Beyond watching Giants football (and other sports teams), what hobbies or activities do you share with your kids?
As my two kids get older (5 year old girl and 1.5 year old boy), I want to start doing things with them that they can see as dad-daughter or dad-son activities.
My daughter loves to mimic me in my workouts and have gotten pretty good at keeping up (in her own way). We've also been building Lego kits together. And we may even pick up some water sports on the Chesapeake (paddleboarding?).
With my son being so little, I'm not sure what he'll find interesting, but maybe I'll pick up model building with him in addition to what I already do with my daughter.
So any interesting hobbies or activities you share with your kids?
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.
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.
To this day we still play online games and hit the trails at the park when he makes it home.
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.
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.
Getting?
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She likes to remind me how old I'm getting.
Getting?
That's exactly what she would have said too. ;)
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.
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.
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!
Kids did paper thing about dads for father's day.
Q: What's something funny your dad does?
A: when he dies in Skyrim
Quote:
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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
hahahahah
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.
Fun times.
Fun times.
Im gonna dial 9 and 1 now, just to be ready.
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.
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
Unless you hit them, they won't learn a valuable life lesson.
Now it is about sharing their life experiences.
Always changing, always there for them.
Bahahaha...
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
Being teammates: cool.
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.