Parents of older TEEN and ADULT children a Question:

[Gil]

Is your older/adult child still active or at least interested in any of their favorite hobbies or interests from when they were a small child (ages 3-10)?

 

So, if you had a kid who was super horse crazy or really loved basketball, whose interest you encouraged (even if only mildly) and the child was motivated enough to put their time and energy into it, how long did it last?

[freeindeed]

My ds21 loved reading as a young child and still does.

[Lynnae]

Yes! My now 16 year old has been interested in music since she was a toddler. Her whole life is still music.

 

[OneStepAtATime]

Well, I can't answer regarding my kids (too young yet) but I will say that DH was interested in electronics and computers as a very young kid, and this was long before most people had computers in their households.  Certainly most kids didn't have computers.  But his parents were willing to help him save money and buy one at a pawn shop and they were willing to drive him to hang out with retirees and adult computer specialists at 10-12 years old and were willing to help keep him supplied with parts, etc. even though they didn't have a lot of money.  That love and interest has never died and gave DH many career opportunities in several fields.

 

I think this really depends on the kid, what they are interested in, how deeply they pursue the interest, etc.  I had several interests as a kid. Unfortunately, I did not pursue any of them to mastery, just dabbled, which meant that I was unable to turn those interests into skill sets that could be fun AND useful.

 

Although I have always loved books and reading and that has never wavered....

[Jenny in Florida]

Yes, definitely.

 

My daughter started taking drama classes when she was six, and performed from that point on. She joined a choir when she was 10 and has sun ever since. She now has a degree in theatre with a minor in music, works in entertainment for a resort hotel and is planning her move to NYC to make it big there.

 

My son started taking dance lessons when he was just short of his seventh birthday. He did his first community theatre production that same year. He has continued dancing and doing theatre since then. He is headed to college this coming fall, where he intends to major in musical theatre and minor in dance.

 

Not every interest lasted, of course. For several years when she was between four and 12, my daughter was fascinated by anthropology/archaeology. (She was the youngest member of the local anthropological society, and we used to plan family vacations around which city currently had the best Egypt exhibit.) And while she has maintained a casual interest in the subject, she gave up on the idea of pursuing it seriously by age 13.

[Beth in OH]

Two of my dd's are pursuing music in college, and that interest began young--by age 5.  I will add that for a number of years, though, I had to provide the "self" discipline for them so they could keep moving forward.  Their interest never waned, but their ability to make themselves practice sometimes lagged.   :laugh:

[Catwoman]

I think it really depends on the kid. Some kids change interests like they change their shoes, while others remain interested in the same things for years and years.

 

I don't think one way is better than the other. One kid becomes very well-rounded from having lots of interests and experiences, while another develops specific and advanced skills and knowledge in one or two interests that he really loves.

 

It's all good. :)

[Lady Florida.]

Ds still loves being outdoors, camping, and nature related activities. Most of his other interests were apparently just explorations because there really isn't any other hobby or interest he still holds from that time.

[iamonlyone]

We have a 19 yo who said she wanted to be a ballerina at age four. We waited a couple years to start dance lessons to see if she would even still be interested. She was. She moved to Chicago last summer after being accepted into a ballet trainee program and loves her schedule of dancing 30-40 hours a week.

 

My husband always loved music and played drums from a young age. Although not his main profession, he is the worship leader at our church and still writes songs. I always loved to sing and to read. I sing in the worship band and have worked in publishing. I'm still doing freelance editing.

 

So, for our family, it seems at least some of our interests continue.

[elfgivas]

some ebb, some flow....

 

we have two who are 26 and 30, and two who are 14 and 15.

 

in their early years, everyone sang, and played piano.  oldest also play flute.  youngers also play violin.

oldest isn't doing any music right now.

second oldest isn't, either, but still loves to sing.

third and fourth are still involved in violin and piano.

 

in their early years, everyone danced.

oldest still dances, and performs (as a hobby).

second doesnt.

third and fourth still do.

 

in their early years, everyone rode horses.

oldest went on to be on the equestrian team at university, and still rides as a hobby.

second stopped at the end of high school

youngers stopped due to allergies.

 

in their early years, everyone did theater.

older two no longer do, although they both love live action roll play.

youngers still do.  #3 has traded the stage for the pit.  #4 is about to audition for a musical.

 

in their early years, everyone played soccer.

no one does now.

 

in her early years #2 took art lessons every day after school.  one of her degrees is in illustration.  she isn't using it currently, but still does as a hobby.

 

hth,

ann

 

ps.  my goal was to let them try lots of things, let them select those down, and then once they leave home, they do what they do.  (roots and wings).

 

however, what they all learned was self discipline and focus, and they will have those forever.

[kroe1]

Do video games count? DS33 still plays daily. He also still plays soccer weekly.

