I always thought it a shame that my Mum and I never had any hobbies in common. Apart from a vague memory of her grudgingly playing badminton in the back garden with me one afternoon (I seem to remember she had a cooking apron on at the time and a cigarette wedged in her mouth) I can’t recall us ever taking an interest in the other’s hobbies.
In contrast, my friends and their children all seem to have hobbies in common and I’m sure that pursuing them together improves the strength of their family and reduces stress.
Here are some of the hobbies that my friends and their children enjoy together; I hope it provides some inspiration.
1. Arts and crafts
My friend Melissa first discovered a love of crafts when her seven-year-old son Jordan brought home some arts and crafts homework. As Jordan struggled to complete a self-portrait using tissue paper and glue Melissa reluctantly agreed to give him a hand. The act of completing the task was really enjoyable for both of them and has led to many more fruitful artistic collaborations. She told me: “There’s room on the fridge door for his artwork and mine. It’s great to share a creative hobby with my young son!”
2. Learning a musical instrument
My sister Jo and her six-year-old son Charlie both enjoy playing the Casio keyboard that she bought him in a charity shop a year ago. The keyboard is a great instrument to play at the same time as a young child; Jo plays the bass notes at the left-hand side of the keyboard and Charlie takes care of the melodies on the right-hand side. Jo told me: “I must admit at first, Charlie was more interested in hitting the button which made the sound of a lion’s roar but he’s really come on since then and we do a cracking version of Chopsticks together!”
3. Sport
Kevin and his five-year-old son Robert are getting on famously ever since they set up a ‘hobby-swap’. Kevin agreed to try his son’s Wi-Fit bowling game if Robert deigned to leave the sofa long enough to have a real game of bowls in the back garden. Kevin said: “I was amazed just how good Robert was at playing bowls on his Wii and challenged him to a game of the real thing, thinking that he would never beat me.” And did he? “No, but he did prove to be a lot better at playing bowls than I was at playing Wii bowls.”
4. Walking
It’s such a shame that so few adults walk for pleasure; we only really walk when we need to get to A from B for practical purposes. Children, on the other hand, often seem to love walking and running around for the sheer joy of it. So why not take advantage of their excess energy by going on a long country walk together?
My friend Robbie goes for country walks every weekend with his son Jack. Robbie told me: “Jack can be really quiet in day-to-day life but he really opens up and starts talking on our long walks. It just seems so much more natural to have a conversation away from the dinner table and without the distraction of the TV.”
5. Gardening
Grandparents can share hobbies with their grandchildren just as easily as parents can. My next-door neighbor George frequently takes his grandson to the allotment with him. He told me: “There’s just something so great about planting fruit and veg and watching them grow with my grandson. And it’s even better to eat the produce that we’ve both grown together.”
All of the people I interviewed seemed to find that having a hobby in common with their kids is a great stress-free way of bonding. So, next time you think of taking up a hobby why not take up one that your kids will love too!
James Christie writes for Yellow Moon. Visit www.yellowmoon.org.uk to find some great craft supplies and projects.
