Perhaps one of your new year’s resolutions for 2025 is to find a new activity you’ll enjoy? Well, here’s your sign to get on it. January is National Hobby Month, the most optimal 31 days on the calendar to find a new pastime or get back into a previous one that may have fallen off the radar (you’re a parent now and the time to do things you want to do is limited, so don't feel badly if that’s you!).

While you’re on your own personal quest, help your kid find a new interest too. Hobbies are educational tools for children, helping them express themselves, build up confidence, and learn new skills. Hobbies can be practiced at home or at school, as an extracurricular activity or at summer camp. It’s important for kids to have personal passions beyond what they’re learning at school, and it’s our job as parents to help foster them (within reason and budget, of course).

But how can a kid figure out what they’re into and turn it into a hobby? Whether you’re looking to keep your kid engaged and socializing after school or they’ve been vocal about exploring new areas of interest, here are five ways to help your child find their “thing” for 2025:

• Talk to your child about their interests. Start by having a conversation with your child about what areas they may want to explore — are they into sports, coding, art, or dance? Ask open-ended questions to get a feel, and let them take the lead. Try hard not to impose your own interests and ideas onto them, but be there to guide them if they’re a bit all over the place in their thoughts.

• Do your research and enroll in trial classes. Consider a few different activities within your child’s chosen “category” to see if one is preferable over the other (like painting vs. drawing), and search online or ask other parents in your area if they have recommendations on how and where to enroll. Exploration is key here, and it may take beyond the month of January to find the perfect fit for your child’s age group, personality, and schedule.

• Test out the hobby before overcommitting. You don’t want this new hobby to become your kid’s entire personality right away, right? Wait before you buy all that activity’s accoutrements just to be sure they’re in it for the long-ish haul (besides, certain items including musical instruments and sports uniforms can get pricey). Ease in with fewer or shorter sessions, like one class or lesson a week, and scale up if they continue to show interest.

• Lead by example and offer support. If you have your own hobbies or side hustles, share them with your child. Your enthusiasm and passion for something will get them excited about their own, whether or not it’s the same as yours. (Both my husband and son have a shared love of WWE wrestling and coding activities, and that’s surely not just a coincidence). And show your kid with words and actions that you support their new endeavor — they’ll feel more confident in their choice knowing their parents approve.

• Keep it low-pressure and fun. At some point a hobby can become more intense (like if your kid goes from rec soccer to a competitive league, for example), but right now, it’s about exploring, learning, and enjoying. Don’t get upset if this new hobby is short-lived and their interest evolves in a year or two. Kids are still figuring themselves out. They’ll find their “thing” eventually! 

How else can we encourage our kids to find hobbies?

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