NFT: What hobbies or activities do you share with your kids?

until she figures out how to unravel the house and use it on me.

but has moved on from needing/wanting me to do it with her.

Otherwise, I get them involved in activities, and do it along with them. I'm as active in their programs as they are, if not more. If you can volunteer to be the leader of the group, they will get more out of it, you will grow from it, and you will have more knowledge than the parents dropping off the kids and then watching their phones through practice or meetings.

Outside from organized activities, I try to include at least one kid with whatever I'm doing. They start to pick out what appeals to them and then start asking to do more of it.

I would read stories aloud and the family would sit in the living room (in winter with the fireplace going), off of the top of my mind we read the following together.

The Hobbit
The Lord of the Rings
Howl's Moving Castle
Treasure Island
Tales of King Arthur (kid's version)
The Chronicles of Narnia

So, happily, we can share a sensibility that loves adventure stories.

I also lead them through sessions of games like Dungeon World (akin to D&D).

We also shoot BB guns at cans in the back yard, and play appropriate video games together.

Skiing. Golf. They also have their own hobbies of course. My son has shown me how fun soccer can be.

Lego video games are the shit too. I also coach my kids' baseball teams. Lots of games. They help out in the vegetable garden. We'll start doing some wood working projects together as they get a little older. We read lots of books together.

but when they were little we enjoyed writing stories and walks. My son and I also built lots of models together and played so many video games.

To this day we still play online games and hit the trails at the park when he makes it home.

getting outside, skiing, hiking, paddling. Projects like basic woodworking. We're building a rocket from a kit.

more complex books and talk about it is definitely something my daughter would love. My son is getting into us reading to him, so I see that in his future as well. Good suggestion.

As far as getting involved in their groups/extracurricular activities, I will definitely do so once they are involved in sports or groups.

I was thinking about starting my daughter on BB guns then eventually taking her to ranges, but that's a few years away.

The thing that I would love for them to get into is running. While I've gotten to the point of not really enjoying distance running, for my kids, I will get into it again.

so I do that with her. She's also a ball buster. She likes to remind me how old I'm getting.

My boy and I wrestle. He loves to come over to me and punch me in the nuts to get started.

My oldest daughter is a teen now, so it's a struggle keeping her engaged. We joke around a lot so there's that.

Some great suggestions and examples.

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She likes to remind me how old I'm getting.

Getting?

In comment 13007642 BrettNYG10 said:

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Quote: She likes to remind me how old I'm getting. Getting?

That's exactly what she would have said too. ;)

thanks for the reminder, leatherneck.

Board games have really continued on past our old classics, and some games are great for cooperative work to solve a goal. Game's we've loved are Forbidden Island and Castle Panic. The former is a bit simpler than the latter, but both are fun to do something cooperative and challenging as a team. Eventually, I want to try Pandemic, but that's a bit advanced for my kids right now.

In comment 13007646 Moondawg said:

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thanks for the reminder, leatherneck. Board games have really continued on past our old classics, and some games are great for cooperative work to solve a goal. Game's we've loved are Forbidden Island and Castle Panic. The former is a bit simpler than the latter, but both are fun to do something cooperative and challenging as a team. Eventually, I want to try Pandemic, but that's a bit advanced for my kids right now.

And Wits and Wagers is a simple, really fun game that doesn't take long to get a round in.

In comment 13007648 Moondawg said:

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In comment 13007646 Moondawg said: Quote: thanks for the reminder, leatherneck. Board games have really continued on past our old classics, and some games are great for cooperative work to solve a goal. Game's we've loved are Forbidden Island and Castle Panic. The former is a bit simpler than the latter, but both are fun to do something cooperative and challenging as a team. Eventually, I want to try Pandemic, but that's a bit advanced for my kids right now. And Wits and Wagers is a simple, really fun game that doesn't take long to get a round in.

Thanks for the suggestions!

but board games and cards were big, Legos were huge for my son (he still loves them), oldest daughter loved softball. We had a pool for most of their lives - spent money so they learned to swim - good investment. At 4 the youngest could swim across the pool and at 6 the oldest could swim the length - none were ever afraid of water nor were we afraid if they were in the water.

