7 Fun Ways to Help Your Child Discover Their Passions

Thank you, iD Tech for sponsoring this post. I received private lessons in return for my honest review. Every opinion stated in this blog post is 100% mine. 

“Mom! Guess what I want to learn about! It’s a REALLY cool hobby!” The excitement in his voice is rivaled only by the gleam in his eyes. This ought to be good. I brace myself for the rest of his announcement. Is it birdwatching? Rock collecting? It’s hopefully something we can explore indoors now that there is a winter’s chill in the air. 

I wait with bated breath. 

“Photography, mom – and photo editing! Mom, I want to get good at taking amazing pictures and then learn how to use Photoshop. It’s going to be so cool!” 

My stomach twists, while I also breathe a sigh of relief. Well, thankfully his newfound hobby is not out of the realm of possibilities. It’s not as if he asked to collect ancient Mayan fossils or study a long-forgotten language spoken only in remote areas of the Sahara desert. However, I don’t know much about photography and even less about Photoshop. How am I going to support this new passion of his?

Helping your child embrace a new hobby doesn’t have to be a daunting task. It can be a fun opportunity for you to learn alongside them. 

7 Ways You Can Help Your Child Discover New Passions and Learn New Skills 

1. Encourage exploration and ignite curiosity.
   1. Introduce your child to different subjects through fun online programs, themed camps, and other cool activities
   2. Offer captivating and enriching subjects to choose from, such as game dev, coding, 3D, VR, digital arts, and more. These areas can pave the way for future success, aligning with their passions!
   3. iD Tech private lessons cover over 50 exciting topics, and kids have the freedom to dive into their favorite or experiment with new ones each lesson. This is perfect for kids who aren’t quite sure what they love yet or have a bunch of different interests and want to dig deeper before choosing their absolute favorite.
2. Why this particular hobby?
   1. Once identified, find out WHAT specifically is drawing them to this new interest. 
   2. Inquire about their current knowledge of the topic by asking open-ended questions.
   3. What inspired this curiosity? 
   4. What would they like to learn or gain from this new activity?
3. Share your experience or knowledge. 
   1. Can you teach your child skills or tell stories? 
   2. Is someone else in your household or family able to help? 
4. Gather the necessary supplies and tools. 
   1. Look around your house for supplies and resources to support your child’s hobby. Instead of running to the store to buy new things, do you have an old camera they can use, craft supplies stashed in a closet, or scraps of wood or fabric? 
   2. Let your child help you look through the house, this task alone is engaging and shows your child that you are interested in helping them learn and succeed. 
5. Head to the library. 
   1. Bring your child to the library, show them the shelves packed with relevant books, and watch the magic happen as they fill their arms with interesting reading material. 
6. Partner with professionals to teach your child. 
   1. If your child’s area of interest is out of your realm of knowledge and experience, don’t hesitate to hire professionals. When Jonah asked to learn photography and Photoshop, I immediately knew that these topics were out of my area of expertise. Thankfully, we found iD Tech and partnered with them to teach Jonah Photoshop and photography tips through their customized one-on-one private lessons. 
   2. Jonah has met several times with the same instructor to learn Photoshop and each time, I am blown away at the progress he is making. 
   3. Honestly, during their first Zoom call, I worried the content would be well above his ability to learn. But I stepped away from the computer and allowed him to connect with his instructor, Nicki, without me hovering over his shoulder. She was incredibly sweet and patient with him. The two of them quickly bonded and were able to make impressive progress during their one-hour sessions. 
7. Let your child teach YOU. 
   1. As your child learns and gains knowledge about their new-found passion, let them show you everything they know. Whether they are self-taught or took classes through iD Tech, they will soon have a lot of information to share with you. 
   2. There’s no better way to show an interest in someone’s hobby than by asking questions and being willing to learn from them. 
   3. Jonah shows me everything he’s learned during his one-hour iD Tech classes, which also helps him remember every tip, trick, and tidbit Nicki taught him. 

 

What is iD Tech and why do we love them?

• iD Tech offers a broad selection of STEM camps, teen academies, and private lessons. Their courses are available at college campuses nationwide as well as virtually via Zoom. Your child can attend camps and academies during summer or sign up for private lessons year-round. 
• iD Tech courses are taught by US-based adult instructors. These STEM-loving individuals bring an exciting level of creativity and personality to each lesson. Once your student has found an instructor they like, you can schedule future sessions with them. All iD Tech instructors go through rigorous background and reference checks and they attend extensive in-person and virtual training sessions.
• The breadth of iD Tech’s course catalog is every STEM kid’s dream. Best of all, if your child has a special niche interest within the scope of their broad selection of courses, reach out to customer service. Their helpful staff will recommend the best instructor for your child’s particular interests. 

iD Tech will make a great “experience” gift this holiday season for the tweens and teens on your shopping list, with smiles, growth, skills, and memories they’ll cherish forever, much more meaningful than the newest trending toy. Explore their printable gift certificates and skip the shipping hassle for a stress-free gifting experience. This holiday season, use code GIVETECH for up to $150 off epic courses like BattleBots, Minecraft, Roblox, VR, 3D printing, NVIDIA, and more.

I am thankful for iD Tech’s professionals for making Jonah’s newfound hobby and passion a source of smiles and happiness for both of us. Without their knowledge and lessons, I would have been a stressed and frustrated parent. Instead, Jonah has been set up for success with his love for photography and photo editing. 

 

 

 

Terms: Offer ends December 19, 2023. $150 off applies to in-person camps, in-person academies, and online academies. $100 off applies to virtual camps. $20 off applies to private lessons. Promo code may be used once per child per program. Promo code can not be applied to previous purchases or combined with other offers.