As adults we might not pay too much attention to our hobbies or see them simply as ways to pass the time between more dreary priorities. But did you know that hobbies are a significant part of our development and can have multiple benefits for young children?
Cultivating a hobby can help grow children’s self-expression, communication skills, and self-esteem. They can also be a great learning tool outside of the classroom for gaining specific content knowledge or for developing problem solving, decision making, and personal responsibility skills. Creative hobbies can also help grow a young mind’s imagination and curiosity, while providing an outlet for expressing inner thoughts through artistic means.
As children get exposed to new experiences, places, and people their hobbies or pastimes are likely to change as they discover where their interests and passions lie.
Parents and caregivers can encourage this process by inviting children to join in on their own interests, introducing new activities to try out, or simply supporting them on the latest hobby to catch their eye.
At the same time many parents today are aware that activities involving screen time are extremely popular amongst children whether that be watching the latest Netflix series, keeping up with their favourite YouTubers, or making TikToks of their own. Introducing new hobbies can also be one way to reduce this dependency on screen time.
Here are 3 creative hobbies and things to do at home your child might enjoy:
1. Painting
Painting has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity recently with watercolor, acrylics, oils, and pastels becoming particular common. This hobby has always held great appeal for children and adults alike thanks to its open-ended and sensory nature, allowing the artist to express whatever they wish through their chosen medium.
Starting on this hobby can be as easy as simply buying the supplies and setting aside time to paint at your own leisure at home. Alternatively, many art studios in Singapore now offer adhoc or regular painting sessions including programmes specially designed for children or families. Signing your family up for a trial session can be a fun weekend activity for all while exposing your child to new art forms and more guided directions from a professional.
2. Lego brick art
Following the release and popularity of the Lego Movie franchise, Lego brick art has become a popular and creative way to reimagine these colourful blocks that many of us grew up with. Lego art can take many open-ended forms including creating mosaics, building scale-model replicas of real-life settings and objects, or using them as part of a larger mixed medium installation. Many Lego enthusiasts also simply enjoy assembling official Lego sets as there are hundreds of themes, characters, or homages to choose from.
While this hobby can be on the costly side, encouraging children to assemble their own Lego creations can be a great nudge to their imagination and problem-solving skills.
3. Polymer clay
If you are looking for a tactile and creative hobby for your child to try out, polymer clay might be another option to consider. Similar to painting, the physical nature of kneading, stretching, and moulding the clay can be a good way for children (or adults) to relax themselves in an artistic pursuit. As an added bonus, polymer clay can be baked and cured at home with no additional equipment such as potter’s wheels or kilns needed.
Creating Space for your Child to Explore new Hobbies
These suggestions are just 3 of the possible things you can do at home with your child. There are many more creative hobbies available out there such as crochet, origami, embroidery, cooking, or even gardening – all of which can be suitable for children of all ages with the right supervision, equipment, and patience to learn.
Here at MindSpace we understand that having a hobby, passion, or interest is key to helping your child relax and recharge during their free time. Our after school student care programmes always have evenings and weekends free to ensure your child has the time and space to explore their own interests. Find out more about MindSpace or get in touch to book a visit with any of our centres in Singapore.