If you are a longtime reader of this blog, you know that my mom teaches my kids music over the internet. We started off with Google Hangout, switched over to Skype, and finally invested in an iPad (the first ever Apple purchase for our home).It turns out that Facetime is the only video application that syncs both the video and sound in real time. My son Johnny LOVES playing with sound, and will spend hours at the piano improvising.
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How to Help Your Child Find Their Passion
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I think that childhood is a wonderful time to explore interests. A childhood interest can become an adult hobby or career. Even if it is only a phase, children learn by doing. Adults also learn by doing, but adults are encumbered by routine, habits, and adult responsibilities and obligations. So when I see my children trying to learn something on their own, I do my best to nurture that interest.
Nurturing My Child’s Interest in Music
I have always wanted a binding machine, so when I got an Amazon gift card last month I knew exactly what to use it for! I also bought some plastic covers and combs. Both can be re-used, so long as you are willing to dismantle a bound project. Just place the old bound book in the machine,  My binding machine is even more awesome than I thought it would be (yes, I know I am a nerd, raising more nerds). My wonderful HP printer comes with all sorts of free printables, including staff paper for composing music! I printed off twenty sheets, added a colored paper cover designed in seconds using the free version of Canva. Then I set the book out for Johnny when he got home from school. He was beyond thrilled, and has been busy writing music ever since!
Of course, once the girls saw how much fun their brother was having, they wanted fancy music books as well. They don’t spend nearly as much time writing music as Johnny does, but they are trying their hand at composition and improvisation. In the process, they learn a lot about patterns, melody, rhythm, and harmony.
I also have requests in for more specialized books, both for art and story writing. I also have some plans of my own that will be educational surprises for the kids. When you have your own binding machine and printer, the possibilities are endless!
How do you help your child find their passion?
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MaryAnne is a craft loving educator, musician, photographer, and writer who lives in Silicon Valley with her husband Mike and their four children.
I was just thinking how much I could use a binding machine. I wanted to print out my planner and bind it for the next year so that it looked more organized. And yes, totally agree about encouraging our children’s passions!
We are getting a ton of use out of ours!
I think this is the most important thing we can do as parents — teaching our kids to value and pursue their passion (even if it does not look like it will be a viable career path!).
I adore my binding machine. It is a lifesaver, and has been commented above, a money saver.
Your praise of yours definitely influenced me to go ahead and buy mine :)
How wonderful! Composing music is a wonderful skill.
I know I’m a nerd, but I definitely need a binding machine! My husband and I were actually talking about it a month ago, because we needed some blank “main lesson books” for my son’s Waldorf-inspired kindergarten and I ended up buying 3 blank books at $7 a piece. This makes so much more sense! Thanks for the recommendations. If we don’t get it soon, I’ll definitely remember to refer my husband to this post when he asks what I want for Christmas.
Also, thank you so much for featuring my dinosaur cards! I really appreciate how often you support me.
I actually thought of you when I got mine – it is AWESOME and I could see you making all sorts of amazing things with this machine! I love your dinosaur cards, and the lap book is brilliant. I am planning to make it with my kids when we have time – may have to wait until summer vacation since school consumes so much of our lives.
My husband was more open to getting it now than I thought he would be, so I went ahead and ordered it before he could change his mind. I’m so excited for it to arrive! We have so much binding to do! :)
HOORAY!!!
How amazing! I totally agree with you that child is the time to find passions by trying different things!
What a wonderful parent you are! Finding ways to support our children’s interests and guiding them to find their passions will lead them to be productive, happy adults!
Thank you, Sheila. That is my hope!