Hobbies

[Becca]

I am trying to get into a hobby (other than Rabbits) has anyone got any suggestions?

 

[Alexah]

Well, what is it that you like, think you like, or wish you could do?

These are some of the things I do as hobbies - maybe they'll strike your fancy.

• Reading
• Writing
• Music (I love listening to music and creating my own - I sing and also play the flute.)
• Art (I paint, draw, sculpt - but it could be as simple as coloring or making something for the buns.)
• Horses (I don't ride anymore, but it's something I love and wish I could do again.)
• Sports (Again, I don't play anymore, but wish I could.)
• Dancing (See above.)
• Volunteering and Adovcatism

There are so many things that I do or have done before. There's tons of things for you to get into as well, Becca. Just keep an open mind and really dig deep to see what it is you like or would like to do. I'm sure you'll find something.

Good luck and keep us updated.

 

[pinksalamander]

It all depends on time, money and what you like!

I did tap dancing for 10 years, its really fun, you could take up ballet but i've been told that taking up ballet past about 9 years old is pretty difficult. What about something like trampolining or gymnastics?

Horse riding, i love horse riding but lessons are very expensive, around £20 for 45 minutes where i come from, but it is great fun and a good skill to learn.

A musical instrument, again expensive but quite rewarding.

Of course, my absolutle favourite hobby is design and building. Its a difficult thing to get into, probably something that you will find easier when you get to GCSE age, because you need to learn the skills at school to be able to take it out and do it yourself. You could still do some partial designing. What about buying untreated wodden trinket boxes or jewellery boxes (you can probably get these cheap somewhere like IKEA) decorating them with paint and sequins and sell them on to friends and family for presents?

Scrapbooking and cardmaking is something else i'm interested in. I get alot of bit and pieces, gems and stencils etc, from craft shops and make handmade cards which i package up and sell in my Grandparents antique centre at the till. I don't make much but its fun!

Let me know how you go!

Fran :hearts

 

[mouse_chalk]

I always find that the best way to get into a hobby, isn't to look for a hobby, so to speak, but just to do something that you really like doing! That way you're much more likely to stay interested in it!

Mine, is photography. I'm very new at it, and being ill I don't get many oppurtunities to get out and take pictures, so it's not easy, but I do enjoy it a lot, and love looking at the results of my handiwork. It's also a very expensive hobby lol, at around £500 for a decent camera and lens to start with! :shock:

I'm also into cooking and baking in a big way. Not so much the baking recently, but I love making cakes, and trying out new recipes

Good luck finding something!

 

[pinksalamander]

Another way you could look at it, is what do you want to do when you are older? I know thats a big question to ask a 12 year old (i've only just settled on an idea at 17 and it will probably change, although i think i'm heading in the right direction.) Chances are, unless you want to be an accountant or something more business related, there is a hobby attached to it. For example, say you wanted to be a dress maker, you could go on a summer holiday course or something to learn more about textile design. Or if you wanted to be a horse trainer you could start by having lessons and helping out on a yard. You catch my drift...

Fran :hearts :brownbunny

 

[trailsend]

Scrapbooking, cardmaking, and baking are all fun! I recently took up teaching myself to knit, because it takes patience, and I'm trying to teach myself to have some lol.... as soon as I finished my first project, I loved it!

 

[Luv-bunniz]

Photography is one I know alot of people like (and, if you have a good camera the rabbits are a good place to start )

Horses is another good suggestion - maybe there is a local barn/farm/horse rescue near you that would like a hand in the yard and in return you could take care of the horses (riding, tack, cleaning etc)
Try thinking of something that you love to do and then go from there.

 

[Becca]

pinksalamander wrote:

Another way you could look at it, is what do you want to do when you are older? I know thats a big question to ask a 12 year old

Fran :hearts :brownbunny

I know I definetly want to do something to do with animals I am not really sure what though - definetly not a vet i woudn't be able to deal with it if a animal dies in my hands.

 

[NZminilops]

If you're more of a girly girl, arts and crafts can be fun, like kintting.

A hobby I wish i'd gotten into when I was younger, and I had the oppertunity and didn't take up, was karting. My childhood friend did and now she races formula cars, but it's an expensive hobby

 

[pinksalamander]

In that case you really need to find something animal related. It will be a good thing to have any kind of experience in animals. Have you thought about maybe agricultural (farm) work? You might be able to find a job on a farm, i know you are young but places like farms often let younger people work there. To be honest all hobbies need money to invest in the first place. I've never considered anything animal related as job, despite the fact i love them its just not been something i have been interested in so i'm not really sure what other hobbies you could do. The only thing i could say is that horse riding is fantastic. You will enjoy it no matter what, and if you become really passionate about it its a fantastic place to be. I helped out on a yard for about 4 years when i was 11. I used to muck out stables and lead novice learners around the ring during lessons in exchange for free rides and hacks. I wish i could do it more but it costs alot for lessons. Its very active aswell. People think sitting on a horse will be easy but you will have legs of steel after a few months riding!

Fran :hearts :brownbunny

 

[Luv-bunniz]

BabyBunnies wrote:

pinksalamander wrote:

Another way you could look at it, is what do you want to do when you are older? I know thats a big question to ask a 12 year old

Fran :hearts :brownbunny

I know I definetly want to do something to do with animals I am not really sure what though - definetly not a vet i woudn't be able to deal with it if a animal dies in my hands.

