Have Hobbies Vanished?
Oh, no! I just asked a group of third graders about their hobbies (hoping some would say “reading”), but they didn’t know what I was talking about! Really! Is it that kids don’t have hobbies these days or that they simply call them something other than hobbies? Either way, hobbies (or whatever you call them) are not what they used to be. I grew up in the 50’s and 60’s when almost every neighborhood had an actual “hobby shop”. These little shops were always packed with goodies such as gimp, balsa wood and paint-by-number kits. They were places where the owners actually knew all of the neighborhood children.
Without getting too sentimental. do you remember when children actually did things after school? They played ball, took walks, roller skated, built forts, did arts and crafts, learned to knit, collected bugs, read books! Now they sit, electronic equipment in hand, and they twitter, send instant messages and chat on facebook. Ok, I guess I am old, but maybe I have lived to be old by being active, having hobbies and actually doing things. I’m fearful that the next generation will be plagued by weight problems, shrinking grey matter, giant thumbs and carpal tunnel problems.
C’mon parents, get you kids up and doing something. How about an hour of computer for every hour of exercise? How about an hour of Wii after an hour of reading? How about family games in place of TV during the week? How about bowling? Photography? How about talking to each other? How about a hobby?
Bobbie Hinman
http://bestfairybooks.com
3 comments:
Oh Bobbie - I am so with you on this one. But what I see, also, is that so many parents keep their kids "involved" in sports and activities all year round, as if they are afraid to let them have any free time. And it seems like kids today also have way more homework than I ever had as a kid.
I think one of the reasons that reading (and hobbies) are suffering in our society today is that too many kids have so many demands on them, they don't know what it is to have extra time on their hands to discover a library, or a hobby, or a walk around the neighborhood.
Sigh. Whatever happened to stamp collections?
Yes, you are so right. Kids are too involved with being involved. I'm so glad I was raised in the
50's with June Cleaver!
I completely agree with you, Bobbie. My neices and nephews have plenty of hobbies, thankfully, though that likely has more to do with their parent's involvement and encouragement. I just hope the reading, sports, and art don't drop off when the kids are teens and old enough to decide what they want to do on their own time. Those video games are so alluring to that age group.
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