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Original poster

What age did your child get a proper hobby they genuinely committed to?

105 replies

Fishandchipsatthebeach · 14/10/2023 09:25

What age did your child start an out of school activity that they actually wanted to do and committed to for a reasonable period of time?

What was the hobby?

DD is 5.5 and shows good natural sporting talent but we’ve tried and given up tennis, Playball, Dance, Rugby tots

She moans a lot about swimming but that’s a non-negotiable so she has to do it.

I don’t want to be pushy but I’d like her to do some form of activity or sport as she’s getting more into wanting to watch YouTube etc at the weekends

We are an active family and encourage outdoorsy time, visit lots of Nat Trust type places, but unfortunately some of her friends don’t seem to be active / outdoorsy and since starting school she talks a lot about TikTok (when I have not let her have!) and stuff like that which is what some of her friends seem to do.

I was obsessed with horses as a kid, but think that started closer to age 10

OP posts:
2023shady · 14/10/2023 10:52

Wolvesart · 14/10/2023 10:10

One thing on this thread I’m curious about is the notion that at 5 or 6 they have generally found something to stick to they like. Two things about this, firstly most things only start after kids have left pre school. Secondly, adults tend to facilitate sports.

Also, I like kids to be interested in football but if I see a 5 year old in sports kit I think it’s adult led

My grandad booked me a pony ride as I was scared of horses and he thought they were amazing animals, probably age 3-4
I came back from the ride and said "again" and refused to get off
That was it basically. So only adult led as in he was "we need to sort this fear out"
From then I was hanging over fences to see horses, begging for rides, mucking out at a stables, everything I could do just to see a horse

lilmishap · 14/10/2023 10:53

10 yr old loves a hobby passionately till he forgets about it, 8 yr old is not interested in anything but scootering and youtube if that counts?

I force them both to do things. I'm traditional like that.

octodrive · 14/10/2023 10:54

Bless her, she is so little for you to be feeling she needs a long term hobby.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

10 year olds 5 year olds Families
JustKen · 14/10/2023 10:54

Mine is 17 and likes photography (has done since a young age) and is doing an A level in it but I sense it might only remain a hobby...

Heatherbell1978 · 14/10/2023 10:58

At 5 I think you need to chill a bit. DS is 9 and seriously into football but didn't show any interest until about 7. Has just joined cubs. Always moaned about swimming but non-negotiable.

DD is 6 and tried dance but didn't like it, did ballet from 3 but decided this year she was past that, liked gymnastics but at the moment we can't find a class that suits timing wise. Loves swimming and rainbows.

KnittedCardi · 14/10/2023 11:01

That's quite young children to stick to anything. My DD's tried all sorts of things with greater or less success. They did instrument lessons, ballet, tennis, swimming, brownies. Nothing really interested them other than drama, and that fed into what they REALLY enjoyed doing, which was reading. Hours and hours spent in the pages of a book.

Twenty something's now, and neither really has a hobby. One does yoga, one lifts, that's it really. They are still both prodigious readers.

Sartre · 14/10/2023 11:59

Eldest DS (13) has stuck out cadets since the spring time and he’s very invested in it so I think it will stick. He also isn’t sporty so nothing like that ever panned out for him and he did go to cubs until he got to scout age when he decided it wasn’t cool anymore. Also tried drama when he was about 6/7 to help with confidence but he hated it.

4 year old DS has been going to drama for the past month and he really enjoys it so I’m hoping that will stick.

newhere24 · 14/10/2023 12:03

Youngest was 4….. he is seriously obsessed with ballet and saw some on the TV - instantly obsessed. That is quite unusual though.
Oldest was 9 when he found tennis. He likes tennis, but is not obsessed with it as his brother is with ballet. Its a big of potluck when you come across something.

Universalsnail · 14/10/2023 12:15

About 5 for all of them but whilst one DD picked ballet and got really into it and took more and more classes the younger one copied her at first and then 8 months later decided she didn't want to do it. She now does horse riding and loves it so I think this will be the sticky one.

Madrescuechicken · 14/10/2023 12:21

My DD, now 11,has been a cathedral chorister since the age of 6. It's a massive weekly commitment but she loves it and will continue for as long as she can. She also started piano and trumpet at this age which are still going strong.

My DS, now 7, started violin at 4 and it is his passion. I absolutely love hearing him play, and he's very good at it.

CatSat · 14/10/2023 12:34

With both DDS it was about 12/13 when they started taking music and crafting seriously. Both 15/16 for their current (out of the house, organised activity) club.

Gwendimarco · 14/10/2023 12:40

Keep trying things until you hit on something she can’t wait to go back to / makes friends at. When these friendships do form, encourage them!

Avoid tiktok and youtube like the plague, seriously restrict them, as you are already doing. You are doing the right thing. Avoid friendships and playdates with other children who are screen addicted.

