|
|
|
The Importance
of Hobbies
by Rexanne
Mancini
Consider that children who have an avid hobby or interest they are
passionate about are more likely to spend their money, when they have their own stash of it, on that hobby or collection and not on drugs or
other potentially harmful choices.
If your kids are busy after school at dance class, soccer practice,
rock collecting or any other hobby or interest they find engaging, they
won't have time to hang with the kids who have nothing better to do than experiment with drugs, gangs, alcohol or whatever else could get
them into serious trouble. If your kids are intense about collecting paper clips, toe nail clippings or in love with little league, then
encourage them ... help them develop their passion for a positive accomplishment. Teach them how great it can be to involve themselves in
something that gives them a sense of accomplishment and pride.
Help them through the rough spots when they can't get a dance step the
first 10 tries by letting them know that, usually, nothing worthwhile comes easily. If their favorite collectable breaks, drag yourself
through hell and back to find a replacement. This shows them you believe in their humble collection and you understand its value and
importance in their life. They will learn to respect their unique passion and move forward into adulthood feeling good about the healthy
choices they make to keep themselves occupied in their 'down' time. This type of positive reinforcement will also encourage them to spend
their free time doing something other than hanging out with other bored
individuals who are bound to try some type of inane activity just for the thrill of it.
You might even decide to get involved in 'collecting' or 'creating'
yourself. Having a mutual hobby could create a bond worth its weight in
super glue with your child.
Copyright
– 2000-2004 – Rexanne Mancini
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rexanne
Mancini is the mother of two daughters, Justice and Liberty. She is a
novelist, freelance writer and maintains an extensive yet informal
parenting and family web site, Rexanne.com – http://www.rexanne.com
-Visit her site for good advice, award-winning Internet holiday pages
and some humor to help you cope. Subscribe to her free newsletter,
Rexanne’s Web Review, for a monthly dose of Rexanne: http://www.rexanne.com/rwr-archives.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This
article is available, free, for reprint with my bio line included.
Please contact me for information on how you can feature this article
on your web site: Click here: Reprint
Permission
|
Bookmark to save this page!
