Which do you think is better, to encourage a child to study or to encourage a child to pursue his or her hobby

Question

*If a child spends most of his or her time studying or doing homework, how can he or she gain social experience and develop social skills?

*Do you think students have enough time to live a balanced life, for example, doing things such as getting exercise or spending time with their friends?

Answer 1

That is what being a parent is all about. You have to balance it out, but in the end, no kid will ever say: "My Momma was great, my Daddy was great, I'm just a Sh1thead."

Answer 2

Why not combine both? Encourage them to get involved in a social/scholastic activity, like academic decathlon, math-club, chess-club, etc.  They can also take up sports at school.  There's plenty of options that over-lap.

Answer 3

Just talk with your child. Don't plan their lifes, you don't know at you know.

Answer 4

As a teacher, there must be a balance.  A child needs to learn his or her limits.  Children go to school for 6.5 hours per day, and really on receive 1.5 hours of direct instruction.  I think there needs to be a balance for your child.  Activities should be limited and enjoyed.  Friends are important throughout life, so socializing is important.  Create a schedule for your child and try to work it out so there is a good balance.  Book smarts does not get you are great job, it only helps you to have the knowledge but you need to apply the people skills to obtain the job. ....

Answer 5

both .. study time and hobby time .. weekends for hobby skool and weekdays for normal skool .. summer for hobby .. etc.

Answer 6

Both, a balance is important. You need to study to achieve your hobbies I reckon. And to broaden your knowledge of other possibilities.

Answer 7

Why does it have to be one or the other? Of course study is important to give a child options in life, but they need hobbies and interests to create a well-rounded person.

Answer 8

Seriously good question....

Studying alone, doesn't work, you need balance.

My whole life I was encouraged, or rather forced into a completely academic life..........school, homework, no parties and I played piano, not out of choice. This is how it started and because of it, I suffered when it came to start socialising.

I was a social disaster and when I realised that, my grades began to decline.

I started to rebel against my parents because they moaned about my grades and I couldn't care less. When I finally made some friends, went out, and started sport, I began to get confidence. The strange thing is, the more active I was the more my grades began to improve.

I finally got a good balance, and started to enjoy school, didn't mind doing homework, loved sport and went to parties. There is definitely enough time to do everything.

Answer 9

Why choose?

You can encourage a child to persue BOTH :)

It's called multi tasking, there are soo many things that us

as humans can do, its just finding the time, and kids have a lot

of that! =]

x*x

Answer 10

It is important to be balanced.  Too much time in either area will not make for a very interesting life.

Answer 11

first of all, make sure his hobby isnt masturbation.

then, try to get him to excel in both, its not an impossible thing to do.

Answer 12

Education is VERY important to me...and it's also essential to function in today's society...BUT...I would tell my child to focus more on their hobbies when they are really young...until middle school age...and once they get to high school...I will encourage them to balance their academic career with their social life. Studying does help a child gain social skills through programs in school where other smart kids are engaged in as well.