4 Ways to Find Out Your Toddler’s Future Interests
Everyone has interests… including your toddler!

A future Einstein, a best-selling author or a crime fighting detective – the possibilities for your toddler are endless!

At the moment, your toddler’s interests probably include playing with dolls, or ‘driving’ their toy cars. Your toddler’s interests will mature as they grow older, but there is no harm in assisting in this process. In fact, it’s a great idea!

Out of all the many interests in the world, what will your child’s interests be? It’s not a good idea to impose your interests onto your young one – after all, everyone is different. A better way of doing this is to first find out what their interests are and what you think it might develop into.

But how do I find out what my child’s interests are?

It’s all good and well talking about it, but how do you actually do it? Here are some tips!

1) Keep your Eyes Peeled!
Yes, this sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised how much you could be missing when you’re not paying attention to your toddler. Your toddler probably can’t tell you their interests just yet, so you should watch their behaviour, and note which activities they tend to be drawn to. These activities can serve as pointers to their future interests.
For example:
If your toddler loves to sort objects – from lining up their toys to sorting according to colour, shape, size or softness – they may have an affinity towards Maths and Science due to their interest in patterns and problem-solving.

If your toddler is constantly handling and dismantling things, or pressing buttons and pulling dials, this could be an indicator that your toddler is a practical person, and could end up being a mechanic, builder, or inventor.
If your child wants to be in control and to lead how things should be done among their friends (and with you!), then they may be a future leader. This could serve them well in a variety of careers, such as business, politics, and event organising.
If your kid is a chatterbox, they may end up pursuing verbal and written jobs like law or journalism.

2) Give your Child a Chance
If your kid likes activities such as playing with blocks, don’t try to limit or control these actions. Encourage them to carry on – it will help them to develop the interest moving forward.
You might find that they get bored of the activity, or that it continues to fascinate them. If your toddler maintains an interest in the activity for an extended period of time, it’s likely that they have a natural, long-term interest in that sort of thing!
Another way to find out more about your child’s interests are by watching them play. Your toddler feels most comfortable to express themselves during play-time. Let their imagination run wild, and watch what they tend to do. Since this is the rawest expression of their minds, they are more likely to give you a hint at what they’re truly interested in. Try not to push them to express themselves, as they might end up doing what they think you want them to do. Rather, let them play freely, setting the scene of their own imaginary kingdom.

3) Keep a Diary
You may struggle to notice behavioural trends by observation only. Consider keeping a record of their actions and attitude on a daily basis. You might notice patterns that you would have missed!

4) Avoid Comparison to Siblings
You could hamper the development of your toddler’s interests by comparing them to their sibling. Your toddler will already look up to their older brother or sister, but by constantly comparing the two, you will probably put pressure on your toddler to do the same things as their siblings. Each of your children is a unique blessing – let them express their individuality in their own way.

Always remember that your toddler is special! Let them develop into the best version of themselves, rather than trying to mould them into your preconceived notion of what they should become.

Sources:
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/jenifer-fox/10-tips-for-discovering-y_b_288460.html
https://childdevelopmentinfo.com/child-activities/4-ways-to-spot-and-nurture-talent-in-your-child/#.Wml3daiWbIU
https://www.babycenter.com/0_how-to-spot-your-preschoolers-hidden-talents_10315477.bc