Right Hobbies For Kid...

Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:

"Teach your children swimming, archery and horse riding".

Archery

The Prophet (peace be on him) once passed by a group of his Companions who were competing in archery. He encouraged them, saying, “Shoot, and I am with you”.(Reported by al-Bukhari ).The Prophet (peace be on him) said, “Practice archery; that is good for you.” (Reported by al-Bazzar and by al-Tabarani on good authority.)

However, word of warning, don’t go around torturing birds and animals with your new hobby. The Prophet (peace be on him) warned archers against using chickens and the like as targets for practice, as the Arabs of jahiliyyah used to do. Once ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar saw a group of peoples doing this and he told them, “The Prophet (peace be on him) cursed the one who takes anything possessing life as a target.”(Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim.)

Archery allows you to connect with one of the most primitive of weapons; It’s the kind of quiet, repetitive, focused activity that can truly settle your mind. It’s a hobby you can start trying right away in your backyard (makes sure it’s a safe area!) There are also archery parks you can try at, where 3-d targets are scattered in the woods. Cool.

Archery helps kids focus, concentrate and learn how to follow directions.It also gives kids a good sense of achievement, as they tend to see marked improvements over time.


Horseback Riding

Allah Ta’ala says, “And (He created) horses, mules, and donkeys for you to ride and as adornment….” (Quran Chapter 16 Verse 8), and the Prophet (peace be on him) said, “There is blessing in the forelocks of horses.”(Reported by Ahmad.) He also said, “Practice archery and horseback riding.” (Reported by Muslim.) And again, “Any action without the remembrance of Allah is either a diversion or heedlessness excepting four acts: walking from target to target (during archery practice), training a horse, playing with one’s family, and learning to swim”. (Reported by al-Tabarani on good authority.)

Umar – May Allah be pleased with him said -, “Teach your children swimming and archery, and tell them to jump on the horse’s back.” Ibn ‘Umar reported that the Prophet (peace be on him) organized horse races and gave a prize to the winner. (Reported by Ahmad.) All this was done by the Prophet (peace be on him) to encourage competition in sports involving physical exercise and discipline.
The benefits of horse riding are immense enjoyment, physically and mental fitness and a chance to enjoy the open countryside.

Swimming/Scuba Diving

As the hadeeth of Prophet Muhammad above and Umar’s saying indicate – swimming is also another noble hobby and sport to pursue. It builds us strength, teaches our kids a vital skill (you never know when you’ll need to swim for your life!) and is an excellent relaxing hobby as well. A step up from swimming would be Scuba Diving! The only reason I bring it here is because truly, this one just shoots your eman to the top! Trust me, when you’re under the sea, you see a completely new world and all you can say is “SubhanaAllah!”. The corals, fish, and landscape of the world underneath the sea is beautiful and breath-taking. Try it!

Swimming is an excellent cardiovascular workout that promotes heart and lung health, improves strength and flexibility, increases stamina and even improves balance and posture. In addition, swimming is a way to prevent childhood obesity, which has been linked to juvenile diabetes, notes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Swimming also puts less strain on joints and connective tissues than other forms of exercise
I hope I’ve inspired kids to start a new hobby from any of the list above, these are always fun and exciting to start with, but remember consistency is key. That’s where your hobby becomes a “serious hobby”.  Let me know your thoughts on the above.. did I miss anything, did you try any of the above hobbies?