Gone are the days when children played outdoors for hours, entertaining themselves and making up games with their friends. Today, so much of our lives are scheduled and organized—and even toddlers are taken from activity to activity, with hardly a break in-between.
While traditional schools and conventional after-school programs (like team sports, karate, and ballet) are built around tight schedules and boundaries, your child also needs space to explore what they love. Children benefit from free time to discover what excites them and interests them, exploring hobbies that they choose for themselves and practice at their own pace.
Montessori Is a Perfect Support for Healthy Hobbies
When it comes to equipping your son or daughter for lifelong success, the Montessori approach to education goes hand in hand with supporting their pursuit of hobbies. Montessori is all about inviting children to give time to what intrigues them, so they can become deeply invested in pursuing their own education.
And Montessori goes beyond the classroom to embrace a holistic approach to life. Hobbies aren’t just a nice thing kids can do in their spare time—they’re yet another avenue to building a curious, creative, accomplished human being who will enjoy success in their involvement in school, sports, relationships, and their career.
That’s why we love it when our students engage in hobbies at home, as well as pursue their passions alongside academics in our classrooms.
4 Benefits of Unstructured Activities—aka Hobbies!
1. Individual Expression
By choosing hobbies they’re most interested in, children are automatically tapping into things they are passionate and curious about. They discover what they love and what they’re good at.
Bonus: Just as important as self-discovery, hobbies also help kids develop focused attention, a skill that they’ll use throughout their life to create successes for themselves.
2. Confidence Building
Hobbies provide many opportunities for a child to learn more about the world and become better skilled at what they’re doing. As they gain mastery over their new skills, they grow in their sense of self-esteem, taking pride in what they’re able to make happen.
Bonus: Hobbies give your child proof that they can accomplish what they set their mind to. Kids benefit from that kind of self-confidence!
3. Well-Roundedness
Hobbies often occupy areas that aren’t covered in classrooms and organized activities like sports. Crafting with wood, building models, collecting coins, drawing, painting, and more—all are fair game for kids to explore.
Bonus: Encouraging children to explore these areas is a superb way to invite them to become well-rounded—a trait that will benefit them down the road in school and in life.
4. Direction for Future Career
While it’s true that not all children will turn their hobbies into careers, many do—especially with the encouragement of their parents.
Bonus: Follow the Montessori approach, and simply pay attention to what your son or daughter is drawn to, and make opportunities for them to pursue their interests. This supports their love for education, and may just give them insight early in life that leads them to a successful career.
How to Support Your Child’s Hobby
Allow them opportunities to freely investigate new things, plan their own entertainment—and even get bored! This unstructured, self-led time gives children opportunities to discover new things, master the ability to focus, tap into their creativity, and so much more that is beneficial to them.
- Take time to find out what your child wants to explore. Ask them about their classes and time with friends, to learn what has captured their interest at the moment. Wander with them around craft stores and craft shows so they can get some ideas about activities they may want to pursue. Let them try new things.
- Set aside a specific, designated area in your home where your child can comfortably and confidently practice their skills. Invite them to help you set up the space, supply them with the tools they need, and provide storage so they can stow materials when they’re not working with them.
- Offer guidance as needed to help your child achieve mastery. Steal the Montessori approach here—and use the opportunity to ask questions and kindly encourage the development of critical thinking and problem-solving. You may be surprised how creatively and cleverly your son or daughter comes up with solutions.
- Provide a good example, and make time for your own hobbies. Turn off the TV, play some classical or light jazz music, and work at your favorite activity while your child works on theirs. This is a casual, yet supportive way to spend time together and encourage focused skill-building.
- Enroll them in an authentic Montessori program (like ours!). Traditional schools simply don’t make as much time for students to explore their interests as we do. And with so many daily opportunities to pursue their passions, your child will gain a love for learning that they’ll carry with them and benefit from for years to come.
See Why Rockville Area Parents Love Our School
Finding the right school environment to help your child gain the building blocks for future success is an absolute must. At Primary Montessori Day School, we understand that—which is why we’re committed to making our classes among the very best, authentic (and fun!) experiences you and your son or daughter can have.
Our Montessori certified teachers create lively, inviting classrooms where children love to discover new skills (including hobbies as well as practical academics), grow in the social graces, and make good friends.
Check out our parent testimonials and reviews to see what they love most about us, and the positive results they see in their kids due to our Montessori education. And reach out to us anytime with questions, to schedule a tour, or learn more about what makes our school unique in the Rockville, MD area. We’re here to help you anytime!