How to Encourage Your Kids Interests

Raising a Train Enthusiast 

We are country folk. Raised by small-town, self-employed families, we married young and started our family on my husband's self-employed income. In the beginning, we had three children under the age of 4. My oldest daughter was deaf, a dwarf, and had other brain abnormalities. Her doctor appointments and therapies took a lot of time and attention, but I wanted to give my best to all my children.

At age 2, my son Colby was fascinated with Thomas the Tank Engine, written by Reverend Wilbert Awdry. I didn't want to encourage obsessions, but he was hooked. So I started to show him real trains. First, it was simply picture books, but that wasn't enough. When he was 6–8 years old, I was checking out locomotive books so he could pore over them. He would design intricate track systems with his wooden railway for hours. A typically hyper boy, he could sit for hours watching train documentaries. By 12, he could draw every detail of a steam engine. He researched and learned the real train behind every Thomas character. Once I fed into his interest, it took off.

So how do we, as homeschool parents, light a fire under our kids so that natural learning happens on its own?

Feeding Their Interest

Before I continue, I want to erase any thought that my life was consumed by my son's interests. Yes, I'm a mom whose life pretty much revolves around homeschooling. Yes, I love my kids and want to give them the best. But anything that becomes an item of worship over God gets bumped. So feed your little ones' God-given interests, but never let it become an idol.

As soon as my kiddos showed interest in something, I went to the library and grabbed a book or two. Sometimes it was an interest that faded, but other times it would stick. Colby stuck to trains, and he stuck hard! It became a family thing, where we pointed out trains everywhere we went. He had stacks of well-loved train books, many that were taped together. He watched hours of film following the rails. He was particularly fascinated with steam engines.

His sisters were into horses. Once, a kind stranger asked him if he was also into horses. His 8-year-old self didn't miss a beat; he looked her square in the face and said, "No! I like things with motors!" To this day, he still would rather have a truck than a horse.

Giving Opportunity to Explore

As we were able, we visited every train we could. Budget was a factor, but we managed some cool train encounters. I believe these hands-on experiences furthered his drive and motivation. Books and films are great, but real-life experience tops the cake!

These field trips varied from small-town train museums to long steam-engine rides through the countryside. We were blessed with a trip to Hawaii, and though the train museum was closed, he still visited the outdoor exhibits. While living in San Antonio, he volunteered at the transportation museum—another great way to get hands-on opportunities.

My son dreamed of driving steam trains for a living. As he got older, he understood it was a rare and primarily volunteer job. This began his research into diesel engines.

Supplementing the Curriculum

As a good homeschool mom, I wasn't going to pass up the opportunity to turn this into a high school credit! His freshman and sophomore years, he dove into the 4-H Small Engines project. My tiny backyard was full of lawnmowers and weed eaters he had picked up to rebuild, sell, or use as spare parts and to run a lawn mowing business. For a 4-H display, he broke down a one-cylinder engine into parts and rebuilt it in front of visitors. He knew his engine backward and forwards.

He received credit for art, business, and ag/shop through his train adventures. We learned history, not only about trains, but also about the Western Expansion, steam era, internal combustion era, and Chinese immigration. His love of engines led to changing oil and other maintenance on our vehicles. I haven't had to mow a lawn in years. And he made money throughout high school with his skills.

Launching Him into the World

As high school came to an end, dreams were coming to fruition. His love of motors led him into the world of mechanics. He found an internship at a mechanic shop and grew to love diesel engines the most. He bought a 6.0 Ford diesel realizing these would be the most worked-on diesels, so he should know this engine in detail. He is now supporting himself on his income doing something he loves.

If you have a budding train enthusiast, feed his interest, give him opportunities to explore, supplement your curriculum, and then launch him into the world with skills he loves. About Felicia

Felicia Johnson is a mother to a photographer, farrier, diesel mechanic, and five more growing children, each one unique in their interests and talents. Felicia owns The Zoo I Call Home blog and store helping parents homeschool their children in ways that glorify God. www.thezooicallhome.com.