Authored by : Urvashi Musale (M.A. Applied Psychology Stanford Certified)
Reviewed by : Rochelle D’souza – (M.Sc Clinical Psychology)

Revive, Engage, Connect

While we see our children getting increasingly hooked to electronic gadgets, tablets, and mobile devices, parents are complaining about their children’s inactive lifestyle, lack of motivation, and lowering of creative energy. 

In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to get caught up in our daily routines and neglect spending quality time with our children. However, these precious moments can have a profound impact on their personality development, shaping their future interests, and fostering healthy relationships. By implementing effective parenting hacks, you can break the ice, open lines of communication with teens, and create lasting memories that will benefit your child’s teenager thinking processes. Let’s explore strategies to understand teenagers better, effectively handle teenage challenges, and build a strong bond that will nurture their growth and development.

One of the ways to engage our children is to help them regain their zest and agility. Here are some of the activities you can engage in to keep your child active, healthy, and creative at the same time. Engaging in activities with your child is a wonderful way to bond with and understand them better.

1. Arts and Crafts: Engage in creative activities like drawing, painting, or crafting. This can help you understand their interests, imagination, and how they express themselves.

2. Storytelling: Take turns telling stories. You can learn a lot about their thoughts, creativity, and what they find interesting.


3. Cooking or Baking Together: Cooking together can be fun and educational. It provides insights into their tastes and preferences and can encourage communication.

4. Outdoor Exploration: Take walks, go on nature hikes, or visit parks. You’ll observe how they interact with the environment and learn about their curiosity for the world around them.

5. Puzzles and Games: Play board games, puzzles, or video games together. This can help you understand their problem-solving skills, competitiveness, and patience.

6. Reading: Read books together and discuss the stories. This can reveal their interests, comprehension, and even their moral values.

7. Music and Dance: Listen to music, sing, or dance together. This can show you their musical preferences and how they express themselves physically.

8. Journaling or Drawing Journals: Encourage them to keep a journal where they can write or draw about their thoughts and experiences. This can give you insights into their emotions and daily life.

9. Building Projects: Build things with blocks, Legos, or other construction kits. This can demonstrate their creativity, attention to detail, and how they approach problem-solving.

10. Gardening: If you have a garden, involve them in planting and taking care of plants. This can teach them responsibility and give you a chance to see their nurturing side.

11. Volunteering Together: Engage in volunteer activities as a family. This can reveal their empathy and social awareness.

12. Science Experiments: Conduct simple science experiments at home. This can spark their curiosity and show you their approach to learning and discovery.

13. Sports or Physical Activities: Play sports, go swimming, or engage in other physical activities. This can help you understand their athletic interests and teamwork skills.

14. Movie or Documentary Nights: Watch movies or documentaries together and discuss the themes afterward. This can give you insight into their thoughts and values.

15. Building a Fort or Tent: Build a fort indoors or set up a tent in the backyard. This can show their creativity, imagination, and problem-solving abilities.

Remember, the key is to create an environment where your child feels comfortable expressing themselves. Observe their reactions, listen actively, and ask open-ended questions to encourage conversations. Every child is unique, so pay attention to their preferences and adapt the activities accordingly.

By incorporating these activities into your daily routine, you can not only foster a deeper connection with your teenager but also help your child alleviate their stress levels and anxiety. Activities such as gardening, puzzles, storytelling, baking, etc. have been linked to benefits like improved self-awareness, social connection and emotional regulation while lowering levels of distress, anxiety and even pain scores.

 

Benefits of Creative Hobbies for Children:

Engaging in creative hobbies can have numerous positive impacts on a child’s development. Here are some key benefits:

  1. Cognitive Development:
  • •Enhances problem-solving skills: Creative activities often involve identifying and overcoming challenges, stimulating critical thinking.
  • •Improves memory and focus: Engaging in creative pursuits can strengthen memory and concentration skills.
  • •Boosts creativity: Creative hobbies provide a space for children to explore their imaginations and express themselves uniquely.
  1. Emotional and Social Development:
  • •Reduces stress and anxiety: Creative activities can serve as a healthy outlet for emotions, helping children manage stress and anxiety.
  • •Boosts self-esteem: Success in creative endeavors can enhance a child’s self-confidence and sense of accomplishment.
  • •Improves social skills: Participating in group creative activities can foster teamwork, collaboration, and communication skills.
  1. Academic Benefits:
  • •Enhances academic performance: Studies have shown that engaging in creative activities can improve academic performance, particularly in subjects like math and science.
  • •Develops critical thinking: Creative hobbies can stimulate critical thinking and problem-solving skills, which are essential for academic success.
  1. Self-Expression and Identity:
  • •Provides an outlet for self-expression: Creative activities allow children to express their thoughts, feelings, and experiences in unique ways.
  • •Helps develop a sense of identity: Exploring different creative outlets can help children discover their passions and interests, contributing to their sense of self.
  1. Lifelong Benefits:
  • •Cultivates a love for learning: Engaging in creative hobbies can foster a lifelong love of learning and exploration.
  • •Encourages resilience: Overcoming challenges and setbacks in creative pursuits can build resilience and perseverance.

Spending time with your child helps create a positive and supportive environment. Remember, understanding children and teenagers requires patience, empathy, and a willingness to listen. By actively engaging in children’s and teenagers’ talking and teenage thoughts, you can build a strong bond that will benefit their thinking processes and set them up for success in the future. Let’s make a conscious effort to prioritize quality time with our children and reap the rewards of effective parenting.