This article was written by Salman Asif Siddiqui, and published in HOMEWORKS in July 2013.
One of the toughest jobs for parents is to keep their children engaged in meaningful and enjoyable activities. A lot many have failed to engage their children in activities that have value. Many parents are occupied with activities that are not coherent with the aims of good parenting. “We can’t blame children for occupying themselves with facebook rather than playing in the mud. Our society doesn’t put a priority on connecting with nature. In fact, too often we tell them it’s dirty and dangerous”, says David Suzuki, who is an environmental activist.
This article introduces over 100 family activities which parents can be engaged in with their children. These meaningful and enjoyable activities are classified into seven types. Besides, a list of seven other activities is also being shared with the readers that may seem engaging but actually have little or no significance for healthy and meaningful family life.
Seven time-killer activities:
Based on my personal observation and interaction with hundreds of families, I have come to the conclusion that there are seven major time traps that are well integrated in our routines. One needs to be fully aware of these time traps which not only kill time but also adversely affect someone’s capacity to live a meaningful and healthy life. Moreover, these seven activities that are listed below have the potential to make you addict of them and kill your other interests.
1. TV watching: Watching television actually means inactivity. For many families, it is considered to be their favourite option. Many children are made to sit before TV by their parents from very young age due to which they gradually lose their interest in other activities. TV makes children passive consumers of knowledge and spoils their innate creative talents.
2. Computer games: Too much screen time is not good for your children. Computer games though successfully engage children but it is not the wise use of their time. Most of these games are making children violent and aggressive besides straining their eyesight.
3. Facebook: Facebook is highly addictive which very few people can refrain from after joining it. Facebook is depleting relationships that every child needs to grow strong and strengthening networks which invade their life and ruin their peace. People who use facebook more frequently may become more self-occupied, isolated and show narcissistic tendencies.
4. Mobile messaging: Mobile messaging is another trap that can rob a person’s time. People when overly occupied with their mobile set do not realize that they give more attention and value to their mobile set and less attention and less value to the person whom they interact with. Over involvement of parents in their mobile phones can affect the quality of their interaction with their children.
5. Purposeless internet surfing: Internet is a great utility but people should beware of this trap as it has become one of the major time-killers in the lives of many. Purposeless internet browsing can isolate individuals and reduce family interaction.
6. Over sleeping: Over sleeping is one of the major sources of lethargy. It can make kids look dull and sluggish.
7. Ludo: This is the game which does not require intelligence or effort. Through this game children learn to internalize a very bad value, which is to win by luck and not by strategy or hard work.
To live a healthy and meaningful life, families need to explore diverse activities with a more holistic approach. Indulging into one type of activity is not good for children and parents. The activities that are listed below under the seven activity types provide a balanced program and a broader range of options for families to be engaged in. Parents should critically review their own interests and explore activities which they have ignored previously. You can not make your children benefit from this list until you change your own lifestyle. Choose at least a few activities from all the seven types and model your interest in them.
Meaningful & Enjoyable Activities:
TYPE 1: LITERARY
1.Reading books
2. Reading magazines
3. Reading newspaper
4. Reading poetry
5. Writing diary
6. Writing stories
7. Writing letters
8. Writing dialogue journal
9. Writing essays/ articles
10. Writing poetry
11. Research presentations
12. Listening songs/ poems
13. Attending literary events
14. Watching drama/movies (on DVD)
15. Visiting theatre
16. Writers’ club
17. Useful websites
TYPE 2: PHYSICAL
1. Cycling
2. Swimming
3. Skating
4. Cricket
5. Football
6. Basketball
7. Squash
8. Lawn tennis
9. Table tennis
10. Badminton
11. Taekwondo
12. Gymnastics
13. Aerobics
14. Body building
15. Horse riding
16. Jogging/ treadmill
17. Yoga
TYPE 3: MIND GAMES
1. Chess
2. Sudoku
3. Kakuro
4. Dominoes
5. Checker/ draughts
6. Rubik’s cube
7. Crosswords
8. Word finder
9. Scrabble
10. Mind puzzles/ riddles
11. Construction/ building blocks
12. Robotics
13. Scratch (MIT Project)
14. Useful websites
TYPE 4: ART & CRAFT
1. Painting
2. Sketching
3. Drawing
4. Calligraphy
5. Printing / dyeing
6. Knitting/ weaving
7. Pottery/ clay work
8. Pot painting
9. Glass painting
10. Fabric painting
11. Ceramic painting
12. Recycling
13. Origami
14. Model making
15. Jewellery making
16. Paint brush (computer)
17. Useful websites
TYPE 5: SOCIAL
1. Story telling
2. Drama/ acting
3. Singing
4. Recitals/ presentations
5. Chatting in family
6. Indoor fun games with family/ friends
7. Pen friendship
8. Photography
9. Film making
10. Art exhibition/ display
11. Giving tuitions
12. Attending fairs
13. Web development/ digital portfolios
14. Blogging
15. Visiting friends/ relatives/ neighbours
16. Volunteer work
TYPE 6: DOMESTIC
1. Stitching
2. Embroidery
3. Cooking
4. Baking
5. Salad making
6. Cleaning/ dusting/ mopping
7. Mending/ servicing/ repairs
8. Washing clothes
9. Ironing
10. Polishing shoes
11. Organizing room
12. Shopping groceries
13. Helping parents
14. Helping siblings
15. Teaching siblings
TYPE 7: NATURE
1. Plantation/ gardening
2. Vegetable farming
3. Experiments
4. Sight seeing
5. Hiking
6. Walking
7. Boating
8. Fishing
9. Stargazing
10. Camping
11. Shooting
12. Keeping pets
13. Travelling
14. Field trips
One of the toughest jobs for parents is to keep their children engaged in meaningful and enjoyable activities. A lot many have failed to engage their children in activities that have value. Many parents are occupied with activities that are not coherent with the aims of good parenting. “We can’t blame children for occupying themselves with facebook rather than playing in the mud. Our society doesn’t put a priority on connecting with nature. In fact, too often we tell them it’s dirty and dangerous”, says David Suzuki, who is an environmental activist.
