Nurturing children’s interests in school

If a child doesn’t know something exists, how can they possibly know if it interests them?

Children and their interests
Children can determine and acquire interests from a very young age. As they grow and encounter the world around them, they discover the things they like and dislike, and begin to establish what they care about and are interested in.

As an educator, it’s important that you support children as they navigate their interests and hobbies, and find new ones. This blog explains the benefits of nurturing children’s interests and how you can do this.

Why nurture children’s interests?
There are so many positives to encouraging children’s interests, but here are just a few!

• Encountering new experiences, skills and knowledge

As children grow, so does their understanding of the world around them. This can unleash their creativity and knowledge as their interests develop. Establishing hobbies and passions can encourage a love of learning and progression for children.

• Finding a sense of purpose and empowerment

Acquiring hobbies and interests gives children a sense of self as they identify something that makes them a unique individual. Children can be empowered in their choices and preferences, know what they like (and dislike!) and therefore develop self-awareness.

This, in turn, boosts mental health and wellbeing, as determining what they are passionate about can help children develop their character and identity to further understand themselves, and cultivate self-esteem and important life skills.

• Feeling valued and making connections with the world, themselves, and others

Participating in activities, clubs, and groups helps children encounter new people and experiences, founded on their interests.

Their self-assuredness gained from establishing interests enable children to form genuine connections and friendships, and access a sense of commonality with others.

Within these clubs and groups, children can also work on their ability to collaborate and work in a team related to their interests. This can give children a positive view of themselves, as they know that they can contribute, make a difference and impact others and the wider world.

• Raising cultural capital and global awareness

Children’s exploration of the wider world by seeking out new interests in turn reveals new places, people, lifestyles, cultures and ways of life.

Developing interests allows children to learn skills and knowledge beyond themselves, and open their eyes to the world that is perhaps beyond their home and school.

Children’s interests may be pursued by joining groups and clubs, through which they can encounter new places and experiences. Perhaps an art group may go on trips to galleries and museums, or a science club may visit a laboratory or university.

As children seek out more information, they look further afield to the wider world as they learn and delve deeper into their chosen interests.

Is it important to encourage children’s interests?
Not only is nurturing children’s interests incredibly beneficial for their development, it is also encouraged by many influential bodies in education and wellbeing. Here’s what they have to say.

• Department for Education, Physical Health and Mental Wellbeing (Primary and Secondary)
  Pupils should also be taught the benefits of hobbies, interests and participation in their own communities. This teaching should make clear that people are social beings and that spending time with others, taking opportunities to consider the needs of others and practising service to others, including in organised and structured activities and groups (for example the Scouts or Girl Guide movements), are beneficial for health and wellbeing.

• Ofsted Framework 2019
  Inspectors will make a judgement on the personal development of learners by evaluating the extent to which […] the curriculum extends beyond the academic, technical or vocational. It provides for learners’ broader development, enabling them to develop and discover their interests and talents […]

• World Health Organisation
  Mental health is a state of mental wellbeing that enables people to […] realise their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community.

How can teachers facilitate and nurture children’s interests?
So, we’ve explored the overwhelmingly positive impacts of developing interests during childhood. But what role can teachers play to facilitate and nurture these interests?

As an educator, it’s important to maximise the opportunities you can give children to find and develop their interests.

If you don’t know about an interest, how can you nurture it?

Here are our top tips:

• Check in and celebrate children’s interests. Regularly asking the children how their new hobby or interest is going, if they have learnt anything new, how they have progressed, or if they need any help are great ways to motivate them to carry on. Being there to celebrate with them when they find or develop new passions will also strengthen your connections!

• Feed interests by finding opportunities in the curriculum. With children’s interests and likes in mind, look for ways to combine their interests with the curriculum. This could be broad, including music, movement, physical activities or cognitive activities.

• Create at-home challenges. Perhaps you could connect children’s interests and hobbies with home and school by setting them related challenges or tasks to complete at home and report to the class. This will link well with connecting them to the curriculum!

• Use current affairs to discover and develop children’s interests. Weekly news sessions allow children to access new ideas and topics. In your sessions, encourage children to relate to and discuss a news topic. Does it fascinate them? By finding out what’s happening around the world, children can discover something new or identify with others. See below for more on this!

Using the news in school to nurture children’s interests
Exploring current news stories which cover an array of issues and topics can be a fantastic springboard for children to discover new interests, and for you to build better connections with pupils as they discuss and relate to topics.

Having open discussions with children about a news story can help you figure out what makes them tick, what they show passion for, and what piques their interest.

As you uncover what’s happening in the world, children can offer their thoughts and relate the story to their own lives, and in doing so, can signal to you their preferences and interests.

Perhaps within your class are budding scientists, journalists, artists, authors, musicians, activists, explorers or mathematicians, to name a few!

You can access a free Picture News pack here, all about a current news story, to help you on your journey of navigating interests with children.