Animal Behaviourist/trainer can be good. And its something you can work on at home. Or maybe you could find a local rescue centre for different kinds of animals and do volunteer work? although its sad to see them go, nothing is more rewarding then to see an animal in and out of rescue doors to a new loving home

 

[Bo B Bunny]

Lexi is 12 and here is a list of things she does:

• 4-H which is a club thing where kids compete and learn skillsin their different hobbies/interests: Lexi takes Horse and Pony, Rabbits, Veterinary Science, and crafts
• Showing her horse
• Hippology (a knowledge based competition regarding horses)
• Horse Bowl (a game where a team of students compete in a knowledge based competition against other teams)
• drawing
• Volleyball
• Basketball
• Reading - find a type of book that interests you - Lexi likes Mysteries

Maybe you can find a club system or something there like 4-H. It's basically free too!

Luke is 17 and does 4H and such but also reads. He likes to read war stories and non-fiction war books.

I mention his reading also because they enjoy it and they are very good students - and I believe part of the reason they are is because of their reading.

 

[pinksalamander]

As far as i know we don't have anything like 4-H in England. I've searched! The closest is something like Brownies or Scouts but thats not really the same.

Again... i don't know when you are 'too old' for Brownies. Personally i hated Brownies, i didn't like all the religious singing and playing 'skipping' but some of the tasks where really fun. And pack holidays.. they were fun! I know a girl who is a young leader for her guide troop.

Fran :hearts :brownbunny

 

[kirst3buns]

There are very few things I've been interested in since I was your age. My hobbies keep changing as I grow older. The few things that I have always done since I was your age are drawing/sketching in a journal and writing in it too. There are lots of cool websites and forums on sketch journaling. It is something I take with me everywhere but if I put it down for a while, I can just pick it back up again. It is so cool to look back at old journals too. Reading and having animals would be the other two things I've always done.

I took sewing for about 6 years when I was around your age and I've alway been glad to know how to do that. They had a 4H sewing group for kids near my home. They also offered cooking which I took for 2 years, gardening and animal clubs. Does your school or communityoffer any type of clubs like photography, drama, art, etc. that you may want to try to see if you like?

 

[BlueGiants]

I love to sew. I make clothes (for myself and my girls), and do window treatments and custom pillows for people. I love to do hand embroidery and making quilts. I started out when I was your age. (It gets addictive, making and wearing something no one else has!)

But any hobby you start has to be something you really, really enjoy doing. Because it has to be something you are willing to put a lot of time and learning into.

What do YOU like to do? I know you like animals... Learn to Draw/sketch animals? Learn Grooming? Read animal stories? Knitting/Crocheting? (You can make coats for small dogs!) Have patience and wait to see what catches your interest.

 

[pinksalamander]

Blue giants, you can make some stuff for me! I love sewing but i'm not too good. My Mum is very good at sewing, she wanted to go into the fashion industry but her parents wouldn't let her because she was too good at languages! I used to love having my little party dresses all handmade.

Something that is really easy to make it sock rabbits. I make them alot. You need to have sewing machine experience (although you could learn that from someone in the know in perhaps a few hour sessions, its really simple) and some handsewing. Sock rabbits are really easy to make, cheap, they take about 2 hours for me to make although they will probably take longer to make first time round.

You have inspired me, i must make some more. I might upload a guide on here!

Fran :hearts :brownbunny

 

[NorthernAutumn]

I used to make jewellery out of beads and little trinkets and sell it outside my grandmother's house on the street. IT was the permanent yard sale

I'm a little bit older than you now, but I really wish that I had learned how to cook when I was younger. It would be cool just to "ta-DA!" make a pizza.

Right now I've got a bunch of chinese recipe books for lemon chicken, kung pao chicken, hot and sour soup, etc. I try to learn how to make things that I want to eat at a restaurant.

Don't laugh>>>> I collect stamps too:bunnydance:

Another REALLY cheap hobby is learning how to do all the dance moves you see on the MTV/MUCH videos. All it takes is a TV

 

[PixieStixxxx]

I started volunteer with small animals at a local shelter => Ferrets, hedgehogs, guinea pigs, rabbits (=P)... and the whole small animal crew. It's a GREAT hobbie, especially since you love animals.

I also got into hiking, kayaking, and anything nature friendly related!

 

[maisy126]

I know this may sound weird, but ever since I was little I have loved coloring. I don't know if I'm good at it but we had a foster child one time who loved to draw horses, then I would color them (note: not a real-looking kind of color, kinda cartoonistic) It actually relaxes me and is pretty fun as you don't have to follow any rules.

 

[Luv-bunniz]

Forgot to add - Young Farmers is close to 4-H.

The National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs (NFYFC) is the head body of 659 Young Farmers’ Clubs (YFCs) located throughout England and Wales.

The NFYFC is dedicated to providing a framework within which its clubs can provide young people aged 10-26 with a wealth of new experiences and opportunities. These include personal development and training opportunities that enable members to learn an array of new skills, take part in a varied competitions programme, get involved with the local community, have a voice on rural issues, travel abroad and enjoy a dynamic social life.

The organisation’s membership comprises 22,000 young people from a variety of backgrounds, all of whom share an interest in the rural environment. As such, the NFYFC is the largest rural youth organisation of its kind in the UK. The NFYFC’s policies are decided by a National Council, which comprises 120 members and associate members, half of which are elected by the membership to represent their respective county federations.

In addition to its youth work activities, the NFYFC also runs a department called HOPS Labour Solutions. HOPS is a Home Office-appointed operator of the Seasonal Agricultural Workers’ Scheme and runs its own programme called the Seasonal Workers’ Programme.

http://www.nfyfc.org.uk/about.html