This article introduces over 100 family activities which parents can be engaged in with their children. These meaningful and enjoyable activities are classified into seven types. Besides, a list of seven other activities is also being shared with the readers that may seem engaging but actually have little or no significance for healthy and meaningful family life.
Seven time-killer activities:
Based on my personal observation and interaction with hundreds of families, I have come to the conclusion that there are seven major time traps that are well integrated in our routines. One needs to be fully aware of these time traps which not only kill time but also adversely affect someone’s capacity to live a meaningful and healthy life. Moreover, these seven activities that are listed below have the potential to make you addict of them and kill your other interests.
1. TV watching: Watching television actually means inactivity. For many families, it is considered to be their favourite option. Many children are made to sit before TV by their parents from very young age due to which they gradually lose their interest in other activities. TV makes children passive consumers of knowledge and spoils their innate creative talents.
2. Computer games: Too much screen time is not good for your children. Computer games though successfully engage children but it is not the wise use of their time. Most of these games are making children violent and aggressive besides straining their eyesight.
3. Facebook: Facebook is highly addictive which very few people can refrain from after joining it. Facebook is depleting relationships that every child needs to grow strong and strengthening networks which invade their life and ruin their peace. People who use facebook more frequently may become more self-occupied, isolated and show narcissistic tendencies.
4. Mobile messaging: Mobile messaging is another trap that can rob a person’s time. People when overly occupied with their mobile set do not realize that they give more attention and value to their mobile set and less attention and less value to the person whom they interact with. Over involvement of parents in their mobile phones can affect the quality of their interaction with their children.
5. Purposeless internet surfing: Internet is a great utility but people should beware of this trap as it has become one of the major time-killers in the lives of many. Purposeless internet browsing can isolate individuals and reduce family interaction.
6. Over sleeping: Over sleeping is one of the major sources of lethargy. It can make kids look dull and sluggish.
7. Ludo: This is the game which does not require intelligence or effort. Through this game children learn to internalize a very bad value, which is to win by luck and not by strategy or hard work.
To live a healthy and meaningful life, families need to explore diverse activities with a more holistic approach. Indulging into one type of activity is not good for children and parents. The activities that are listed below under the seven activity types provide a balanced program and a broader range of options for families to be engaged in. Parents should critically review their own interests and explore activities which they have ignored previously. You can not make your children benefit from this list until you change your own lifestyle. Choose at least a few activities from all the seven types and model your interest in them.
Meaningful & Enjoyable Activities:
TYPE 1: LITERARY
1.Reading books
2. Reading magazines
3. Reading newspaper
4. Reading poetry
5. Writing diary
6. Writing stories
7. Writing letters
8. Writing dialogue journal
9. Writing essays/ articles
10. Writing poetry
11. Research presentations
12. Listening songs/ poems
13. Attending literary events
14. Watching drama/movies (on DVD)
15. Visiting theatre
16. Writers’ club
17. Useful websites
TYPE 2: PHYSICAL
1. Cycling
2. Swimming
3. Skating
4. Cricket
5. Football
6. Basketball
7. Squash
8. Lawn tennis
9. Table tennis
10. Badminton
11. Taekwondo
12. Gymnastics
13. Aerobics
14. Body building
15. Horse riding
16. Jogging/ treadmill
17. Yoga
TYPE 3: MIND GAMES
1. Chess
2. Sudoku
3. Kakuro
4. Dominoes
5. Checker/ draughts
6. Rubik’s cube
7. Crosswords
8. Word finder
9. Scrabble
10. Mind puzzles/ riddles
11. Construction/ building blocks
12. Robotics
13. Scratch (MIT Project)
14. Useful websites
TYPE 4: ART & CRAFT
1. Painting
2. Sketching
3. Drawing
4. Calligraphy
5. Printing / dyeing
6. Knitting/ weaving
7. Pottery/ clay work
8. Pot painting
9. Glass painting
10. Fabric painting
11. Ceramic painting
12. Recycling
13. Origami
14. Model making
15. Jewellery making
16. Paint brush (computer)
17. Useful websites
TYPE 5: SOCIAL
1. Story telling
2. Drama/ acting
3. Singing
4. Recitals/ presentations
5. Chatting in family
6. Indoor fun games with family/ friends
7. Pen friendship
8. Photography
9. Film making
10. Art exhibition/ display
11. Giving tuitions
12. Attending fairs
13. Web development/ digital portfolios
14. Blogging
15. Visiting friends/ relatives/ neighbours
16. Volunteer work
TYPE 6: DOMESTIC
1. Stitching
2. Embroidery
3. Cooking
4. Baking
5. Salad making
6. Cleaning/ dusting/ mopping
7. Mending/ servicing/ repairs
8. Washing clothes
9. Ironing
10. Polishing shoes
11. Organizing room
12. Shopping groceries
13. Helping parents
14. Helping siblings
15. Teaching siblings
TYPE 7: NATURE
1. Plantation/ gardening
2. Vegetable farming
3. Experiments
4. Sight seeing
5. Hiking
6. Walking
7. Boating
8. Fishing
9. Stargazing
10. Camping
11. Shooting
12. Keeping pets
13. Travelling
14. Field trips
