Parenting Keywords: Creating an Enabling Environment, Cultivating Interests
"Having a hobby greatly benefits a child's development. For our daughter Tiantian especially, joining interest classes helped her make many friends. This is especially valuable for families with only one child, as it fosters an optimistic and outgoing personality while boosting self-confidence," shared Ms. Wu, who has gained insights into her child's education.
"We were busy with work, so our daughter was raised by her grandparents from a young age. She didn't have many playmates, and even when she started kindergarten, she was shyer and less talkative than the other children in her class. At first, I didn't pay much attention to it. But when she entered elementary school, I noticed she still struggled to integrate into class activities. That's when I realized the issue was more serious. I read extensively, consulted many teachers, and finally came up with a solution: enrolling her in interest classes."But which class suited her child? This gave Ms. Wu quite a headache.
The search for the right activity class lasted over half a year, during which Ms. Wu also reached a conclusion: parents themselves are the best "activity class" for their children. "Her dad and I went to great lengths. We wanted her to express her own desire to learn a skill or join a certain class, rather than feel pressured into it by us.Her dad and I got together because we share a common passion—painting. So in the beginning, whenever we had time, we'd pick up our brushes again and paint together. Sometimes we'd go out for sketching sessions, and we'd always discuss how to complete a painting... Although we never asked Tiantian to try it, seeing how happy her dad and I were, she couldn't help but get curious and asked to paint herself.Once we saw she genuinely loved painting, I discussed it with her: "Mommy and Daddy don't have time to teach you, so let's find a professional teacher. How does that sound?" She readily agreed, gradually discovering the joy within it and growing to love painting. Later, in her art class, she met many friends who shared her passion. I often encouraged her to invite classmates over to play.