Do you know the value of hobbies for children?

Question

When you run out of ideas for toys at Christmas, do you think of stimulating interest in a hobby for children? Hobbies add a dimension to life which improves it for the long haul. Interests begun in childhood can form the basis for a lifelong pleasurable hobby, or even a career. Having a hobby reduces boredom, which gets more and more dangerous as the teen years approach. I don't know any statistics (maybe you do?), but I would like to hear how others, especially parents, feel about wholesome hobbies.

Answer 1

Hobbies can engage you physically and mentally. People who have a hobby "are generally healthier," says Peter Lichtenberg, Ph.D., director of the Institute of Gerontology at Wayne State University. "We also know they are at a lower risk for depression and dementia. The great value of hobbies is they're a way for people to stay engaged on multiple levels."
Psychologist Michael Brickey, Ph.D., is the author of the book Defy Aging and president of the Ageless Lifestyle Institute in Columbus, Ohio. His focus is on helping people stay physically and mentally active so they can enjoy their later years. Dr. Brickey says hobbies help by reducing stress and providing a sense of accomplishment.

"Hobbies can be thought of on three levels," Dr. Brickey says. "The first is as a diversion. Hobbies help us pass the time. The second is as a passion. When a hobby becomes a passion, we become truly engaged in doing something we love. It not only helps us pass time, it makes us unaware that time is passing. The third level is as something that creates a sense of purpose. We all need that." The ideal hobby, he says, combines all three levels.

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However, I think there should be a distinction made between hobbies that a child chooses to participate in and a hobby that is imposed by parents trying to force children into something they don't want. If the parent and child find an enjoyable activity they can do together, they have a much better chance of creating a healthy environment.

If the parent believes the child "needs" a hobby because of excessive boredom, the parent first needs to determine what the child would like to do. This can best be done by experimenting with several possible hobbies, and allowing the child to decide which one to pursue.

A parent should never induce a child to begin a hobby to keep the child busy and leave the parent "free time". Hobbies are best when enjoyed by all.

Answer 2

My kids have their own horses to look after and have calves to look after in the summer for the 4H groups. This teaches them responsibility and how to care for animals. It teaches them how to be caring individuals in order to be healthy adults.

Answer 3

no...do you?