It helps them feel good with the other family members and creates memories that are unique for the family.
“It is necessary to think carefully to find something entertaining and easy that enables every member of the family to join in mutual activities that will increase its cohesiveness,” Dagmar Kopčanová, psychologist of the Research Institute for Child Psychology and Pathopsychology, told The Slovak Spectator.
One of the current trends, however, is that families visit shopping centres. The risk is that children are gradually led to a consumerist and passive way of life. This may then result in some kind of emotional alienation within the family and also building a certain “dependency” on surrounding oneself with new things, Kopčanová said.
“Shopping activities should thus not become the only activity of the family, especially during the weekend,” she added. The activities should support mutual cooperation between the family members, according to her.
Young families often realise the need to spend time with their children, said Marta Hanečáková, head of the free time centre in Stará Ľubovňa. The free time centres thus often offer activities for parents and children.
“Parents search for activities that support their children in moving and sport as they realise the danger of an unhealthy lifestyle spent in front of the TV and computer,” Hanečáková said.
There remains a lack of activities that would attract schoolchildren aged 11-15 so they are not only “consumers”, but also co-authors of the activities, she added.
This article is published as part of Spectator College, a programme created by The Slovak Spectator with the support of Petit Academy Foundation. A glossary of words as well as an exercise related to this article are also published online.
