Getting Your Children Interested in Culture by Susan Pulligan

Day in and day out, your children are glued to screens. Whether it’s a TV, computer monitor, smart phone or tablet, their gaze is constantly fixated on some form of digital media. Although you have no problem with your kids enjoying their screen time in moderation, "moderation" seems to be an alien concept to them. These days, it’s become impossible to carry on any semblance of a normal conversation with your children. To make matters worse, very few of their favorite online activities are conducive to enriching their minds.

While you’re determined to help your children develop an appreciation for culture, you’re unclear on how to go about this task. As you know from experience, if your kids have no interest in a particular subject, they’ll simply tune out. That being the case, you have to be very careful when trying to broaden their intellectual horizons. Fortunately, there are a number of ways to open your children up to new experiences without boring them to tears. If you want to inject some much-needed culture into your kids’ lives, consider the following options.

Enroll Your Children in Dance Lessons

There are many ways in which dance lessons can benefit your children. For starters, these lessons will provide them with a consistent outlet for exercise – and it’s no secret that most modern-day kids are sorely lacking in the physical activity department. Additionally, depending on the style of dance they choose, your children will learn a great deal about different cultures and musical styles.

Parents interested in classes in dance near San Luis Obispo should contact the Movement Arts Center. Offering a fascinating array of ballet courses for both children and adults, MAC is the perfect place for your kids to satisfy their curiosity about this celebrated art form.

Find the Right Books

In most cases, people who claim they have no interest in reading simply have yet to find the right books. The fact of the matter is that reading has a number of far-reaching advantages. In addition to heightening concentration, reading on a regular basis can reduce stress levels, improve memory and increase one’s capacity for learning. Furthermore, daily reading is highly conducive to building analytical thinking skills and improving focus. Your children will be pleased to learn that they’ll reap these benefits no matter what types of books they read. Even graphic novels and so-called "junk reading" will enable your kids to take advantage of the aforementioned perks. To help sell your children on the idea of reading, consider investing in a kid-friendly e-reader. Traditional books may remind them too much of school, thus causing them to lose interest.

Look into Performing Arts Programs

If any of your children have shown an interest in acting, consider getting them involved in a local performing arts program. This will get them out of the house, take them away from their various screens, and provide them with a whole new appreciation for the theatre. The roles they take on will help them hone their acting abilities and give them a feel for various performance styles. In addition, the immense satisfaction your kids will feel after performing in a play will go a long way in helping them appreciate the value of hard work.

With so many digital distractions at their fingertips, it’s no surprise most children show little to no interest in intellectual endeavors. Kids tend to associate learning with school and school with boredom, so when it comes to learning outside of the confines of a classroom, many children simply aren’t interested. However, this doesn’t mean you should give up on culturing your kids. Getting them involved in dancing or performing arts programs and making sure they read every day will keep your children intellectually stimulated and consistently entertained.

About the Author: Susan Pulligan is a driving instructor and mother of three based out of Southern California. Wanting to get her daughters involved in a cultural activity, she enrolled them in a ballet class at the Movement Arts Center.