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In comment 13007661 GiantFilthy said:

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Kids did paper thing about dads for father's day.
Q: What's something funny your dad does?
A: when he dies in Skyrim

In comment 13007665 Rocky369 said:

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In comment 13007661 GiantFilthy said: Quote: . Kids did paper thing about dads for father's day. Q: What's something funny your dad does? A: when he dies in Skyrim

hahahahah

(although I consider it more than a hobby because I play in a gigging jazz quartet.) My daughter has had weekly piano lessons since she was 6, and I have been teaching my son guitar since that time as well. They are almost 12 now. We play something pretty much every day. I give my son somewhat more formal lessons 2 or 3 times per week.

My son is also a huge history buff - WW2, revolutionary war, and the civil war. We are both particularly interested in the civil war and talk about it a lot. We just visited Appomattox Court House earlier this week.

where she fills up her diaper and I change it. Then she smiles.

I feel a little bad I never could get any of them interested in reading the racing form. But then again I have do some grandkids I'll be working on in a few years.

but I used to throw my nephews in a closet and lock it.

Fun times.

In comment 13007709 Jints in Carolina said:

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but I used to throw my nephews in a closet and lock it. Fun times.

Im gonna dial 9 and 1 now, just to be ready.

swim first. For some time we owned a home with a pool, so swimming or just jamming around there was great, and when they were only 5, 6 I took them kayaking with a guide and lots of nature all around at Elkhorn Slough near Monterey. That stuck and to this day they ask me about doing it again but it's gonna have to be on the Mediterranean or the Red Sea.

Cooking of course, and they are just getting old enough to appreciate that dad is something special in the kitchen. Mostly baking still, but I'm sure they are ready to expand that. They turn out a very nice home made pizza from scratch.

Have tried with the Giants but no luck so far.

...swimming at Disney, and everyone's favorite, "which chamber has the live round?".

and I throw rocks at them

since November, but just accepted an offer yesterday. But during my time with them, twin boy and girl, 3 yrs old, we would play toys, read books, play outside. They are really into bugs and love picking them up, but I wont let them near spiders. Also in the flower beds, I just let them throw seeds around, makes them feel like they're helping and being a big boy and big girl. Of course there is some refereeing, screaming, and time outs, but its been good. Oh and Giants and Star Wars of course. Getting them used to day care all day again so they will be there until 4:30 and it is so nice being home with no kids or wife around.

Throwing the ball around collecting things together from trips we go on.

Now they are older me and the boy go shooting at the range and me and my daughter cook together

And of course hating the cowboys and picking on my in law cowboy fans is a staple at holiday gatherings

In comment 13007815 sb2003 said:

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and I throw rocks at them

Unless you hit them, they won't learn a valuable life lesson.

He has an circuitry project kit that he loves. We build simple devices and he learns about voltage, current, resistance, etc.

While growing up we did Lego's, then plastic scale models, model rocket launching, jig saw puzzles, Tiger scout through Life and Eagle scouting, family camping, and youth through High School sorts and clubs.

Now it is about sharing their life experiences.

Always changing, always there for them.

..

and looking for pootang

In comment 13008066 Ryan said:

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Bahahaha...

In comment 13007830 LTPS5611 said:

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since November, but just accepted an offer yesterday. But during my time with them, twin boy and girl, 3 yrs old, we would play toys, read books, play outside. They are really into bugs and love picking them up, but I wont let them near spiders. Also in the flower beds, I just let them throw seeds around, makes them feel like they're helping and being a big boy and big girl. Of course there is some refereeing, screaming, and time outs, but its been good. Oh and Giants and Star Wars of course. Getting them used to day care all day again so they will be there until 4:30 and it is so nice being home with no kids or wife around.

Congratulations on the job. Still looking myself. Nothing since October. Had some feelers, but nothing definite. Had surgery last November, but have been fully recovered since April. Thinking about moving if nothing comes up soon. Good luck.

and movies and whatnot my son and I like to go to pizza/wing spots around the area and grade them. Once a week or every two weeks we'll be out and see a local pizza joint and pop in for a slice or two and some wings. We have a pretty good time judging the food, atmosphere, service, etc. He's getting pretty good at telling the difference between homemade dough and the frozen crap.

He also has been helping me cook lately - especially on the grill where i'll show him different bbq techniques and recipes. How to use the gas grill, charcoal, oiless fryer, etc. Marinades, rubs, how to cook ribs, how to shop for the stuff and what to look for.

