One of the most often asked questions I get as a unschooling mom, and the biggest concern from parents about interest led, self-directed, and informal learning is what to do if the kids are not interested in anything. That the kids don’t have any questions or passions. That they don’t have anything to think about or ideas to create anything.
Ideas are a product, not a resource. When cooking we need the raw ingredients to begin with. The better the quality of ingredients we add, the better the final dish would be. And then there must be time to cook the whole concoction up!
If we want our kids to be interested in things beyond cartoons and sports, we need to expose them to things beyond cartoons and sports. We need to let them see the world beyond classroom and gym. We need to ignite their curiosity.
So how can we do that? Here are some tips:
Limit passive entertainment.
Once the kids are used to passively watching stuff they are not interested in anything else. Even in playing games (where they have to use their thinking and analytical skills). Foster healthy screen time.
Expand their horizons.
Let them meet more people. Not just the people from their own age group, and their own culture. Let them meet people of diverse ages, cultures, hobbies, professions, and stations of life.
Take them to meet artists and designers, coders and engineers, bankers and entrepreneurs, medics and firefighters, hawkers, and factory workers.
You don’t need to go out of your way to find these diverse people. We all meet so many different types of people throughout our days, within our family and friends. Keep your kids with you and let them interact with all these people.
And teach them (through your own behaviour) to respect people based on their integrity and character and not their social status.
Stimulate their minds.
Spark their interest by exposing them to topics outside their current understanding.
Explore and learn about big scientific discoveries. Read about people who tried to find the answers to small insignificant questions that led to life saving discoveries.
Watch nature documentaries and TED talks together. Read about crypto currency, Bionics, and AI together. Discuss the latest news on world economy and politics with them. Observe how supply chains and stock markets work. Discuss history and what future may hold. Challenge their decisions in hypothetical situations.
You don’t have to know everything yourself. And even if you have all the answers, sometimes hold them back and let them find their own answers. They may find better ones than yours!
And most importantly, accept your lack of knowledge in front of them and then learn together.
Talk about serious issues.
Discuss morals, ethics, character, justice, rights and wrongs. Don’t be scared to discuss these deeper issues with them or dismiss their questions thinking they are too young.
They may ask you difficult questions, they may make you feel uncomfortable. But trust me discussing the deeper side of life and being honest in your answers is one of the most important things you can do for your kids.
Give them a wide selection of activities to choose from.
When we think of extra mural activities we usually think of sports and arts. But let them explore other options too. Think about unusual sports and skills like wood working, blade forging, shooting, pottery, photography, digital arts, and more.
Think about real life skills like internship at a business, working at an NPO, cooking, dress designing, tending to vegetables in a garden and so on. Ask around to find real life opportunities for your kids.
Make them a part of your own daily life.
From cooking and grocery shopping to running your business, keep them involved. Take them to work if you can. Involve them in daily decision making and value their input. Ask for suggestions, talk to them, assign them jobs, and let them take responsibilities.
It may take a while for your kids to start feeling interested in things, especially if you have previously allowed them to pass all their free time in passive entertainment.
But with persistence and hard work you can break the cycle and get your kids curious and creative again!
What else will you add to this list?