Starting Them Young: Nurturing Children’s Passions

^{Photo by Adrià Crehuet Cano on Unsplash}

Children’s passions are as valuable as adults’. Although assumed temporary, their passions are vital to a fulfilling life.

Have you ever remembered liking doing something so much in your childhood?

Whether it’s doodling random shapes on your notebook’s extra pages or building robots by combining random scraps lying around, there’s always one activity children can’t get enough of. Something that would take most of their time and make their eyes sparkle with so much joy and excitement.

Most of the time, adults hearten them to continue, finding amusement in their happiness. It doesn’t matter how tired their children get or how dirty the house becomes; adults find satisfaction in seeing their children do something worthwhile. But sometimes, parents frown upon their children pursuing something outside their academic affairs. Whether it’s soccer or discouraging them, especially if the activity doesn’t align with what they deem successful.

How adults react to these endeavors can make or break children’s passions.

How Children’s Passions Are Deemed Worthy or Not

Years ago or even today, most parents believed children only have limited fields to pursue that would bring them success and financial abundance. They’re keen on pushing children on the corporate path. This limits their engagement in activities that only familiarize them with fields such as medicine or architecture – careers most parents deem more valuable and secure.

On the other hand, activities related to the arts are commonly frowned upon. With the negative perception that these are only worthy of hobbies and not for serious and long-term careers, parents hinder their children’s passions for the arts. Regardless of how talented children are in the field, they’re deterred from developing further since “there’s no money in art.” Whenever they’re seen pursuing these, parents criticize and realign them to activities regarded as more valuable.

This viewpoint comes from a very traditional perception of societal value. Although hearing similar stories can be frustrating, it pays to remember these sentiments aren’t necessarily ill-intended.

Parents only want what’s best for their children. Unfortunately, this means sticking to what society deems stable from a more traditional lens. Parents want their children to pursue corporate, medical, or the sciences because it’s where money and stability are believed to be. Perhaps, back then, this holds true. But now, with how society has changed, the arts’ value has been redefined.

Instead of condemning parents from cultivating this viewpoint, guide them toward recognizing that all passions and interests are worthy of nurturing. No passion is worth less than the other.

What They Wish to Pursue Is up to Them

Children’s passions should solely depend upon them.

Regardless of how adults wish to care for their children, adults shouldn’t meddle with where children find their happiness. Parents don’t know their children as much as they believe they do. Happiness is an internal experience. No matter how unaware children may be, they should still know themselves more than anyone else. Pushing them toward a direction they aren’t satisfied with is like tying them to a pole despite them having wings. They are free to do something, but their flight is still limited to something they can’t undo.

There’s no harm in supporting children in endeavors they wish to do. These might not adhere to what parents believe is the most beneficial, but it’s what fills their hearts with joy.

It’s easy to think children’s passions are temporary – a passing interest they will forget after a day or two. Given their age, there’s no way they already know what they want to do long-term. However, maintaining a supportive nature will help them find their genuine passions. What they’re pursuing now may not be their end all be all. But it’s one step closer to finding their true purpose.

The Importance of Nurturing Their Passion

Beyond the satisfaction of allowing children to have a choice, giving them the freedom to pursue their passions can lead to a more fruitful future. Author Raymond Quattlebaum can attest to that.

Raymond Quattlebaum is one of those individuals who had a knack for things during childhood.

Currently a writer with a passion for poetry, Ronald started this endeavor when he was much younger. He remembered writing his first poem in third grade that his teacher liked so much it ended up in the school’s newspaper. Imagine, at eight or nine years old, a third grader already published his composition for one of literature’s most complex materials to create.

It might not be an accomplishment from the sciences, but it has boosted his morale.

If his parents prevented him from creating poetry back then, he wouldn’t have stuck with writing. The world wouldn’t have one more poet to marvel at and relate with. And Ronald wouldn’t have realized his passion for literature. Decades since his first achievement, he has already harvested the fruits of his endeavor as he’s now writing and earning money from it.

If parents must get anything from Quattlebaum’s experience, it’s that the arts are as valuable to pursue as the other fields. He also mentions how wonderful poetry has made him feel about himself. Hence, children’s passions shouldn’t only contribute to society’s improvement but also the individual’s happiness and satisfaction.