Identifying your child’s interests to improve their academic perseverance

To do well in school, motivation is key.

An interest is something your child is intrinsically motivated to do. It’s an activity they’re naturally passionate about and will do happily, without any coaxing. 

In other words, interests aren’t something a parent can impose on their child. However, there are ways to encourage them.

If you want to figure out what your child is passionate about, simply watch and listen. 

• What activities are they naturally drawn to? 
• What tasks can they do for long periods of time or become completely absorbed in? 
• What do they enjoy talking about?

Scientists agree that extracurricular activities and hobbies can strengthen children’s academic perseverance, even if they’re not directly related to schoolwork. How? In all sorts of ways:

• School extracurricular activities can foster children’s sense of belonging and help them make friends.
• Children get to bond with other students and adults who share their interests.
• Spending time on personal interests helps kids lead a balanced life.

There are plenty of things you can do at home to support your child’s interests. Here are some ideas: 

• Sign your child up for an activity they’re passionate about.
• Set aside time for your child to pursue their interests.
• Do their favourite activity with them. 
• Do an activity that relates to their interest. For example: Does your child like soccer? You could watch a game together or read news articles about their favourite team.
• Talk to them about their interests and ask questions. What do they really love doing? Can they explain why it interests them?

To bolster your child’s academic perseverance, try integrating their interests into activities that are more educational: 

• Read books on the subject 
• Visit a museum 
• Watch documentaries 
• Write a play or do arts and crafts 
• Etc.

This situation is a bit more delicate. There’s nothing wrong with video games, but you don’t want your child spending too much time in front of a screen, either. As the saying goes, “If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em!” Instead of playing video games, your child can explore this interest in other ways. For instance, you could encourage them to try the following activities: 

• Read comic books that have a video game look or feel
• Play collaborative board games with exciting quests 
• Take a class or attend a day camp that focuses on video game animation and programming

While your child’s interests may seem unusual or unrelated to school, it’s important to encourage them. Ultimately, the things they’re passionate about will play a vital role in their academic perseverance.