Ask a room full of people what their hobbies are and you'll get as many answers as there are people. Others will admit that they have no hobby. Probably yes; but just don't label it that way. By definition, a hobby is an activity or interest undertaken outside of normal employment and pursued primarily for pleasure.
Whether stamp collecting, chat rooms, trains, softball, scrapbooking, golf, reading, painting, tap dancing, gardening, crafts, auto mechanics, music, garage sales, sewing, fishing, cooking, boating, painting furniture, javelin throwing or a plethora of other activities or interests, the key element is balance. You have to find a balance between family life and extracurricular activities.
Too many good things turn bad. Everyone should have a space and a special interest that they like to do for themselves. Self-gratification is healthy to a certain extent. Getting away from the day to day forces you to pursue your special hobby or focus is therapeutic. You've all heard, "If mom ain't happy, ain't nobody happy." It doesn't matter if your role is father, mother, husband, wife, boyfriend, girlfriend, son, daughter, brother or sister, if you're just going to work or school and have no real outdoor activities, you're probably not always the friendliest person .
Conversely, if you bury yourself and make it seem to others that all you care about, or all you ever want to do, is beat the drums all day, you are creating yourself or prolonging dissatisfaction. People deal with depression in many ways. Some sleep all the time. Others want to do nothing but read, read, read. Others will spend hours and hours on the ground floor building a bigger and faster widget just to avoid the real cause of their frustration. Hobbies are meant to be a healthy outlet, not a catalyst for ignoring issues that need to be addressed.
Likewise, hobbies can be very expensive. Of course, snowmobiles, motorcycles and ski equipment are expensive. But sometimes these seemingly low-cost activities can add up. You start by trying to budget for a month's worth of karate lessons. Then you need (or want) a gi, a uniform. Don't forget protective sparring equipment. You might think you need to have a heavy bag or some shields to help you practice. Expect $30-$50 per tournament you enter. Of course, uninsured costs for medical care and orthodontics must also be taken into account. "Let's see, we pay the mortgage this month, so get that new helmet you just have to have?"
If your hobby does more harm than good, if it eats into the family budget and time, more than you can or should spend, it's time to reconsider. If you're not doing something outside of your standard occupation that you enjoy, it's time to find something, for the sake of you and your family!
Kids are more sedentary than ever, the main reason being watching TV and playing video games instead of riding their bikes to the playground or playing kickball in the backyard with their friends. And even schools have de-emphasized fitness, with some school districts eliminating PE altogether due to underfunding.
Children need regular exercise to build strong bones and muscles. Exercise also helps children sleep well at night and stay alert during the day. Such habits established in childhood help teens maintain a healthy weight despite hormonal changes, rapid growth and social influences that often lead to overeating. And active children are more likely to become fit adults.
As childhood became more sedentary, children gained weight
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