“Karate is kind of that one thing that my mom and I can both talk about together.”
– Brian, 12-years-old
Summer time or anytime, it’s important for parents to spend quality time with their kids… and sometimes challenging. Some families are taking classes together and building bonds in a whole new setting.
12-year-old Brian takes karate lessons. So does his mom.
“He was in it for about a year before I joined,” says mom Kerry. “I sat up in the bleachers and watched him, thought, ‘Hmm, that sounds kind of interesting.'”
The karate instructor started a class that parents and kids can take together, after he noticed moms and dads waiting on the sidelines.
“I had parents that were not necessarily bored watching,” says instructor Marc Garduque, “but were interested and wanted to do it themselves – but weren’t able to devote the time to enroll themselves in a separate class.”
Now, parent-child classes are a growing trend – with courses like cooking, tennis, pottery, and yoga.
Jeff signed up for karate with his daughter, Sunshine.
“I see so many parents out there jogging and I think that’s great, but they could be spending that time with their child,” he says. “Whereas I’m here, I’m spending time with my child – and I’m doing exercise.”
“We like to learn together, we are a team,” says eight-year-old Sunshine.
Carla takes karate class with her entire family.
“I can’t think of any other sport or activity that we all do, all four us together,” says Carla. “And my husband tends to work late, and this gets him home and gets him involved.”
Parents hope the time spent together in class will bring them closer to their children.
“We do it twice a week for class,” says Kerry, “but then we also practice at home quite a bit. So I think it gives us something very common that, especially with teenage sons, you probably wouldn’t have as much of. So as a mom, it’s a great way to spend time with my boys.”
“There’s not a lot of things we can talk about,” says 12-year-old Brian, “but karate is kind of that one thing that my mom and I can both talk about together.”
What We Need To Know
According to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, there is evidence that children who spend time with their parents, even if it is just eating dinner together, get higher grades, have positive peer groups, and are less likely to have suicidal thoughts.
Parent-child activities can include taking classes together on a variety of interests and subjects: cooking, theater, fitness, scrapbooking, pottery, foreign language or dancing, to name a few. Classes are not the only option. Plan a family trip to volunteer in your community and learn, together the importance of giving back. A local soup kitchen, retirement home or even volunteering at a children’s hospital may be options in your community.
In a recent issue of Oprah Magazine, artist and art therapist Sandra Magsamen suggested these relatively simple activities for parent-child bonding:
- VISIT A LIBRARY Libraries are amazing and wonderful places for people of all ages. Pick a book to read to your family or choose a book on tape so you can follow along together as the story unfolds.
- GO TO A FARMERS’ MARKET Meet the folks who make cheese or bring eggs to the market or who grow the most delicious carrots. You can also spend a morning at the market and purchase delicious goodies to work with as you create healthy and fresh meals.
- PLANT A FAMILY VEGETABLE GARDEN Go online together and research how to create a raised bed garden, or use pots on your porch to plant in. Or, you can join a community garden and rent a space of land to grow vegetables. Enjoy nurturing and caring for the seeds as they blossom and yield wonderful delights.
- MAKE YOUR OWN PIZZA Pick up dough from the grocery store or local pizzeria, roll it out and top it with any combination of things that you’ve grown or that you love.
- THROW A CUPCAKE PARTY Bake cupcakes, have some decorating goodies on hand and create an environment where your family can go wild with creativity and where play is embraced.
- HOST A CRAFT DAY Discover your inner artist and creative passions. Head down to a craft supply store for supplies, or check out local classes. Some examples of things you and your family could try are jewelry making, painting or scrapbooking.
- TOUR THE TOWN Make believe you are a tourist in your own town. Take field trips to local sports games, visit museums, go to the zoo, take a train ride, visit an historic mansion or go on a walking tour. Get reacquainted with your town or city and explore it with fresh eyes.
- PLAY ALL DAY Have fun, play games, get competitive, make teams and enjoy each other’s company. From puzzle-making, to checker tournaments, to card games, to badminton, to charades, to mini golf; there are tons of games that your family can play together. Find something that you love, and make it a tradition.
- TAKE A HIKE Walking is good for you, and it’s a great way to get some exercise and teach healthy habits to the kids. There are local trails in most areas, as well as national parks filled with marked trails. Keep a hiking journal to document walks you’ve taken, and be sure to write down details about each place.
Resources
- Family Activities from Sandra Magsamen
- Family Day Tips from the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse
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