A word of caution about all talents and interests. Your child can always find happiness from his talents, but he may not be able to find a way to make his talents “pay off.” Dreams do need to be based in reality. This is why it is so important to make sure your child has a good, well-rounded education and doesn’t put all his eggs in the one basket of one special interest.

Your child needs a Plan B. For example, for kids who have athletic talent, only one in a million will make it big. Yes, your child needs encouragement to go for it, but he also needs to develop other skills as well. To make a successful career for himself, he may need to be able to apply his interests to other things – perhaps teaching, business opportunities, or innovations.

There are ways to enjoy a passion without making it a career. Sometimes that even brings more enjoyment. Sometimes without all of the pressures of making a living there can be less fame and fortune, but in my book, much more enjoyment.

There are always recreation programs for sports and community arts groups for musicians and artists as ways to keep involved with your interests. It is important for a child to see adults in their life enjoying their interests and talents whether they are money-makers or not.