Dads tend to get the rough end of the stick. They’re expected to bring in all or most of the income, pay for the bills and the fun, help out with household chores, fix whatever breaks and still make time to spend with their families.
So how can you have fun and become a better role model? It’s easy – pick up a hobby or two. Sharing a hobby with your kids not only brings you closer together, it shows them what a father (and husband) should be.
That’s why we’ve compiled a list of our top 5 hobbies that help you become a better role model!
Cars & Automotive
Cars as a hobby? Sounds expensive, right? It doesn’t have to bite into your wallet, however. And it can offer some real-world learning that will help your kids as they get older.
Find an old clunker (with a title), and fix it up as you can. Teach your kids about how to fix and restore cars, what the parts do, and how to do basic repairs (like changing a tire). If you want to make it extra special and spark an interest in it, let your kids know that when they’re 16/18/21, the car will be theirs.
While it may seem like the sort of thing some kids wouldn’t be in to, a few “lessons” it will show them that it’s a good way to get to know you, save some cash on car repairs, and make an investment in their own futures.
Electronics & Tech
This is an easier sell to today’s kids, who are already pretty wrapped up in electronics. However, teaching them how to build super and gaming computers, fix broken phones, and upgrade other consumer electronics can be a very rewarding hobby.
Plus it shows off how useful a seemingly “boring” hobby can be. Since this is a very popular market, you can easily find cheap build-your-own options, like the Raspberry Pi.
DIY & Woodworking
True, handling dangerous power tools like circular saws may seem intimidating, but this DIY hobby is a great way to teach your kids both responsibility and the reward of hard work.
This DIY hobby can be something as small as whittling kits you pick up from hobby stores for $20, birdhouses and tool cases, or as extravagant as large art pieces and furniture.
If you’re a beginner yourself, stores like Harbor Freight sells tools at a fraction of the price of other stores – but don’t expect them to last forever. Home Depot and Lowes are great for intermediate – expert supplies.
Owning a Collection
This is probably the most versatile hobby on the list. Owning a collection may seem “iffy” when you have kids, but the truth is it can help your kids learn about the subjective value of items, respect for others’ items, and how to invest (if applicable to your collection).
If your collection happens to lean toward obscure books or comics, you can also make learning to read (or reading in general) fun.
Squarefoot Gardening
Square foot gardening is a wonderful way to teach self-sufficiency and responsibility. It also allows your children to see their foods’ life cycle from soil to plate. It also helps to emphasize the “a father provides” mentality. In addition to all of that, it can also help to save on your grocery bill.
While any gardening hobby would be awesome – square foot gardening can be done even in very small yards and apartments.
There are lots of ways to be a great role model to your kids, these are just our favorites for their practicality and usefulness. It’s a fun and unique way to bond with your kids while providing for them and helping them learn great lifelong endeavors.
