NEW YORK (Realist English). Parents who want to raise confident, resilient children should focus less on pushing specific sports or hobbies and more on helping kids discover what they genuinely enjoy, says Angela Duckworth, University of Pennsylvania psychologist and leading researcher on “grit.”
Speaking on “The Mel Robbins Podcast,” Duckworth urged parents to expose children to a wide range of activities and observe what naturally captures their attention. Those early signs of interest, she said, often pave the way to passions, long-term hobbies and even future careers.
“Great parenting is noticing what your young person is thinking about,” Duckworth said. “When we notice where our mind lives — what draws our attention spontaneously — that’s the beginning of discovering the interests that can make us a kind of genius in what we do.”
According to Duckworth, encouraging kids to stick with their chosen activities long enough to complete a season or reach the next milestone builds discipline and resilience — qualities associated with later success. A child may experiment with a sport or instrument and lose enthusiasm, she said, but learning to finish commitments strengthens confidence.
She pointed to her own daughter, Lucy, who disliked homework and viola practice but spent hours watching baking videos and reading cookbooks. Duckworth encouraged her to pursue that curiosity. Lucy went on to volunteer in restaurant kitchens, assist pastry chefs and spend weekends perfecting her craft through high school — a passion that still shapes her life.
Not every interest needs to evolve into a career, other experts caution. NYU professor and author Scott Galloway has argued that “following your passion” alone may not lead to financial stability, recommending instead that young people identify what they’re good at, then develop mastery through sustained effort.
Duckworth agrees that interest is only one part of success. In her framework, grit is built on four pillars: interest, hard work, purpose and hope. But interest is the spark that keeps people engaged.
“Anyone who becomes great at what they do has curiosity,” she said. “When you talk about something you really care about, you’re a genius — because that’s where your mind naturally lives.”
