How to Find Enjoyable Family Hobbies

We are a family of five. Five equals five different tastes, preferences, ideas and attitudes about how to spend our limited free time. I keep a magnet on my fridge with a picture of a family in a station wagon where no one looks content. The caption reads, "There is no such thing as fun for the whole family." I keep it there in jest to laugh at how hard it can be at times to come up with activities and outings we can enjoy together. Some families seem to be born perfectly suited to each others' interests. Everyone either loves tennis or golf or they have a boat and spend their time together that way. The rest of us need a little more planning and preparation to come up with activities that will make everyone happy. Finding a hobby that families can enjoy together is rewarding and worth any extra effort. Here's how to find simple hobbies to enjoy as a family.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Activity the whole family enjoys
• Willingness to invest time together

1. Brainstorm. Pick a time that you can come together and start jotting every and any idea down about what hobbies might be appealing to you as a family. Include all ideas that are generated. This won't work if Dad is only willing to participate if your hobby is to watch football on Sundays, especially when someone doesn't like to watch football. Mom's favorite activity might be to try new recipes while Dad loves to eat. Your daughter has always wanted to learn to cook. Perhaps you can share a cooking hobby where everyone can participate in some way. Dad can choose what recipes to use. Everyone can shop for the ingredients together. In time, Dad may want to help the rest of you prepare the recipes. When brainstorming, the idea is to come up with as many ideas as possible. Write down things each of you have always wanted to try but haven't. At this step in the process, every idea is welcome and considered.

2. Organize and gather information. Look over the list and group like hobbies together. I have a good friend whose family hobby is to camp and ride dirt bikes. The kids love to partake in such a fun and adventurous weekend activity. Dad gets to indulge a lifelong desire to ride dirt bikes while Mom loves to camp. They got into this enjoyable family hobby after spending a few months organizing and gathering information about how much the hobby will cost and where can they get the right equipment. By organizing and gathering information, they also realized they need to do some planning to be able to purchase equipment for their new hobby. They decided to rent dirt bikes for the first time to make certain it is something they would like to do as a family. It took them about a year to get this particular hobby underway. The effort has been worth it to them and they love their weekend time doing something fun together.

3. Compromise. The main reason to find enjoyable family hobbies in the first place is to create opportunities for fun and bonding time with each other. If dirt bikes, for example, doesn't seem like your thing because the idea of dirt bikes is a little intimidating maybe you could at least be willing to rent them once. You may discover a secret love. Or, you may realize that you have to go back as a family to other brainstorming ideas. At least you will have shown a willingness to compromise, which might encourage your spouse and kids to try something you've always wanted to do.

4. Create a budget and timeline for beginning your new hobby. There's no use in choosing a hobby that you cannot afford as you want to have fun, not bleed your bank account dry. By creating a budget, you can allow yourself a realistic time line for achieving your goals. Some hobbies are more affordable than others. Hiking costs a lot less than a weekend away skiing. But with a little bit of money set aside each week, you can plan ahead to reach your goals.

5. Think outside the box. Their may be a simple activity that is perfect for your family but you just haven't thought of doing it as a family yet. We love to bike ride. For a long time we had only one adult bike that my husband and I would take turns using with out children. When we decided to also buy my husband a bike of his own we opened so many opportunities for us to have fun together. We can turn our interest in biking into a hobby by researching trails, entering local bike contests and setting future goals of riding longer races together. Biking is simple, affordable and offers great exercise. We all get to do something we enjoy. Everyone can contribute in a unique way. My daughter can read the biking magazines. I can plot new trails for us to try. My husband can teach my son how to fix and maintain the tires, gears and brakes of our bikes. For us, this is one activity that allows all of us to play an important role and each of us benefits from the others' contribution.

Tips & Warnings

• Be willing to adjust your activity to your families tastes.
• Find a hobby that everyone can at least be a part of in some way.
• Interests and skill levels will vary; be willing to have fun above all else whether you become experts or not.
• In the decision-making phase, be willing to try more than one hobby.
• Don't invest too much time or money before you know it's something you will all really enjoy.
• Do invest enough time and money to really give the hobby a chance.

[FranticMommy]

on 5/15/2009 I like #5 too! My goal this summer is to get another adult bike and one of those littel pull behind carts for the 3 year old. Good cheap fun for the whole family. Good job!

[40skydiver]

on 3/7/2009 Nice idea for an article. 5*s