New Hobbies for the Whole Family

As the weather gets warmer the opportunities to take up different hobbies increase. It is great to get outside and get some exercise but there are also plenty of activities to do on rainy days. Encouraging your family to tear themselves away from the television or tablet screen to do something productive is a way for them to see the benefits in such activities. Taking up productive hobbies also promotes creativity, sociability and (in some cases) exercise.

For Mum

As a mum it is important to regularly take part in activities which release stress enable you to take time away from the responsibility of being a mother and enable you to recapture some of the life you had before the kids. Tai Chi is a great way to reduce stress and also has lots of health benefits to the body. You could join a class or invest in a DVD. An alternative creative hobby for you could be oil painting, there are some fantastic Bob Ross paints available and great instructional videos on YouTube. For a more cerebral hobby, it is never too late to learn a language. I’d recommend the Michel Thomas technique. This is also something you could do with your partner and even the kids if they are old enough.

For Dad

Spring is a time to get out in the garden or if you haven’t got a big enough outdoor space plant some flora in your home. Websites such as the Royal Horticultural Society offer a wealth of tips and advice on all kinds of gardening. Gardening is an active hobby which also enables you to enjoy the fruits of your labour. If he is looking for something even more active, more and more people are getting into cycling. With the accessibility of cycling and the success of the Tour de France in the UK last year it seems more and more people and investing in a decent road bike. Perhaps he wants a hobby which will test his intellect. Many people as they grow up realise they are going through the motions – working, looking after the kids – and not learning anything new. Enrolling in an Open University course enables you to gain a new skill and potentially makes you more employable.

For the Little Ones

Young kids need little encouragement to be active. However, encouraging them to join a sports team will improve their interpersonal skills and learn vital lessons about teamwork. If you have the outdoor space, a veg patch also teaches them important lessons about where food comes from. If you want to encourage their creativity, a musical instrument is a passion that they may take into later life. Stay away from a drum kit though if you want to get some sleep!