My daughter who is 5 obviously likes the Lego kits and usual stuff. We like to go shopping together or watch Flip or Flop. She loves taking the dogs for walks and rides in the car. We do that pretty much every day.

When I was growing up in NJ the kid behind me was in the YMCA Indian Guides with his father. His 2 loves back then were baseball and Indian Guides.

I joined due to a friend calling to ask if my daughter and I wanted to join up with him and his daughter when our kids were in kindergarten. I jumped at the chance and it was one of the best decisions I ever made. My daughter loved it. We were in from K-6 grades. We went to the meetings every month during school and went camping twice a year at the Longhouses. It was great for us.

The program is no longer the Indian Guide and Princesses due to, well...Indian. I Believe it's now the Y Guides and Princesses or the Y Adventure Guides. Whatever it's called, I cannot speak highly enough about it. My daughter is now 21 and still talks about the time we spent there. We were able to join without being members of the Y.

My whole family does it (6 of us). The older two children climb competitively. The younger two tag along and climb for fun. And the wife and I do it too.

Most have never tried it but it is a growing sport. Absolutely wonderful atmosphere as competitors are supportive of each other. It is a very difficult sport but teaches kids to overcome failure (as you are constantly failing until you finally are able to do it). There are grades of climbs so we all can understand how much we are improving. And we make climbing trips to Kentucky, Red Rocks in Law Vegas, visited climbing gyms in Germany, and etc.

It is very popular outside the US and on the verge of becoming an olympic sport. Climbing gyms are popping up everywhere in the US now too.

I recommend to everyone not just kids. I love rock climbing and wish I had found it sooner. FYI, it is not dangerous even climbing outdoors.

History.

In comment 13008184 WhoCares said:

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My whole family does it (6 of us). The older two children climb competitively. The younger two tag along and climb for fun. And the wife and I do it too. Most have never tried it but it is a growing sport. Absolutely wonderful atmosphere as competitors are supportive of each other. It is a very difficult sport but teaches kids to overcome failure (as you are constantly failing until you finally are able to do it). There are grades of climbs so we all can understand how much we are improving. And we make climbing trips to Kentucky, Red Rocks in Law Vegas, visited climbing gyms in Germany, and etc. It is very popular outside the US and on the verge of becoming an olympic sport. Climbing gyms are popping up everywhere in the US now too. I recommend to everyone not just kids. I love rock climbing and wish I had found it sooner. FYI, it is not dangerous even climbing outdoors.

I've heard that it is a very supportive hobby/sport.

In comment 13008184 WhoCares said:

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My whole family does it (6 of us). The older two children climb competitively. The younger two tag along and climb for fun. And the wife and I do it too. Most have never tried it but it is a growing sport. Absolutely wonderful atmosphere as competitors are supportive of each other. It is a very difficult sport but teaches kids to overcome failure (as you are constantly failing until you finally are able to do it). There are grades of climbs so we all can understand how much we are improving. And we make climbing trips to Kentucky, Red Rocks in Law Vegas, visited climbing gyms in Germany, and etc. It is very popular outside the US and on the verge of becoming an olympic sport. Climbing gyms are popping up everywhere in the US now too. I recommend to everyone not just kids. I love rock climbing and wish I had found it sooner. FYI, it is not dangerous even climbing outdoors.

Always send the kids first:

And watching Giants football

My daughter is 11 been taking flute for 3 years. I play guitar so we jam together. At on point she wanted to quit cause she didn't think it was cool anymore. Till I showed her Jethro Tull videos on YouTube. We also like to stargaze been doing that for while. Last Christmas I bought her a really nice telescope.

my boys and I did it. They're both in their mid-twenties now, but the best time was taking to the rugby pitch with my oldest during a summer tournament a few years ago.

Being teammates: cool.

recommended to me years ago:

Have a family dinner by candle light. Once a week, once a month, whatever you can manage. TV, phones, music off and candles on the table. There is something about the candle light...it illuminates faces and kind of shuts out the rest of what's around you. Then just talk. Find out what's going on with your kids. Let them know that you're interested in what they are interested in talking about. Laugh with them and share your thoughts with them. We tried it and did it for years until schedules started getting more hectic. But my wife and kids still talk about those dinners we had. Try it. Trust me, It may sound a little corny, but you'll all get something out of it.