[Starr]

The good news, he doesn't collect plastic spoons anymore! :D  And he's only in a tree from time to time to take photographs.  The lego builder and outside the box thinker now makes videos, his own sound tracks, and plays several instruments. He still loves to swim and rides his bike. His interest in computers continues as well. He was delighted when I found his old pokemon game that I had confiscated when he was seven and gaveback  to him for his 18th birthday. Nothing like a game saved for 11 years! I do think many things get left behind but are great while they are in action. Some parents have a real hard time when their children move on to other things.

[Jasperstone]

Nope, my dd loved music and had piano lessons through out her childhood. But now at 27 years she does nothing with it. Sigh!

[Deb in NZ]

Dd (22) loved dolphins, nature, & anything to do with the sea.  She now has a degree in Marine Biology & is 3rd mate on a tall ship working with teenagers.  In her free time she sails, hikes, & volunteers on eco projects locally.  Dd played the flute for years & still takes it with her on most voyages, along with her penny whistle.  She has organised several jam sessions on the ship.

 

Ds#1(20) competed in gymnastics for 10 years.  He no longer competes because of working full time, but he does still train 2-3 days a week.  Ds#1 played the drums for a number of years, but no longer plays now.

 

Ds#2 (16) has played hockey since he was 4 years old & still plays year round.  He currently plays for 4 teams, including the provincial rep team.  He also coaches hockey.  He has sailed since he was 8 years old & still sails during the summer.  He played violin & guitar for a number of years, but due to other interests taking up more of his time, he no longer plays.

 

All 3 dc are / were involved in scouting.  Dd is now a scout leader.  Ds#2 is a venturer.  Ds#1 still helps out occasionally with scout regattas, etc.  As a family we have been involved in sea scouts for the past 15 years in the same group where dh was a cub / scout / venturer many years ago.  

 

When our dc were young (ages 3-10ish) we attended church/sunday school weekly.  As they got more involved in scouts/sports, our priorities changed.  

 

Life is made up of seasons, each with their own special focus.  Enjoy each season for what it offers.  Do not place value only on what lasts long-term.  Sometimes what has most value lasts just a very short time, but has the most impact.  

 

JMHO

[Melissa in Australia]

oldest ds loved planes form a very early age- especially plane design. He started constructing planes ( not so successfully at first) when he was 2. He is now a 3rd year aerospace engineering student.

 

next ds always loved animals, from a very very young age. He is almost completed a diploma in conservation and land management. and hopes to get a job in the department of environment and sustainability.

 

 next ds has this uncanny ability to identify where animals are and track them. when he was about 6 he could smell the air and say what direction a fox had come from and gone, sure enough investigations would find the animal tracks. We live about 1 km from the ocean. From our house he claims he can smell fish, he will the jump on his bike with a fishing rod, go to the beach and come home with as many fish as he can carry.. He is almost completed a certificate 3 in conservation and land management and wants to get a job as a dog trapper.

[Pawz4me]

Unless playing computer games counts, then no.  Mine are 15 and 18 and have almost totally different interests now than when they were little kids.

[Carrie12345]

I have a mid-teen.

He's still very much into music and baseball. Sadly, there weren't enough boys for his LL team to continue to the next age level, but he chose not to try out for his high school team.  I'm not 100% certain why that is. (I'm guessing fear of not making the cut, but he doesn't tell me!)  He still plays keyboards and bass guitar.

 

My grown husband is still madly in love with hockey.  He played for years and wishes he had time to play with the old timers!

[Chris in VA]

Not really.

 

One tended to have deep interests that burned themselves out--that's common in Aspies. He discovered movies as a later teen, and that became part of his career path. He was always interested in "story," and we encouraged reading a LOT (and read to him and his brother and sister extensively), but we didn't let him experience a ton of film until he was older, so maybe those are linked.

 

One was into physical activity, esp skateboarding, but aspects of the sb lifestyle burned HIM out--lol--he is still into physical fitness though and is becoming a personal trainer.

 

Not sure what youngest will do with her interests--it's fun to see what direction she's beginning to choose.

[ThisIsTheDay]

Is your older/adult child still active or at least interested in any of their favorite hobbies or interests from when they were a small child (ages 3-10)?

 

So, if you had a kid who was super horse crazy or really loved basketball, whose interest you encouraged (even if only mildly) and the child was motivated enough to put their time and energy into it, how long did it last?

 

Yes. One loved writing and riding (horses).  Still writes fiction for fun, although that's dropped off as college writing has taken over this year.  The riding lessons stopped not because of a lack of interest, but because we had difficulties finding an instructor. She also always had a fascination with languages, and I can remember her creating an alternate alphabet to write secret notes with a friend when she was 10. She memorized it that same day. She has continued to research languages, to the point of writing biology notes one year in Korean, self teaching Lakota by watching Berenstain Bears videos on youtube, and will start her 300 level Chinese classes next semester in college. She's one of a handful with an A in her current course, when even several native speakers are not.

