A little while ago, we watched the Bluey episode “Cricket.” It featured a pup named Rusty who was so passionate about the game of Cricket that he played it whenever he could. This made my son curious about why someone would be so dedicated to one thing. And so began our quest to help our child discover his own “Cricket.”

My son is currently playing baseball. While he enjoys playing the game, he is not as diehard as most of his friends and sometimes would rather stay home building Lego than practice. This season was the first time he realized that baseball may not be his “Cricket”. When we asked him what he does enjoy doing, he said he liked creating things, climbing trees and being outside, and playing video games. Aside from a few new activities, a few have remained constant: nature and building. So do we pursue the interests we already know, or try new avenues to see what sticks?

When kids develop various interests and talents, it also develops other aspects of their brain and self. Interests help children form their identities, develop social skills, and can even influence their future career choices. However, pinpointing these interests can sometimes be challenging for parents. We want to help them ID interests and hone their skills, and in some ways, that may lead to a lifelong passion. But how can we provide support when our kids are still trying to figure out their own likes and dislikes?

Piquing Interest

Interest is an emotion characterized by intensified focus, elevated cognitive activity, and a strong urge to explore or interact with a specific stimulus. While it shares certain traits with other positive emotions like joy or excitement, it distinguishes itself through its cognitive focus and capacity to maintain attention over time. Intertwined with concepts such as curiosity and enthusiasm, interest is an innate drive to seek out novelty, acquire knowledge, or welcome change.

Interest is a sophisticated and multifaceted emotion that significantly influences human behavior and thinking. When something piques our interest, our brains become highly active. We become more alert, our attention narrows to focus on the object of our interest, and our cognitive resources are activated to process and understand the new information. It should be noted that our brains are wired to assess potential sources of interest by considering factors like novelty, complexity, and personal relevance. If something is too simple, we get bored; if it’s too complex, we may feel overwhelmed and withdraw.  

Key brain regions involved include the:

• prefrontal cortex – responsible for executive functions and decision-making
• limbic system – processes emotions and motivation
• basal ganglia – reward processing and habit formation

These regions collaborate to assess stimuli, gauge their interest value, and allocate cognitive resources accordingly. They accomplish this by releasing neurotransmitters such as dopamine (the feel-good hormone), norepinephrine, and serotonin (the happy hormone) to encourage engagement and pursuit of activities that capture our attention.

Aside from what our brains determine to be fascinating (or not), other factors can influence interest. They are:

• Personal relevance. We’re more likely to be interested in things that relate to our existing knowledge, goals, or values.
• Prior experiences. Curiosity often builds on what we already know, creating a positive feedback loop where interest leads to learning, which in turn sparks more interest.
• Environmental and social factors. The culture we grow up in, the people we interact with, and the opportunities we’re exposed to all impact what captures our attention and sparks our curiosity.

When we’re interested in something, it changes how we take in and process information.

• Exploration and learning. Interest drives intrinsic motivation, encouraging us to seek out information, engage deeply, and persist through challenges.
• Attention and information processing. When we find a topic intriguing, we’re more inclined to focus on related information and process it thoroughly. This heightened cognitive engagement often results in a better grasp and longer retention of the information.
• Memory and knowledge retention. Interesting information is more likely to be encoded into long-term memory and recalled later.
• Decision-making and problem-solving. Interest fosters creativity, multiple perspectives, and persistence, often leading to innovative ideas and breakthroughs.

Building Interest

Kids for the most part are still figuring out what their interests are, based on their limited exposure to the world. Other outside influences can begin a lot of different sparks of interest, and as they get older interests may come and go. But as novelties fades, the activities that still bring joy and motivation to learn more, train harder, or do more of will continue. Here are some ways to help them find their “cricket”:

• Observe, observe, observe. Children naturally gravitate toward activities they enjoy. For instance, a child who loves Legos may have an interest in engineering or architecture. Those who enjoy drawing or painting might have an artistic inclination. Puzzle enthusiasts often possess strong analytical skills. Kids who frequently sing, dance, or engage with music may have excel in the performing arts, while those who are physically active might be inclined towards sports or dance. Or all of the above in some cases.
   
• Broaden their horizons. A great way to uncover your child’s talents and interests is by exposing them to a wide range of experiences. This could involve enrolling them in various classes and activities such as sports, STEM, and the arts. Visits to museums, zoos, parks, festivals, and cultural events can inspire new interests. Additionally, introducing them to different social settings can enhance their social skills and help determine if they’re more extraverted or introverted. Remember to be patient, as finding their passion can take time. This may also take you out of your comfort zone as well.
  
  
• Promote creativity and imagination. Allowing your child the freedom to express themselves can unlock new skills and interests. Foster artistic expression by letting them create without the pressure of doing it “the right way.” Encourage critical thinking and logic by presenting them with challenges that require thoughtful experimentation. Engage them with open-ended questions to gain insight into their perspective and natural curiosities.
  
  
• On repeat. A strong indicator of a child’s talent or interest is their consistent enthusiasm for a particular activity. If your child repeatedly asks to play the same game, engage in the same craft, or watch the same educational videos, they’re likely demonstrating a genuine passion for that subject. That consistent interest can also allow them to naturally excel in that area.
  
  
• Strengths, not skills. Strengths such as empathy, leadership, and resilience can help shape their interests. For example, children who are emotionally intelligent may thrive in environments that help people while kids who show a high level of determination may do well in areas that require persistence, such as math, science, or competitive sports.
  
  
• Respect their opinions. If your child tries an activity and doesn’t enjoy it, don’t push them to continue if they are not interested. Respecting their preferences will allow them to feel more confident and supported in exploring other areas. This can be a fine line since a lot of kids extracurriculars are not cheap. If they aren’t completely into the activity, that’s fine but encourage them to at least finish out the season and honor their commitments. This also opens up the conversation about money and responsibility.
  
  
• Be the support. Sometimes kids really want to try something new, but may have self-doubt or fear of failure. Help them get out of that defeatist mindset by instilling a growth mindset, emphasizing that new experiences are opportunities for growth and learning. Remind them that everyone starts as a beginner and making mistakes is part of the process. Provide positive reinforcement, celebrate the small wins, and be a source of encouragement throughout their journey.
  

What NOT to Do:

• Labeling and forecasting their future. Not every interest has to turn into a career. “She’s going to be a doctor/lawyer/pro-athlete/president, etc”
• Forcing interests and not listening to your child’s preferences. “I don’t think I want play piano anymore. I’d like to try dance instead.”
• Overscheduling. You will burn out. Your kids will burn out. Your wallet will burn out.
• Discouraging talk when encountering setbacks. “Do you know how much time and money we’re spending on you? Do better.”

Remember, it’s natural for your child to move from one interest to another as they explore what truly excites them. In the elementary ages, it’s actually encouraged. While these interests may develop into leisure activities, they might not necessarily become careers or even make it to middle or high school. Discovering a child’s interests is a collaborative journey that calls for patience, support, and an open mind. Most importantly, trust your child’s instincts and enjoy watching them grow and thrive in their unique way.

Moral of the Story: After discussions with our son, we’ll probably keep sports more relaxed from now on. He enjoys spending time with his friends, but can do that in other places, like summer camp or Scouts. More trips to the mountains are in order, as well as trying some new things to see if that’ll pique his interest, like martial arts. Does this mean that baseball is completely off the table? Not necessarily. He might decide to get back into it or completely surprise us. Either way, he’s leading this charge.

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