Should children be gently pushed into hobbies, or left to find their own way to them?

A natural way to answer

I think gentle encouragement matters, because children sometimes give up before a hobby has had a chance to take root. A nudge can stop them throwing in the towel prematurely. That said, if you force it down their throats, you risk killing their interest, so you have to strike a balance.

Key phrases to use

• throw in the towel — to give up or admit defeat“Don't throw in the towel after one bad week.”
• force it down their throats — to make someone accept or do something they don't want“Don't force your opinions down people's throats.”
• strike a balance — to find a sensible middle point between two extremes“It's hard to strike a balance between work and rest.”