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Embarking on the journey of parenting often unveils unexpected lessons, and our children become our greatest teachers. In a recent encounter with my 15-year-old son, I was reminded of the profound influence that arises from intentionally supporting our kids by embracing their interests. This experience underscored the important role intrinsic motivation plays in fostering learning and personal growth.
Choosing Activities with Intention: As summer drew near, our family embarked on a strategic planning process to design a roadmap of activities for each child. The goal was to harmonize physical, social, and educational pursuits, with a deliberate focus on areas demanding additional support. Our intention was clear: to empower our children to flourish and evolve holistically.
Embracing Intrinsic Motivation: A pivotal shift occurred when my son’s fervor was ignited by an environmental class project. His engagement transformed him into an advocate, fueling conversations about oceanic plastic pollution and inspiring collaborative brainstorming sessions. This momentum culminated in the birth of an eco-friendly business, aptly named “One Step Closer.”
Through this process, it became evident that intrinsic motivation was the driving force. As he pursued his passion, he naturally honed executive function and job skills, such as planning, organization, and teamwork. This revelation reframed our priorities, revealing that nurturing his executive functioning skills was the most meaningful investment for the summer.
Unlocking Your Child’s Passion: The core message is unmistakable: intrinsic motivation fuels self-determination and purposeful action. Identifying your child’s genuine interests serves as a potent catalyst for learning and goal attainment. For instance, if math poses a challenge, integrating it into cooking projects or enrolling in cooking classes might kindle their enthusiasm. Similarly, if reading struggles persist, coupling it with their affinity for sports could involve subscribing to sports magazines.
A unique example emerged in my younger son’s love for baseball and the need to refine fine motor skills. We bridged these aspects by crafting a baseball scoring sheet, transforming a passion into a skill-building endeavor.
Guiding the Discovery: Unearthing your child’s passions requires attentive navigation.
Here’s a roadmap to guide you:
Observe Their Instincts: Watch how your child naturally spends their free time. What activities or hobbies do they gravitate toward?
Engage in Dialogue: Initiate conversations to unearth their preferences. Discuss their favorite activities or subjects, allowing them to express themselves.
Decipher Reading and Media: Notice their reading preferences and media consumption. Their choices offer insights into their inclinations.
Experiment with New Ventures: If your child’s hobbies are limited or they hesitate to try new activities, encourage observation before committing. Many classes allow trial sessions, and online videos can provide glimpses into different pursuits.
Champion Curiosity: Embrace experimentation and exploration. Not every endeavor needs to be a perfect fit; the journey of exploration itself holds intrinsic value.
Parenthood is an odyssey of perpetual learning, where our children illuminate the path ahead. By embracing your child’s passions and tailoring activities to their interests, you empower them to embark on self-determined journeys of growth. So, let curiosity guide your exploration, as you infuse learning and development into their lives, one passion at a time. This article reveals the transformative potential of celebrating individuality and nurturing intrinsic motivation on the remarkable voyage of parenting.
For more strategies on practical activities for executive functioning and parenting strategies for social-emotional learning, delve into my book, Make Social and Emotional Learning Stick: Practical Tools for Managing Emotions, Navigating Social Situations, and Reducing Anxiety.