Hobbies

Does your child frequently say things like, “I’m so bored, there is nothing to do?” You might remind them that they may have some chores left to do — or perhaps suggest a hobby. Social media may be widely used these days, but it doesn’t really count as a hobby and is often more of a distraction. Hobbies bring value to your life by adding skill sets, developing new interests and frequently the added bonus of spending time with family and friends, while having true interactions with others in a physical way rather than through a screen.

Depending on the age of your child, a variety of hobbies can help to fill those down times. Two young mothers I work with really enjoy family game nights with their younger kids. That might include board games such as Monopoly or Trouble, or card games such as the classics of Go Fish and Old Maid. And there are more complex strategic Euro board games, as children get older. Puzzles are also popular and can stretch young brains to think in new ways.

Many experts think that families taking the time to enjoy hobbies together helps to build stronger relationships and interactions. A hobby can shape the personality of a child in positive ways, helping them become confident, self-reliant, and independent. Having a hobby also enhances the thinking skills of your child. Some hobbies can instill qualities like compassion and patience, and also teach various life skills that will help to mold them into healthy adults.

At the upper grade levels, both Pendleton and Hermiston high schools offer a variety of activities in a safe setting. The leadership development group Key Club might be an option, along with dance, drama, singing, art, horse related groups – even robotics, depending on the school. Pendleton Center for the Arts offers a variety of activities for artistically inclined youth. Currently, they provide free classes for teens and tweens, available Tuesdays through Saturdays, in guitar, ukulele, needlework and clay sculpting, with more opportunities expected soon. For more information, go to pendletonarts.org/classes.

Ultimately, hobbies are skill-building activities that relax and inspire you on a regular basis. Good hobbies are therapeutic for kids and adults alike. If your youngster is spending too much of their free time sitting passively in front of a screen, suggesting a stimulating alternate activity might be the only intervention they need. Of course, you can’t choose someone else’s hobby. It has to speak to a child’s individual interests — but chances are you know him pretty well. If you’re hoping to plant a seed, consider some of the more unique and energizing hobbies out there.

Popular hobbies beyond games might be family adventures such as geocaching, a type of global treasure hunt where people look for caches or hidden objects. It’s something like a series of hide-and-seek games, where hiders provide online clues for seekers. Most often, geocachers use GPS as a means to “seek” the cache. Different types of caches frequently come as a themed series that follow a particular topic or location, such as a stretch of Highway 101. Umatilla County, for example, has a series of geocaches located in various cemeteries.

Outdoor hobbies such as astronomy, bird watching, photography, gardening and flying drones are also popular. Indoors, kids can focus on cooking/baking, jewelry making, painting, scrapbooking, paper crafting and sculpture. Upcycling old objects into something new is gaining popularity, which can incorporate skills like woodworking. Additionally, old fashioned hobbies such as embroidery, knitting and crocheting are enjoying a rebirth.

Hobbies like yoga and volunteering can bring a sense of balance and well-being to your child in a variety of ways, building empathy and peacefulness. Learning a new language and researching a foreign country in preparation for a trip can be a exciting way to build family relationships and learn about a new culture. In a nutshell, hobbies are a wonderful way to build up your child’s sense of self, as well as strengthening family connections.