Parenting is filled with questions, but one of the most important is this: How can we help our kids become the best versions of themselves? Encouraging kids to follow their passions is a powerful way to support their growth, confidence, and happiness. But it’s not always easy. As parents, we walk the fine line between guiding them and allowing them to explore their interests.
In this post, I’m sharing practical, heartfelt advice on how to encourage your kids to pursue their passions and embrace who they’re meant to be.
Why Encouraging Kids to Pursue Their Passions Matters
Encouraging kids to follow their passions isn’t just about helping them find a hobby or career; it’s about nurturing their confidence and teaching them that their interests have value. When kids feel supported, they’re more likely to:
- Take risks and try new things.
- Develop resilience when faced with challenges.
- Build a strong sense of self and identity.
- Learn the importance of dedication and hard work.
Passions spark creativity and joy, and as parents, we have the privilege of fanning that flame.
Redefining Success: Preparing Our Kids for a Future Beyond the 9-to-5
For Matt and me, we’ve recently come to a profound realization about the future we’re setting up for our kids. We’re not just guiding them toward independence but also encouraging them to think beyond the traditional “career” path. In today’s world, where opportunities extend far beyond the typical 9-to-5 job, we want to prepare them to embrace flexibility, creativity, and self-reliance in how they approach work and life.
Matt and I are both content creators who work from home, and our careers are anything but conventional. Matt is an SEO writer, crafting articles that help businesses thrive online, and he’s also channeling his passion for storytelling into publishing several fictional books. On top of that, he joins me every week on our parenting podcast, where we share the ups, downs, and lessons of raising a family.
As for me, I’ve poured my heart into building and operating our family blog, a space where I connect with other parents to offer advice, share stories, and create resources. Together, our work reflects the kind of future we envision for our kids—one where they can pursue their passions, embrace creativity, and design a life that brings them joy and fulfillment.
By modeling this lifestyle, we hope to inspire our children to explore their interests and develop the skills they need to carve out their own unique paths. After all, the world is evolving, and so should the way we think about careers and success.
Signs Your Child Has Found a Passion
It can be exciting to watch your kids light up about something, but how do you know when they’ve truly found a passion? Look for these signs:
- They talk about it constantly.
Whether it’s art, sports, or science, kids who are passionate will find every opportunity to bring it up. Currently, for our kids, it’s video games, their desire to create custom mods, and how the games can be improved. - They dedicate free time to it.
If your child willingly spends hours practicing, creating, or diving deeper into their interests, it’s a strong sign they’ve discovered something truly special. Our daughter Addison has recently been honing her drawing skills with the guidance of her cousins and grandfather. Creativity seems to run in my family—several relatives are talented artists, including one who achieved remarkable success as a portrait and sculptor artist. One of my uncle’s proudest moments and missed opportunities was being featured alongside Michael Jackson at his studio in Arizona. It’s inspiring to see Addison carry on this artistic legacy and make it her own. - They show pride in their progress.
Seeing them beam with pride over a new skill or achievement is a clear indicator that they’ve found something meaningful.
5 Ways to Encourage Your Kids to Follow Their Passions
1. Pay Attention to What Lights Them Up
The first step to encouraging kids is to observe. What excites them? What topics do they keep coming back to? Take note of the activities that spark their interest and ask open-ended questions like:
- “What do you love about this?”
- “How does it make you feel?”
Even if their current passion seems fleeting, showing interest tells them their feelings and experiences are valid.
2. Provide Opportunities to Explore
Sometimes, kids need hands-on experiences to truly discover their passions. Look for local classes, workshops, or clubs that align with their interests. For example:
- If they love animals, consider a junior zookeeper program.
- If they enjoy building, try a LEGO robotics camp.
These opportunities not only refine their skills but also show them that their passions are worth investing in.
3. Offer Support Without Taking Over
It’s easy to want to jump in and “help” when we see our kids exploring their passions. But there’s a fine line between supporting and taking over. Let your kids take the lead, and remember:
- Encourage them to set their own goals.
- Celebrate progress, not just achievements.
- Be their cheerleader, not their manager.
For instance, if your child is passionate about drawing, provide the supplies and a dedicated space but let them decide what they want to create.
4. Share Stories of Perseverance
Kids need to understand that pursuing passions isn’t always easy. Share stories of people (including yourself!) who overcame obstacles to follow their dreams. Highlight lessons like:
- Failure is a stepping stone to success.
