Hobbies must not be a compulsion for children

Many children suffer from downright leisure stress because their hobbies take so much time that there is little room left for dating friends. The compulsory program in the free time can easily overwhelm the children, warns the news agency "dpa", citing Ulric Ritzer-Sachs of the online consultation of the Federal Conference for Educational Counseling (bke).

Creating and maintaining friendships takes time, with many children having little room for dating given the compulsory program of after-school hobbies. "From a psychological point of view, what seems to be necessary for a good bond is no longer taken for granted," remarks the bke. "Parents should ask themselves: Does my child still have time to meet others without compulsion?" Ulric Ritzer-Sachs is quoted by the news agency "dpa".

Use offers in all-day schools
If the children have little time for appointments after school, the hobby activities should, according to the experts, be reduced. For example, these could be limited to the afternoon. In addition, play the form of the school attended a role. If children go to a full-time school, it is often convenient to take advantage of the sports or music classes offered there instead of sending the child to the sports club or music school after school. From the offer of the all-day schools, it is also important to select the right courses for the child. Here, parents should ask themselves what suits their child, whether it is fun and to what extent the performance is in the foreground.

Set achievable goals
In addition, the enthusiasm of children for new hobbies is often short-lived and the children lose interest after a while. The bke advises not to give in immediately, but to set the children achievable goal, such as "You'll do it until the summer holidays, then we'll continue," according to the announcement of the "dpa". According to the bke expert Ulric Ritzer-Sachs, it is important for the children to learn how to overcome their reluctance. In case of permanent dispute over the leisure activities, the hobby is sometimes not the right one. (Fp)