Being bored wasn’t something we admitted to when I was a child.  Mom or Dad would find more farm work and housework for bored children.  So we discovered all types of hobbies and creative play.

Image: sxc.hu

I’ve discovered, too, that bored children often grow up to be bored adults.  So why not encourage hobbies of many types for your children.  Become involved yourself and include your youngsters.  Introduce them to new activities.  These should include a mix of sit down and active hobbies.

You never know what life will bring. When I had a broken back, as an adult, and lay in bed in a body cast for six weeks, people wondered if I wasn’t bored out of my mind.  No, I had much to do, when I wasn’t too tired.  I read, I wrote, I played games with my granddaughter.  Occasionally the family brought the TV into my room (we only had one in the family room) and played movies.  But I was never bored.

Some hobby ideas:

• Reading
• Board games
• Outdoor games like croquet, catch, hoop shoots
• Sewing and related activities
• Painting, sketching and other arts
• Knitting and crocheting
• Fabric art, altered books
• Scrapbooking
• Photography
• Collections of many kinds
• Geocaching

Some of these may be computer related, like digital photography and scrapbooking, but they’re still using your creativity.

What activities do you encourage with your children?

Post from: Blisstree

Encourage Hobbies with Your Children

If you’re already involved in a hobby, you might want to start an new one.  It’s difficult for me to imagine people who aren’t interested in some type of hobby.  I’ve always had hobbies and interests; some have turned into small businesses.

However, if you find it difficult to become interested in an activity by yourself, see if there is a group nearby you can become involved with.  Our local senior center has much going on at a daily or occasional basis.

*Perhaps there’s a quilting group locally. 

*A reading/book discussion group at the library

*Take an adult education class.  I’ve had a number of older adults take my writing classes.

*Become involved in scrapbooking and writing family history

*Do crossword puzzles

*Put together jigsaw puzzles

*Take up golf

*Do oil or water color painting

*Do some woodworking

There are any number of hobbies and recreational pursuits that you can become involved in.  Perhaps you’d like to start again something you once gave up because of lack of time.

Post from: Blisstree

Start a New Hobby & Experience Lower Risk of Alzheimer’s