In a busy world, parents and their children often get torn in opposite directions. Kids have soccer practice while parents do their separate hobbies. But it doesn’t have to be that way. There are hobbies that parents and kids can do together. I’m going to go over some hobby ideas here in today’s article.
Gardening
Growing a garden is a fun activity that both you and your family can do. Your children will enjoy watching the plants grow, and may enjoy eating some of the vegetables. If you are looking for a way to get your kids to eat more vegetables, you may want to have them each choose a vegetable that they would like to grow. Young children will enjoy playing in the dirt, as well as the responsibility.
Play an Instrument
Even if your family isn’t the “instrumental type,” you may find that it is fun and relaxing to play an instrument and make music. There are many classes out there that you can attend, as well as YouTube videos that you can watch.
Boating
If you have access to a canoe, kayak, or rowboat, boating can be a fun activity for the whole family. You may even want to take a water safety course together. Kayaks have come way down in price these last few years at stores like Walmart. So if this is something that you may start doing more often, you may want to consider buying your own boat.
Photography
All children, even babies, can hold a camera and take pictures. Your family may enjoy looking through all the photos that you took that day and comparing them with each other. If your family starts to enjoy photographing, then this is the perfect excuse for going for a hike and taking pictures of nature!
Sports
Find a sport that you and your family enjoy doing together. Different sports could include bike riding, horseback riding, swimming, and running. Your family might also enjoy training for a local race or marathon.
Start a Collection
You may find that your family enjoys collecting items, such as stamps, coins, rocks, or shells. Even if each family member collects different items, you can still all go to the same place to shop. Some items, such as coins or rocks, can be an excellent tool for discussing history and math. Keep your eye out for local garage sales, antique stores, and craft shows.
Crafts
Crafts can be fun to make, especially when you can wear it or treasure it forever. There are classes that you can take, or your family can watch a YouTube video together. Depending on what they make, your family may enjoy selling their crafts at craft shows. Not only is it a fun experience, but it can bring extra income for your family. It is also a great learning experience for your children since they can learn how to sort the money and how much change to give back to customers.
Cooking
Not only is this hobby fun, but it can also be a useful skill in the future. Children that are young can help stir and pour ingredients, while older children may enjoy creating a meal by themselves. If none of your family members is a good cook, you might find a cooking class near you that will teach your family how to cook properly. If cooking classes aren’t available, then your family may enjoy watching a video or reading instructions online.
Hiking
You don’t need to live next to a national forest to go hiking with your kids. Most cities and towns have parks and places that are not overrun with pavement and buildings. If you are blessed to be next to the wilderness, then, by all means, get out there. Make sure to pack water bottles if it’s going to be a hot day or if you will be out there a long time. Also, watch the weather forecast and dress for the weather so that you don’t find yourself in a bad situation far from the trailhead. Make sure always to tell someone where you are going.
Scuba Diving
If you have an interest in swimming underwater, then scuba diving could be a fun endeavor to do with your kids. You will need to rent the equipment, assuming you don’t want to spend a small fortune on scuba gear. You’ll need to go to a class so that you learn the proper way to do it. The class is half the fun. Then many people take a scuba trip as a final celebration to enjoy their new skill.
Painting
A fun activity for the whole family to do is to take a painting class. Many towns have 2-hour painting classes where the instructor will walk you through the steps that it takes to paint a special creation. Most of the time, everyone will have a similar yet uniquely different painting that they create. Paints, canvas, brushes, and everything that you will need to complete the painting is usually included with the class fee.
Conclusion
I’ve given some hobbies that families can do together. You are only limited by your imagination. If you start thinking of any hobbies that a person may want to do, I bet you can find ways to adapt most of those hobbies for all ages in your family. A little extra effort in planning out a family hobby will pay off in the long run for the solid family relationships that are built.