- Growth happens outside of your comfort zone.
- Hard work often leads to the most rewarding results.
- The things worth having in life take work and consistency.
These lessons help kids see challenges as opportunities rather than roadblocks.
5. Be Flexible and Open-Minded
Passions can evolve over time, and that’s okay! What your child loves today might not be their dream tomorrow. Encourage exploration and remind them it’s all part of the journey.
- “It’s great that you’re curious about so many things.”
- “Trying new interests helps you learn what you truly love.”
Early on Ethan was insistent that he wanted to grow up to be an engineer and design robots for a living. However, that has recently evolved into wanting to design wooden toys for children to play with. Only 11 years old and completely addicted to video gaming, I’m confident that his passion will only continue to evolve. One thing is for sure, he has a creative mind like his mama.
Addressing Parental Doubts
Sometimes, it’s hard not to question our kids’ interests, especially if they don’t align with our own. Maybe you’re unsure how a passion will translate into a career or worry they’re wasting time. Here’s the thing: passions are about joy and growth, not practicality. Trust that the skills they gain—like discipline, creativity, and resilience—will serve them no matter what.
What doesn’t always make sense to us as parents might make perfect sense to our kids. And honestly, that’s okay. They’re growing up in a world that’s constantly changing, one that looks vastly different from the one we knew even a decade ago.
How Things Used to Be
Take my husband, for example. Ten years ago, he made the bold decision to leave a traditional 9-to-5 job and pursue a career in writing while working from home—long before remote work became a mainstream concept. It wasn’t an easy decision, and it came with its fair share of criticism. His mom, bless her, had a hard time wrapping her head around it. She was raised in a generation where success was measured by climbing the corporate ladder and staying in a stable job for decades. To her, his choice seemed risky, even irresponsible.
What she couldn’t see at the time was the potential he saw in a new and evolving career path. Her concerns came from a place of love and a desire for him to succeed, but they were rooted in the mindset of her upbringing, not the changing opportunities of today. It wasn’t about doubting his abilities—it was about the fear of the unknown.
Fast forward to now, and that once unconventional decision has paid off in ways we couldn’t have imagined. It taught us an important lesson: just because something doesn’t align with the way we were raised or the rules we lived by doesn’t mean it’s wrong. Sometimes, it’s about trusting our kids to see possibilities we might miss and giving them the freedom to explore their own paths. After all, the world they’re navigating is theirs to shape, and it’s not always going to look like what we expect—or understand. And that’s okay.
How Faith Plays a Role in Encouraging Kids
For our family, faith is the foundation of everything we do, including how we parent. Encouraging kids to follow their passions includes reminding them that they are uniquely designed by God with talents and gifts meant to be nurtured. We often share Jeremiah 29:11 with our kids:
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
This verse reassures them (and us) that their passions have a purpose, even if we don’t fully understand it yet.
Our Personal Experience with Encouraging Passions
Let me share a story about Ethan and Addison. Ethan discovered his love for building when he was just five years old, using blocks to construct anything from castles to robots. We provided him with opportunities to explore, from LEGO kits to STEM classes. Today, he’s still passionate about creating, and it’s been incredible to watch him grow.
Addison, on the other hand, has a creative soul and loves crafting. While it’s not my forte, I’ve learned to embrace her glitter-covered projects because they bring her so much joy. Seeing her confidence grow has been worth every vacuuming session!
The Benefits of Encouraging Kids to Follow Their Passions
When you encourage your kids, you’re not just supporting their hobbies—you’re building their confidence, strengthening your bond, and helping them discover who they are. Here are some lasting benefits:
- Emotional well-being: Kids who feel supported are happier and more secure.
- Stronger relationships: Shared passions create opportunities for connection.
- Life skills: From discipline to problem-solving, they’ll gain tools for future success.
Final Thoughts
Encouraging kids to follow their passions is one of the greatest gifts we can give as parents. It’s about showing them that their interests matter and helping them grow into confident, capable individuals. So whether it’s art, sports, science, or something else entirely, take the time to cheer them on—you won’t regret it.
Want more tips on supporting your kids’ growth and happiness? Check out our post on 10 Tips for Strengthening Family Bonds and subscribe to our newsletter for weekly parenting inspiration.