Wholesome Recreation

We've all heard that spending time with your family is important. We may be familiar with the quote stated above about how time is how we can express love to each other. Have you ever wondered why this is the case? Or maybe, what exactly we should be doing during this time? "Successful Marriages and Families" [1] shares the answers to those exact questions. 

Why is spending time together so important? One great reason is good health. "Research on the effect of extrinsically and intrinsically motivated aspirations found that people who focus on pleasure wealth, and material goods are likely to experience poorer mental health - reflected in higher levels of anxiety and depression and poor social functioning. In contrast, people who 'focus on developing satisfying personal relationships, growing as individuals, and contributing to their community' are among the healthiest in society." (Hawkins, et al. p 227) Another reason - this one specifically dealing with parenting - is to help children learn. Young children will often mimic behavior that they see their parents do. The more time they spend with their parents doing activities that bring them closer together, the more prepared they will be to take on the world and become a contributing member of society.

What exactly is wholesome recreation? Hawkins and his associates mention that there are "three types of leisure: (a) parallel, (b) joint, and (c) independent." (p 230) As the names suggest, parallel activities are when people are independently doing the same task without interaction, joint activities require lots of communication, and independent activities are completely individual. The authors mention that marital satisfaction can be found most frequently through joint activities. Young children also learn security and independence when they play with their parents. When it comes to adolescents, the authors suggest that "parents should consider the value of providing varied recreation experiences for their children" because "varied and meaningful recreation promotes positive identity development." (p 231) 

My parents were really good at bringing variety to our family recreation. I remember going on family bike rides, watching movies, pulling weeds, playing board games, watching clouds, painting, doing service, cooking/baking, and many other things. Here are pictures of some of our adventures together:

My brother and I in our Scout uniforms

At the natural water slides with some friends

My sister losing (to me) in stick-pull

On the steps at Bishop's Castle

At the zoo

Canoes

Building a snowman

Sleeping on the tramp-o-line

It was during many of these activities that I was able to gain stronger relationships with my parents and my siblings. I still feel very close to each of them and their friendship is among my most prized possessions. 

Resources ~

1. Hawkins, et al (2012). Successful marriages and families: Proclamation principles and research perspectives. Provo, UT: BYU Studies and School of Family Life.