts and Crafts: Nearly every child, given a chance to just do it, will spend hours learning to draw, paint, create scrapbook pages, or learn needle arts like embroidery, sewing, or crocheting. One of the types of hobbies that fall under the arts and crafts category that many people overlook is carpentry – this rewarding hobby can also become a useful life skill that your children will be able to use over and over throughout their lifetime. “Electronic” crafts like building remote airplanes is another type of hobby to think about for older children, who can combine reading instructions with creativity when painting, and then they get to enjoy the fruits of their labor outdoors.
Arts & Crafts Recommendations by the Ages:
Toddlers: Drop Cloth and Smock – http://www.backtobasicstoys.com/item/productid/5010 – Pair this easy-to-clean vinyl drop-cloth and smock with some colorful finger paints, and let your toddler go to town. They will enjoy playing in the messy stuff, and learn to interact with the world around them by choosing colors and seeing how the patterns come out when their little hands start smearing stuff everywhere. Just remember to get washable finger paints and sit nearby and you’ll have as much fun watching (or joining in!) as your toddler will creating.
Ages 3-5: Clay Play – http://www.backtobasicstoys.com/item/productid/4697 – Let your children explore their coordination by creating creatively with clay. This very cool set is all constructed of wood and includes four textured rolling pins, one smooth rolling pin, patterened clay mallets, double-ended wooden modeling tools, and a rolling wheel cutter. They’ll get a quick start with the included modeling clay, and you’ll like how everything’s stored in a wooden box for easy clean-up.
Ages 5+: Illustory – http://www.backtobasicstoys.com/item/productid/5047 – When my daughter was given this as a gift, I was shocked over and over again at the unique fun that presented itself. This is an award-winning kit that encourages children to write, illustrate, and design their own book for hardback publication. Included is a step-by-step guide and all the supplies they’ll need to complete a manuscript, dedication, and biography pages. When their story is complete, they choose a book color, mail 12 pages of work in the included post-paid envelope, and will receive a 9″x7″ hardcover book in a few weeks.
Collectibles: Items that children decide to collect as a hobby opens a whole new world of discovery. You will probably not want to encourage your children to “collect” until they’re old enough to understand the value of their items, but once they hit that stage of development the world’s their journey. Things like stamps, coins, and rocks can teach children a lot about history, science, and geography. Everything that is collected can be tied into culture and reading – so don’t stop with the dolphin figurines your child likes to collect, but encourage them to read both fiction and non-fiction about sea life.
Collectibles Recommendations:
American Girl – http://store.americangirl.com/shop/home.php – This company started out with just a few dolls and has grown into something amazing, with a hobbyist collector fanbase that is nothing short of awe-inspiring. As a collectible, the American Girl dolls are unique because they feature high-quality dolls made to be simply beautiful, paired up with the doll’s story. Every story is about an American Girl experiencing childhood in a specific point of American History.
American Philatelic Society: http://www.stamps.org/kids/kid_StampFun.htm – If you like the idea of helping your child collect stamps but aren’t sure how you can relate collecting to the world around them, all you have to do is make a quick trip to this page. From Activity Pages to FAQ’s to a full look at the Lewis & Clark journey, this site is filled with ways that you can help your children grow their knowledge at the same time that they collect something of historical value.
h.i.p. Pocket Change: http://www.usmint.gov/kids/index.cfm?fileContents=games – Not only can collecting money teach your children about the value of saving and budgeting, grow their math skills, and result in a collection that they will treasure for the rest of their lifetime, but it can be a lot of fun. This website will get you going on games, history, and much more – all with a money collecting theme.
