Recreation+and+Leisure

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Leisure and Recreation
Leisure: is free time that can be spent as you see fit. If you were to eliminate the necessary tasks that you must complete each day such as eating, sleeping, working, or going to school, what is left over is the activities that make up your leisure time. Leisure time can encompass daydreaming, reading a book, listening to music or doing anything you want to do. It's your body's way of rejuvenating itself.

Recreation is participation in an activity that you enjoy. It is an activity that “diverts, amuses or stimulates.” Recreation is personal. What one person sees as work others may view as recreation i.e. gardening. Examples of recreation could be cooking, baking, playing sports, reading etc.

Questions A
1. List 3 leisure activities that you enjoy and do on a frequent basis. 2. List 3 recreation activities that you participate in or that you have participated in at one time during high school. 3. What is the difference between leisure and recreation activities?

Brief Historical Overview of Recreation
Recreation has been around for a very long time but historically it has been mostly enjoyed by the upper class. The working class did enjoy some annual events and festivals but they had little time for leisure activities. The upper class were able to benefit from all sorts of activities such as sporting events, to fox hunts to formal balls.

Renaissance Period (1350-1600) Upper class citizens involved themselves in such activities as painting, music, literature, science and education. A well educated man could ride, fence, dance and paint. This era involved a great cultural movement in the arts and education.

Reformation Period (1500-1600) Hard work came to be valued as the way to economic success, social acceptance and religious superiority. Recreation and leisure were earned through daily hard work. If you had ample time for recreation you were considered lazy.

Industrial Revolution (1700-1900) <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">During the Industrial Revolution working class people did not have the time or energy for recreation. A 12 hour 6 day work week was normal. They would consider visits to the pub or attending fairs for their recreation. New wealth from industrialization created a new middle class. They attempted to model themselves after the upper class by pursuing more sophisticated recreational activities such as playing the piano, singing and drama. The upper class enjoyed many forms of recreation such as bird watching, fishing, cricket, polo and fox hunts.

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Roaring 20s <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">During this time recreation became more popular and people began to realize the need to enjoy leisure time once in a while. They worked hard so they had time to enjoy fun activities later. Although the work ethic was regarded as important people began to socialize more, organizing dances, outings and family functions. Broadway musicals and movie theaters opened. Jazz made its debut and professional sports such as tennis, golf, and football emerged from the amateur circuit,. Gambling was also popular.

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Depression and War Years (1929-1945) <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">During the Depression recreation became less formal. People got together and played musical instruments, had picnics, went swimming and square dancing. Many nights were spent around the radio listening to music, news and soap operas. Movies now had sound so attending the theatre was a common trend.

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Modern Era (1950 –present) <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Fundamental changes to recreation occurred during the 1950s. Average middle class citizens began to have discretionary income (extra money). With transportation faster and more convenient people began to travel for enjoyment. Municipal multipurpose recreation facilities are present in many cities. On the other hand technological advances such as t.v's, computers, and game systems have meant some people are less active in their recreational pursuits. Technology can offer recreation, but it doesn't necessarily promote a healthy active lifestyle.

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Recent Developments <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Recreation has become increasingly important in our society. Families look forward to evenings and weekends when they can spend time together doing activities they enjoy. Our society has recognized this shift from working long hours and has developed programs and facilities within the community such as skateboard parks, trail systems, waterfront boardwalks, sport complexes. Parents are spending time driving their children to sports activities, watching their games and volunteering. It has become a form of social entertainment for parents. Separate activities for adults remains strong such as golf, skiing, and fitness memberships. Recent studies suggest people are willing to sacrifice larger salaries for more time off.

<span style="background-color: #a0ccee; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Questions B
<span style="background-color: #a0ccee; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">4. Why do you think recreation has historically been a thing for the upper class/wealthy?

<span style="background-color: #a0ccee; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">5. Do you think that is still true of today? - How does rec. and leisure differ for people of lower socio-economic backgrounds compared to wealthier people? Do you think today that there is less of a divide between "classes" and their ability to participate in recreation and leisure activities?

<span style="background-color: #a0ccee; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">6. If you could live in any time period, other than the modern era (today), as a wealthy individual, what era would you live in and why (based on recreation opportunities/activities). Explain.

<span style="background-color: #a0ccee; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">7. Which historical era would you NOT like to live in? Explain.

<span style="background-color: #a0ccee; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">8. Trends in leisure and recreation have changed a great deal over throughout history. Besides the obvious technological changes (invention of radio, TV, computers - video games & social media), what other ways have recreation and leisure activities changed? Why do you think these changes have happened?

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Benefits of Recreation
<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">1) Personal Benefits <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">- promotes physical fitness <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">- develops fine and gross motor skills <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">- improves self-confidence <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">- decreases stress <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">- creates a positive self-image <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">- provides opportunity to learn new skills <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">- improves problem solving, tolerance of others, leadership <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">- provides opportunity to take calculated risks and set reasonable short and long term goals

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">2) Social Benefits <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">- provides opportunities to strengthen family ties <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">- provides opportunities to develop friendships <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">- improve social skills, reduce feelings of alienation <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">- introduce new learning environments <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">- promotes ethnic and cultural harmony

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">3) Economic Benefits <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">- lower medical costs because people are healthier <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">- lowers job absenteeism because a healthy, active workforce is a productive workforce <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">- creates jobs and spurs economic growth <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">- decreases crime and vandalism <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">- inputs large sums of money into local economy i.e. tournaments <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">boosts tourism

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">4) Environmental Benefits <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">- protects and preserves environmentally sensitive areas <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">- results in cleaner, well-maintained facilities <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">- preserves cultural and historical sites <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">- improves community image

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Factors Affecting our Recreation Interests and Pursuits <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">-Early Educational Experiences <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">-Family Influences <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">-Social (Peer) Influences <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">-Cultural Influences <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">-Media Influences

<span style="background-color: #a0ccee; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">Questions C
<span style="background-color: #a0ccee; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">9. Timothy is a shy 15 year old. His family has recently moved to a new city, where Tim will attend a new school. He knows nobody. He likes computer games and some individual sports, like swimming, although he feels he is not very good at them. <span style="background-color: #a0ccee; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">a) What do you recommend Tim does? <span style="background-color: #a0ccee; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">b) What benefits could Tim gain from taking your suggestions?

<span style="background-color: #a0ccee; font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 130%;">10. Brantford is a city that has been "down on its luck" since the early 1980's when some major industries were shut down. Since then there has been a fairly high unemployment rate, closing of much of the down town area and a general decline of Brantford's reputation as a community. Over the past year, city planners have been pushing for the creation of a state of the art YMCA facility (including gym, swimming pool, child care and many other amenities) in the down town core. Some citizens do not want it to be built because they consider it a waste of money. Explain what benefits the new YMCA could bring to the city.

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