How family hobbies help us grow together

My kids spend most of their time together, and they don’t argue super often.  Why is that?

Because we deliberately chose how we would spend time together.

We have created family hobbies that appeal to all/most of us in some way, shape, or form.

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My family loves board games, that is a family hobby we enjoy

I will add the caveat, Princess does not like competitive games.  She prefers cooperative games, which has changed some of our buying habits (two cooperative games we really enjoy I’ve reviewed: Kings of Israel and Castle Panic).  The boys just love board games, any and all they can get their hands on.

If you are thinking of starting this family hobby, then I would recommend finding your friendly local game store and asking their advice.  They will happily suggest something for you to get.  If you have younger kids they might suggest My First Carcassonne Game*, or I’ve got an entire post of preschool games we have played and loved.

Elementary kids are in an odd stage, they can play some adult games well (like my kids playing Settlers of Catan or Smash Up), and some they are completely overwhelmed with (nothing I’ve written about here).

But, once your kids are in junior high or upper elementary if you’ve been playing games with them all along you can play pretty much any game with your kids.  It’s glorious.  Absolutely glorious.  We have achieved what every gaming family wants, ability to play almost every game we own with our kids, no endless rounds of Monopoly here.

 

Crafting as family hobbies

I have creative kids.  Very creative, I’ve known that since they were little and they made pipe cleaner creations.  I’ve been looking for ways to encourage their creativity AND increase their skills.  I’ve hit on a couple of different ways:

I’m slowly teaching the kids how to sew.  Princess is the most dedicated in this, but all of my kids have sewn small stuffed animals, and they’ve all made some amount of clothes for their dolls, and blankets, lots of blankets.

We are taking art classes together, I cannot emphasize enough how much fun that has been for all of us, and how much we have all learned.  So far we have taken the Winter Wonderland Mixed Media Workshop*, Valentine’s Day Mixed Media Workshop*, and Springtime Splendor: Mixed Media Workshop*. The Celebrate Summer: Mixed Media Workshop* class is coming, and I can’t wait to give it a try.

It’s given me amazing insights into how my kids’ minds work.  My boys like to create their own way, and always have their own vision.  Princess likes to follow the example, she is the closest I have to a rule follower.

I don’t have a picture for the final way because Princess just disappears with these and comes back with finished products.  I gave her my old drawing books, you know the How to Draw Cartoon animals*type of books.  I had so many as a child, and now she’s using them and afterwards we talk about what she drew, and what she’s learning, it’s amazing.

 

And finally, we have a great tradition of imagination

I love this picture, my kids have amazing imaginations, and our family walks are always a chance for grand adventures and great stories, and you wouldn’t believe the stories they tell.  It’s amazing.

The other ladies of iHomeschool Network are also sharing their family hobbies with you.