Best / most valuable hobby your DD did?

[Onionringsforbreakfast]

DD is 7

She’s been into gymnastics but suddenly decided she wants to quit.

TBH I’m ok about it, I get the impression gymnastics either means join the squad/competition team and dedicate your life to it (no thanks) or you’re just the weekly hour lesson fodder who does your lesson weekly until you get bored.

Her new thing is horse riding. I feel a bit more supportive of this. I rode and as an older kid / teen spent hours at the stables helping out and loved it. I never had own horse or competed but riding gave me so much.

What’s the best hobby your DD has / had from a social/emotional / personal perspective?

My daughter took ballroom dancing classes. She was really good too, but she didn't want to do competitions, and she took classes for a few years then dropped it.

But it means she knows all the dances. She has great posture.

DD1 was basically shunted out of a (rather shit - these things are always at the mercy of the volunteers they get) Rainbows unit which did disappoint me as I'd got so much out of Guiding as a child/teen and went all the way up to Rangers level. So we moved both of the DDs across to Beavers and they've gone all the way up through Scouting although DD1 is about to age out of Scouts next year and there's no Explorers near here and benefitted hugely from it. DD2 in particular has ASD, ADHD, dyspraxia and speech issues - and she's had so many opportunities through it. DD1 I'm not sure if she'll be as keen to continue but I could see DD2 going back to the younger units as a helper.

Otherwise - we did swimming to the point of being competent and less likely to drown (both sets of grandparents live on riverbanks or the sides of lochs so a priority), gymnastics they got fed up with quite quickly (but it was one where it was queue in a line for 30 mins to walk along the beam), dancing I'll be honest I couldn't take the mums at much longer - they actively tried to get us to leave by doing stupid shit like putting bags on all the chairs so I couldn't sit in the changing room/waiting area.

The other one they've stuck with and think they've benefitted a load from (although I have some minor quibbles with how the place is run in terms of constant class time changes and stuff) is kickboxing. In terms of coordination and physical fitness they both get a huge benefit out of it, and DD1 may whine about the idea of having to go but she does really enjoy it, and DD2 has progressed at her own pace through it all as well (plus there's a really nice run of charity shops and nice cake shop next door to it which keep ME happy).

DD1 wants to start the DofE with her school in September but I think that's mainly cos of the other kids doing it meeting her social requirements, and both of them have done the school musical production - which really benefitted them when new into secondary at getting to know peers in other year groups and settle into the school as well.

Unfortunately, I'm terrified of both horses and the costs of horsey stuff so that one's never an option here (I got chased by some of the local bullies when they were on a horse ride as a kid and it's stayed with me).

Watersports - dinghy sailing and windsurfing. She didn’t start these till about secondary age, obviously need to be able to swim. Now she’s a young adult she’s not near a suitable place for those so she’s switched to kayaking.
Also not exactly a hobby but something we did as a family - hillwalking and appreciating nature (visiting reserves, holidays on Mull). DofE helped too - DH and I aren’t campers, she’ll happily go off with a couple of pals and a tent.
She’s got some great friends through these activities, helps run a club.

DD did dance until 11, plus Rainbows, Brownies and Guides. Gave it up at 13 to join Army Cadets which she loved. Loads of camps, life skills and friendships.

DS plays cricket and has gone through Scouting from Beavers and is now an Explorer. Same benefits as cadets.

Swimming and street dance. Former is amazing on holidays as she is totally at home in the water. Latter is very good for being actually confident in her body and being able to dance in front of people and not stand there like a wet fish like I used to!

Scouts. She absolutely loved it.
Closely followed by netball. She's got an umpiring qualification which earned her a few £ in her teenage years. She's also got a coaching qualification and has received paid work through that too.

Brownies and violin/orchestra. The first one mainly for the social side away from school and the second is just great for developing a host of skills and for social. Swimming is also a non-negotiable in our house.

Swimming: can then be swimming teachers and life guards. Lucrative Saturday jobs and First Aid has been useful. Plus it’s a pleasure to watch them swim, even now that they uni students. Also part of the water polo clubs at uni. Super sociable groups.
Netball: creates strong, confident women.
DofE/Guiding: again creates confident, capable women.

In that case, pretty much any hobby she likes doing and really enjoys will be of benefit to her.

Random example - stamp collecting (one you never thought of, I bet. She will learn a huge amount about geography, politics, history, colonialism, art, currency, famous people, important events, landmarks, you name it. And she can share/swap stamps with people all over the world.

It will also make her methodical, consistent and have an eye for detail.