Nothankyou22 · 14/10/2023 12:46

My daughter has danced since 2.5 and gymnastics since 7, she’s now 9.
my son has done every hobby going but happy to just play football casually and go bike rides etc, he has autism so goes through hobby obsessions but not for long

GreyTS · 14/10/2023 12:47

DD1, soccer, the second she kicked a ball so probably as soon as she could walk, DD2, Jiu Jitsu at around 7/8 a they've done everything and mostly stick them all out for years, both teenagers now so concentrate on their passions. Running is non negotiable in this house so that has continued but they've both stopped swimming (except for fun) tennis and golf in the last 12 months. Likely they'll pick them up again as adults so good they know how to play

ManchesterLu · 14/10/2023 12:48

I don't have kids myself, but I stuck with hobbies from being 5. I joined Rainbows/Brownies/Guides as and when I was old enough. Alongside this I also played musical instruments from when I was 7, sticking to the same one from 10-now. In highschool I was also in the choir, orchestra, hockey team and athletics team, which I stuck to throughout.

GonnaGetGoingReturns · 14/10/2023 13:03

Me and DB, swimming but didn’t like competitiveness of swimming club, so stopped after 6 months, this was 9 and 7. Me, ballet from 6 and horse riding from 9. Did latter on and off but fairly regularly up til 13 same with ballet. Ice skating, local rink so skated as a child and then went lots as a teenager as teenage disco there. I wanted to do gymnastics at 5 but they wanted you to train to be Olga Korbut. I learned piano from 5/6 but I was more a learn by ear than read music, did it for a year or 2 then stopped. DB learned guitar and paints creatively, started both at 13 or so still does both but less due to family.

Cake making and decorating, from 11/12 and still do it, did regular birthday cakes for family members. Reading from 4/5 and still do it. History/art from 5 upwards with family, still do it.

DNephews and DNiece, DNephew 3 and his DNiece have done swimming club from 3 and 4, ballet for DNiece since 3. Wing Chung Kung Fu and drama for other DNephew since he was 4.

Bunnycat101 · 14/10/2023 13:12

I think it can take a while to actually get good at something. Often it’s pure fun at 4/5 but then starts to get much harder at 6 plus and the kids have to listen and engage and there can be a bit of a hump. Eg something like tennis, if you’ve already tried and given up at 5 she was never going to get anywhere near any sort of proficiency to enjoy it.

Of the hobbies my 7yp does- she absolutely loves swimming- always has but she has enjoyed it more once she reached a good level. She has always enjoyed gymnastics despite being a bit rubbish at it- that is her pure fun class. Tennis she has done since she was 3 but probably only really starting to actually like it. And she has a mixed relationship with piano. It requires a lot of effort and is still at the point where it feels like a lot of work but she is gaining confidence and learning about the importance of effort and practice.

vertigomuch · 14/10/2023 13:13

Dd is 8 and we can't get to stick with anything!
As soon as it gets too structured and she can't do "what she wants" she wants to quit... it's infuriating.
She's currently doing football one evening a week... she just messes about which is all fine at moment but I know as soon as the coaches start trying to get her to do what's she told she won't want to go.

thecatsthecats · 14/10/2023 13:56

I'm 34, and I don't stick to my hobbies. I still have a successful career and a happy life. I still enjoy doing things for a season at a time, and get a kick out of acquiring competency, before moving on.

I wouldn't worry about her not sticking with things at 5.

CharlotteBog · 14/10/2023 14:03

DS1 found the guitar at 10. He's 24 now and plays in 2 bands and did a music degree. He found cycling in early adulthood (beyond just using it for transport).

DS2 joined a football club aged 7 and it remains his passion.

Tried and given up: dance, rugby, drums, Scouts

Me: I've been a runner all my life. People ask me when I started, and I have to say I didn't, I've just always done it.

InterFactual · 14/10/2023 14:13

It sounds like you're trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. Not all hobbies have to be done outside the house at clubs.

My daughter spends ages listening to YouTube but she's an artist and produces the most amazing sketches while doing it, she's never without a pen in her hand and some of her stuff is really realistic.

She's also learned how to sew and knit and often does this while playing a video in the background so I don't worry too much about her eyesight as she isn't really looking, just listening. I think demonizing screens is pointless, she found all her hobbies from YouTube and developed her skills using tutorial lessons she stumbled across. Not everyone is a social butterfly or a sports star, some kids just don't get on with structured clubs and that's ok.

Phineyj · 14/10/2023 14:15

Age 9 - music theatre. Recruited by some slightly older children we know.

It was one of those lucky accidents. She found her tribe!

We tried all sorts of things from 4ish to 8ish but she just wasn't able to commit or reliably participate. She does have some SEN though which we didn't realise till she was 7ish so that's a factor.

Also I don't remember doing much myself at primary out of school except Brownies so perhaps modern expectations are unreasonable.

jesmonabullets · 14/10/2023 14:20

Horses at age 8.

But I'm old so when I was a kid there was no such thing as the internet and tv for kids was very limited. I think it's really hard these days as there is so much online stuff to distract kids and it's hard to step away from a constant stream of new stuff.

ShippingNews · 14/10/2023 14:24

Mine are in their 30s , neither ever had a hobby. I wasn't worried about it at all. Nobody has to have one - it's not compulsory.

RedVanYellowVan · 14/10/2023 14:25

DC1, age 5 or 6, totally committed throughout childhood and teens, now doing it as a successful professional.

DC2, age 7 for one activity, carried on forever as a hobby. Age 10 for another, still does it once or twice a week.

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