Your memories of childhood probably consist of playing outside until it gets dark and occupying yourself with board games and toys. However, in a world that’s now so heavily dominated with screens, it’s understandable that you want to find other activities for your children to enjoy. Not only does it take them away from the blue light of a screen for a while, but it can also give them opportunities to learn new and exciting skills. With that in mind, let’s take a look at how you can do exactly that.

Tips to Encourage New Activities in Your Child's Life - young girl standing next to an ice rink — CREDIT: pexels.

Listen to your child

You may be struggling to know what kinds of activities to expose them to, and a great way of finding something they’re going to be interested in and stick to is by listening to your child. Take note of which activities capture their attention, and listen to what makes them excited when they’re talking to you. More often than not, an interest in a hobby is sparked by something they see or hear, so exposing them to a wide range of activities may just help ignite an interest in something new. Whether they’re interested in solitaire or anything else, listen to them.

Give them opportunities

Once you have an idea of things they enjoy and are interested in, you have the chance to expose them to new opportunities. This could be anything, from signing them up to a local club or taking them to the park to kick a ball around. Don’t limit these opportunities either; it may take some time for them to find things that they want to pursue long term, so make sure you have some patience.

Set a good example

If you’re sitting at home on your phone or laptop, your children are likely to follow. If you set a good example by having hobbies and doing activities, they’re likely to show some interest in it. So, if you go for a morning jog or do yoga in the living room, ask them to join you. You should also plan family activities that involve being outside of the home and away from screens like hiking or swimming. Not only could this turn into activities they’ll enjoy, but the fresh air and exercise will do everyone some good too.

While there can be a lot of learning experiences and fun in the digital world, it’s important to limit the amount of screen time your children have. This not only helps promote a healthier lifestyle, but it also gives them the chance to explore other interests.

Make room for new hobbies in your home

You’ll soon find that as your children begin to explore new hobbies or activities, that there will be a lot of new equipment and gear in your home. Make space for these items to encourage your children to carry on pursuing them. If you don’t have space in your home, perhaps you could make space in your garage dedicated to their interests and hobbies. You could always move some of your stored belongings into storage space so that their gear and equipment has permanent space in your home.

Support them in their interests

Children thrive on praise, so it’s important to take interest in their activities. Even if it’s something as small as swimming a few more laps of the pool than normal, it will help encourage them to try even harder next time. Make an effort to attend their events to show your support, whether it’s watching a football match or seeing them perform on stage - it will mean a lot to them. If and where possible, why not join them in their interests so that you can spend some quality time together too? Don’t forget to celebrate their achievements with a little reward like going for ice cream after a match.

Encourage group activities

While solo activities are absolutely fine, you should try and encourage your children to take part in group activities. This will help improve their social skills, and can be really useful when it comes to teaching them to work well in a team. If they’re not into sports, consider looking at after school clubs that teach things like cooking or maybe even a textiles club.

Encourage them to make their own decisions

Finally, children can sometimes dig their heels in if they feel they are being forced to do certain things, so it’s important to allow them to make their own decisions. This could be in the form of choosing which hobby to pursue, or making sure they’ve got everything prepared for their next session. Not only does this help keep their interests in tact, but it helps teach independence and responsibility too.

Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.