Sharing Hobbies
A great way to spend time together as a family is to have a shared hobby. A hobby can be anything from stamp collecting to bowling. The goal is to spend time together around a shared interest. While you are spending time on this hobby, you can talk together, teach about the world God created and your place in it or build each other up in your gifts or talents. The benefits are endless!
How do you get started? Follow these simple steps:
- Come up with a list of possible ideas that incorporate age appropriate ideas for every member of your family. Try to find things that interest everyone. For example, if mom likes to garden, dad doesn't have a green thumb, and the kids just like being outside, come up with a list of ideas that can involve everyone. Mom can plan the garden and come up with the plants and dad can plant and weed. The kids can water and you can all enjoy the garden together.
- Narrow your list a bit and do research on the ideas left to come up with a plan of how you would do each activity. Do you need to learn anything new or can you just start cold? What type of equipment will you need? Do you need a license or a permit or can you just go and do it? How often will you do this activity? What if a family member cannot make every activity, can you still do it?
- Be willing to compromise on what you are willing to do to spend quality time with your kids. Even though a particular activity may not be your idea of a perfect time, be willing to try new things. Remember, this hobby is not about you as an individual, it is about your entire family.
- Set a budget and a timeline so you know when you would do it and how much money you would spend on it. That way, you have a goal and can set a date of when you can actually start doing this new hobby. If you want to get into model radio control car racing, you need to know both how much it will cost and where you can do this activity in your area.
- Get started. Don't worry if you mess it up or you don't know what you are doing, just moving in a direction together makes all the difference!
- Ideas for hobbies to do as a family
- Gardening – whether to raise flowers or food
- Cooking – each family member can learn to cook different parts of the meal
- Scrapbooking – you can create memories while reminiscing about memories you have created
- Outdoor activities – this can be hiking, walking, fishing, hunting, boating, camping or going to the beach... basically exploring and enjoying God's beauty all around you
- Creating art – this can be painting, drawing, sculpting, writing poetry or anything else in the creative arts
- Putting puzzles together – this can be endless fun and a great conversation starter
- Raising fish – learning about fish and the responsibility required to take care of them
- Music – this can be playing, listening to or creating music as a family
- Historical re-enactment – great way to learn history and do something fun whether the Civil War, WWII or any other historical period tickle your fancy
- Astronomy – the stars are a permanent reminder of God's promise to us
- Sports (real or fantasy) – you can watch or play sports of any kind together
- Woodworking – creating things with your hands can create memories together
- Photography – this is something that all ages can participate in
- LEGO's – you can build anything your heart desires or buy kits to build specific things
- Remote control cars, airplanes or boats – relieve the kid in you and participate in leagues and races
- Line dancing – get your boots out and get ready to scoot!