Are millennial parents forcing their pop culture obsessions on their kids?

Giving the example of a client who wanted his gymnastics-loving daughter to learn the tabla as a musical gene ran in the family, clinical psychologist Dr Meghna Singhal explains how the girl saw pleasing her father as more important than her own desires, which ultimately eroded her sense of identity and left her unable to enjoy or master either of the two activities. “You can read your favourite Amar Chitra Katha to your four-year-old because that can spark interest. But insisting that they prefer it over Peppa Pig is not a good idea,” she explains. “In many Indian homes, parents try to pass on their own passions to their children, but enjoying it is framed as part of their duty. When your love for something becomes pressure, insistence or force, children begin to feel that parental love is conditional,” Singhal adds. Instead, she explains that allowing them to explore their own hobbies builds their self-confidence and strengthens the parent-child connection. “Even if they pick something different, celebrate their choices and show genuine interest. Keep the bond bigger than the hobby.”

It’s also important for parents to reflect on their own relationship with their hobbies to understand why using them to connect with their children matters so much. From Pilates and dance to outdoor sports, public relations professional Nimita A. Kapadia has always enjoyed physical activities and wanted her son to prioritise movement over screentime since his early years. To that end, she’s created mini obstacle courses for her 3.5-year-old at home, planned playtime on the jungle gym at parks and pencilled in dance sessions in the evenings after work. “We should lead with joy, not expectation. My son will happily climb, swing and slide on the jungle gym without hesitation, sometimes even teaching me his own moves. But if there’s a day he’s not in the mood, we skip it without fuss. For me, it’s more important to keep the association positive than to turn it into an obligation,” Kapadia shares.

Vasunia has simple tips for millennial parents wanting to share their hobbies with their children in a healthy manner: encourage them, make the activities fun, praise their progress, but also take time to work through any setbacks together. “Children value time with their parents, so make them feel like you’re creating something new together rather than asking them to fit into a part of your world,” she says.