I remember listening to the radio when my son was two and hearing the morning talk show host describe how her toddler daughter would bounce along to music and sing in gibberish. I couldn’t relate. My son did not dance or sing. He was an average toddler, but there didn’t seem to be a musical bone in his body (there still isn’t).
But my daughter was practically born dancing. There has never been any question of what her passion was—she lives to dance. My son was different. We had to work to help him find his interests (one’s astronomy). Not sure where your son or daughter’s interests lie? Here are 5 ways to help your kids find their passion.
1. Find out if your kid “inherited” a passion from you.
I got my first telescope when I was 10; my husband can name all the constellations we see in the night sky. When our son stumbled upon his first guide to the stars, we realized we all shared a passion for astronomy. Kids pick up on your love for things. Passions might not be inherited per se, but kids can tell when you love something, making them more likely to love it too.
2. Take advantage of free trial periods.
Helping kids find their passion can get expensive, but it doesn’t have to. Many ballet studios, gyms, and even conservatories will offer a trial period free of charge. My daughter’s studio has a suitcase filled with ballet slippers and tap shoes for kids who want to give dance a shot without committing right away. Most trial periods go a couple of weeks, which gives your child enough time to decide if she wants to keep going. Plus, many parks and rec departments offer sports, dance, and music classes and art lessons for short periods at a low cost. Then, if your kid doesn’t like it, you can let her quit in good conscience.
3. Remember that your kid can love something but still be bad at it.
I have always loved softball, but I’ve never been very good at it. I made the team in high school, but only because I was a big fish in a very small pond. I made a lot of mistakes, and I definitely didn’t have a knack for the sport, but my parents encouraged me to play anyway. Your kid might love basketball despite being short and uncoordinated. Let him love basketball anyway. He might never play for the NBA, but there’ll still be plenty of chances for him to shoot hoops. Most passions can be a hobby if they’re not a career option. If your kid doesn’t have to worry about succeeding, he’ll be much more likely to relax and discover what he’s really passionate about.
4. Check out YouTube.
During the pandemic, YouTube became our daily “gym class.” It was too cold to go outside, but I wanted my kids to stay active. Kids can watch YouTube videos that teach everything from ballet to guitar to American Sign Language. Most experts in their fields are enthusiastic about sharing their passion with the next generation, and YouTube is another great way to introduce your kids to different activities without a financial investment.
5. Engage in passion-oriented conversations.
My son comes from a long line of dinosaur lovers. I, on the other hand, didn’t know the difference between a stegosaurus and a triceratops until about five years ago. Now, my husband jokes that I know more about dinosaurs than he does. My son loves to share everything he learns about dinosaurs with me. It makes me happy to see him so passionate, so I try my best to encourage him even though I still don’t really like dinosaurs. Your kids will talk your ear off about their passions, but you have to be willing to listen.
What does your child love to talk about? How can you channel this passion in his or her life?
