Parents should encourage, not pressure preschoolers into hobbies, Hong Kong educators say
Experts advise parents to learn what interests tots at kindergarten, and then introduce activities to suit their personalities, dexterity and attention spans
Many parents might wonder if their busy preschool children need a hobby. Experienced educators say they do.
Children are naturally inquisitive about subjects ranging from music, sports, arts and crafts, to Egyptian mummies or Hong Kong trams. Research also shows that a hobby can also help preschool children to develop emotionally, mentally and physically. Such pastimes can also encourage preschoolers to learn more of the world they live in; develop a healthy imagination, and nurture a sense of creativity. Hobbies also help youngsters acquire useful soft skills for life.
And parents can help their preschool children to discover potential hobbies, by exposing them to a broad spectrum of experiences, according to Dr Chan Wai-ling, assistant professor at the Education University of Hong Kong’s (EdUHK) department of early childhood.
Besides watching and listening to their children and seeing what interests and excites them at home, parents can also talk to their tinies’ teachers to find out about the things that excite them at school, advises Chan, who is also a supervisor at the EdUHK Early Childhood Learning Centre.
However, hobbies should also be fun and children should not feel under pressure to achieve particular goals in them, she explains.