 

The second has always drawn (copying the Arthur cartoon when he was 4) and loved building things (mainly Legos). Now he draws Manga and builds computers.

 

They show the initial interest, but the challenge for me as a parent is to expand that interest so they find their true niche.  My oldest did that more easily on her own; I'm still working on the second one.

[regentrude]

My DD is 17 and about to graduate high school and move to college. When she was younger, she spent a lot of time riding her hours, was at the stable 20 hours per week. She has been taking lessons since she was ten.

In the last year, we have seen a definite shift; she rides only occasionally, because she is very busy with other things - her college classes, her job, her friends. When she goes away to college, she will very likely not have any opportunity to ride.

 

Still, I do not for a moment regret the time, energy and money we have invested in this. It has done her a tremendous amount of good. And she may possibly pick up riding later as an adult,

 

All things have a season. I spent a lot of time on music when I was a child and teen and then did not have the time once I went to university; these were the only five years in my life since 12 that I did not sing in a choir. I went back to it as an adult.

 

 

[Laura Corin]

I started the boys with music (recorder) when they were small.  Music (singing and bass guitar) is still a major passion in his life.

 

L

[mom2scouts]

Yes, I've found that basic interests have carried into adulthood.  One son was very mechanically inclined as a toddler and he became an electrical engineer who still loves figuring out how things work and improving them.  He was also very into hiking and camping and he still enjoys doing that.  Another loved both reading and computers.  As an adult he spends his free time reading or playing on computers.  My sports nut still coaches, plays, and goes to sporting events.

[Lolly]

Yes.

 

Dd21 has always been drawing. She still does (when her wrist and time allow). It is her outlet. 

 

Dd19a loved horses and swimming. She still loves both.She doesn't have the time and money for horses. She is currently coaching a USA team and summer league team while in college.

 

Dd19b loved photography, violin and swimming. She is swimming in college, takes pictures when her time permits, is paid to do senior portraits (when time permits), is shooting a guy she works with for a professional acting/model portfolio this summer, and would love to still play her violin but doesn't want to take it to her dorm.

 

ds17 has been more flighty. He has had a lot he has dabbled in. He still likes guns with an intense passion.

[Trilliums]

In some areas yes, in other areas, no.

 

Older child (17) hated reading around ages 6-10.  He now is an avid reader.   He found geology, Ancient Egypt and electricity fascinating during the elementary years.  He no longer has a particular interest in rocks or ancient civilizations, but he does love physics and plans to become a physicist. 

 

Younger son(16) used to love gardening and he now only does it to humor mom.  Around age 8 he got into pre-programming with scratch, game maker, multi media fusion, etc.  He now is learning java and plans to be a computer programmer or engineer. 

 

Both kids were into science from an early age and that interest has remained.

[lauranc]

Yes. My 19 yr old is now at university, and is majoring in the passion he has had since age 6. And thinking of grad school for a masters in his other (somewhat related) passion.

[MIch elle]

One ds yes, the other ds no.

[ocelotmom]

Nope, my dd loved music and had piano lessons through out her childhood. But now at 27 years she does nothing with it. Sigh!

 

FWIW, my father was very active in band as a child, but then stopped as an adult. I think he may have been in marching band in college, but did absolutely nothing with it after that. When I was in my late teens, a community band started up, and he decided to join. Now he plays semi-professionally.

[HollyDay]

oldest, now 17 has always loved ice skating and horses.  She started skating at 4 and riding just a few months before her 5th birthday.  She plans to study Equine Science at college.  Her goal is to work with therapy horses and/or vet tech for an equine vet.  She still skates but not competitively.  She mastered all the single loops and spins but after a concussion she reassessed the risk vs gain and decided learning the double joints was not something she wanted to persue.  But, she loves recreational skating and goes as often as she can.  

 

Other interests have come and gone.  She was a very good gymnast and made 2 different competitive teams but didn't want to continue.  She played soccer for a few years and thoroughly enjoyed it.  She played basketball for 2 years. 

 

I insisted on piano lessons for a year which she did and enjoyed but not loved.  She did not want to continue piano after that year.  Now she takes voice and guitar and is glad to have had that year of piano.  She sings with a community choir and has no plans to stop.  Guitar is a joy I think she will continue for many years.

 

 

[Night Elf]

No, unfortunately. My dd21 doesn't hold any interests from when she was younger. Her last great passion was about age 17. She isn't interested in that anymore either. 

 

The only interest ds17 has held is video games. I highly doubt he'll ever lose interest in those. He's become a collector. Oh, he does have a 6-ft table layout of a Lego city that he refuses to take down, but he doesn't really interact with it anymore.

[elegantlion]

Ds is 16 and still like space, jets, and engines - mostly big huge rockets. 

 

He still plays with Lego and recently stuck a $300 Lego space shuttle on his wish list :svengo: 

 

His interests have morphed and evolved, but the essence of what he liked as a young child is still there.