Recreation

Recreation is something people do during their free time, when they can choose what to do. It is very important for our bodies and minds. People usually do recreational activities because they enjoy them, find them amusing, or they simply bring pleasure. These activities are often thought of as fun ways to spend time.

Etymology

The word recreation first appeared in English in the late 1300s. It originally meant "refreshment or curing of a sick person." It comes from Latin words meaning "again" and "to create."

People spend their time on everyday tasks, work, sleep, and social duties. Leisure is the free time we have when we're not doing things we must do. This free time is important for recreation. Over time, people have had more leisure because they live longer and work fewer hours. Some feel we are busier than ever, though. Leisure is even considered a human right.

Recreation is closely linked to play, especially for children. Play helps children learn and grow. It can be a fun way to use extra energy. Recreation is also good for health. It can help with things like obesity, though some outdoor activities can have risks.

Forms and activities

See also: List of recreational and outdoor exercise activities

Recreation is an important part of life. It comes in many forms, depending on what people like and where they live. People can do recreational activities alone or with others, inside or outside, in ways that are good for health. There are many kinds of fun things people can do, and the list is very long.

Hobby

Main article: Hobby

Many fun activities are called hobbies. A hobby is something a person does regularly just for fun, usually in their free time, not to earn money. Hobbies can include collecting things, being creative, playing sports, or doing other fun activities. Doing hobbies helps people learn new skills. What people consider a hobby can change over time. For example, stamp collecting was popular a long time ago, but today, many people enjoy video games more.

Bricolage

Main article: Do it yourself

Bricolage and DIY mean building, changing, or fixing things without professional help. People do this for many reasons, like saving money or just because they want to. This can include many crafts that need skills, like home improvement, electronics, robotics, and 3-D printing. People also enjoy traditional crafts like metalworking, woodworking, and arts and crafts. This kind of activity helps people learn new skills.

Games

Main article: Game

Games are structured ways to play. People play games for fun, to achieve goals, or sometimes to win prizes. Games can be played alone, in teams, or online, by people of all skill levels. Some games are played by professionals for entertainment. Games can include board games, puzzles, computer or video games.

Outdoor recreation

Main article: Outdoor recreation

Outdoor recreation happens outside, often in nature. Activities like fishing, hunting, backpacking, and horseback riding depend on the environment. These activities may be sports, but they don’t always need a participant to be an athlete. Competition is usually less important than in team sports.

Other examples of outdoor activities include hiking, camping, mountaineering, cycling, canoeing, caving, kayaking, rafting, rock climbing, running, sailing, skiing, and surfing. New activities, like mixtures of older ones, also appear, such as coasteering, canyoning, fastpacking, and plogging.

Performing arts

Main article: Performing arts

Dance

Main article: Dance

Dance, whether it is a folk dance, a social dance, a group dance like a line, circle, chain or square dance, or a partner dance as in Western ballroom dancing, is done mainly for fun, meeting people, or exercise. Dance provides fun for people of all ages and cultures.

Music creation

Main article: Music

Music is made and performed for many reasons, including fun, religious or special events, or entertainment. In the past, people would buy books called sheet music to play music at home on instruments.

Playing video games

Main article: Video game

Video games are experiences where players can explore and decide how things look, while the creator decides the rules.

Visual arts

Main article: Visual arts

Woodworking, photography, moviemaking, jewelry making, projects like Photoshopping and home music or video production, making bracelets, artistic projects like drawing, painting, and creating costumes based on existing ideas (called Cosplay), as well as making models from paper (called papercraft) are all part of the visual arts. Many people do these activities just for fun.

Drawing

Main article: Drawing

Drawing goes back a very long time to pictures of animals painted in caves, like those in Lascaux in France and Altamira in Spain. In ancient Egypt, people drew on paper made from plants. With paper becoming common in Europe, famous artists used drawing as an art form.

Literature

Writing can include letters, journals, and web blogs. In the US, many adults read books for fun each year.

Painting

Main article: Painting

Painting also started a very long time ago, with pictures on cave walls and rocks. Some of the oldest paintings are in the Chauvet and Lascaux caves in southern France. These paintings show animals. Paintings of people can be found in tombs from ancient Egypt. Today, people enjoy making and displaying models of things like airplanes, boats, cars, and even superheroes.

Photography

Main article: Photography

An amateur photographer does photography as a hobby or because they love it, not to earn money. Amateur photography became more common when hand-held cameras became popular. Today, photography is done everywhere using many kinds of devices, including cell phones. With cell phones, anyone can easily take clear pictures.

Organized recreation

Many fun activities are organized by different groups. Public institutions, volunteer groups, private clubs, and businesses all help plan and run these activities. Examples include the National Park Service, the YMCA, the Kiwanis, and Walt Disney World. Public spaces like parks and beaches are important places for people to enjoy these activities. Tourism also benefits from these recreational spots, such as the areas around Venice Beach in California, the Promenade de la Croisette in Cannes, the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, and the lungomare of Barcola in Trieste.

Governments help create and maintain places for recreation. This helps create jobs and supports many businesses. Outdoor recreation adds money to the economy and creates jobs.

A recreation center is a special place run by local governments where people can swim, play basketball, lift weights, or visit kids’ play areas.

People can study recreation management in school and get a degree. These graduates often work in parks, recreation centers, and community projects. They help plan fun activities for people to enjoy.

Since the 2000s, more websites have appeared where people can book tickets for fun activities online. These platforms make it easier for people around the world to find and enjoy recreational activities. One example is TripAdvisor.