Whether it's because of peer pressure to be one of the gang, or school rules which demand conformity, for most of the day your child will try to be the same as everyone else. At home, on the other hand, they have the freedom to pursue their own interests and develop particular talents.
Or course, their interests may not be yours. But bite your tongue and be glad your child has found something that fascinates them, and help them pursue it. Don't worry either if the pastime doesn't seem to be obviously 'educational'. If it leads them to search for information, to talk about it, to read and make notes, to collect and organise material, they will be practising important skills which will almost certainly benefit school work.
Encourage your child to use the library, and help them to find the most appropriate sites on the internet. Buy them specialist magazines - even if they seem too difficult, enthusiasm for the subject will motivate them to persevere with difficult language and concepts.
Urge you child to aim high - for example, instead of just hero-worshipping a pop star, encourage them to learn an instrument and become a star themself. Help them to believe in themselves: that with enough hard work and enthusiasm, he or she can make their dream come true.
If you want to help your child excel at some activity, there are plenty of organisations ready and willing to help. And of course, what they may get the most enthusiastic about is keeping a pet.
Helping them help themselves
Television is an endless source of ideas, inspiration and information. Try to second-guess what programmes might one day interest your children. Record them and build up your own video library. Alert has news on upcoming BBC programmes.
Your local library contains a wealth of resources. Librarians are often very adept at being able to match a child with exactly the right book. An inter-library loan system also means you can order titles from other libraries. For Welsh books and books with a Welsh flavour, check out the Welsh Books Council's website.
Organisations such as the Scouts, Guides, Boys Brigade and the Urdd introduce members to a wide range of hobbies and pastimes.
Encourage your child to join one of the charity organisations. The larger ones, such as the RSPCA, have junior sections. Visit Charity Choice for a database of organisations including those with branches in your area.
A family outing can combine fun with the opportunity to learn something new. The Wales Directory has suggestions of great places to go in Wales.
And, of course, everything a child could possibly want to know about anything is available somewhere on the World Wide Web. Make sure your child is making the most of using the net.
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