Free time

In the busy everyday life, between school, homework and extracurricular activities, children increasingly complain of a lack of free time to devote to interesting, enjoyable and relaxing activities. Therefore, when we do have it, it is important to use it in a way that provides rest for our minds and bodies and helps us recover our strength.

If you've been paying attention, most kids spend a lot of their free time on the internet, social media and on the phone, and are less and less interested in exercise, face-to-face interaction and outdoor activities.

Undeniably fascinating, the virtual world is not the only intriguing alternative for leisure time. Use your imagination and think of other forms of entertainment that stimulate your mind and challenge you. Taking walks in nature, playing in the park, joining interest groups and clubs, participating in charity events, visiting museums, theatres and concerts are just some of the possibilities that will not only unwind you but also enrich you.

If making the most of your free time is a challenge, contact the NATIONAL TELEPHONE LINE FOR CHILDREN by dialling 116 111.

We'll help you replace sitting in front of the computer and TV with equally engaging and useful leisure activities.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

Sport - whether individual or team can help you in many ways. It builds confidence, improves social skills, teaches discipline, stamina and is a great way to express emotions. Last but not least - you understand that losing doesn't mean failure, but that somewhere something wasn't done right and when you correct it - victory is yours.

Hobbies can be very varied and change over the years. They are your means of developing specific skills, a way to unwind and relax, and they could also support your educational development. Don't stop searching and experimenting! The only limits are the ones you set yourself. Take classes in dance, ballet, theater, painting, singing, ceramics, other fine and gross creative skills and activities. You could ask your parents to visit the local community centre, art schools, sports clubs and voluntary organisations with you and find out about admission arrangements and forms of study, and you could also ask the class teacher what free elective classes the school has planned.

Sports and hobbies give you purpose, confidence, strategies for dealing with difficult situations and a strong sense of accomplishment.

If you're unsure about what to do with your free time, we can discuss it together.

Contact the NATIONAL TELEPHONE LINE FOR CHILDREN on 116 111. YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

Video games - what better way to spend your free time! Why are your parents always annoyed when you play and act like you're committing a crime when all your classmates are doing the same? And it's not true that you don't "socialise" - along with networking with friends, you make new virtual friends. Together you exchange information about the world that you can't find in textbooks, not to mention the logical thinking, agility and speed you develop through gaming.

Yes, undeniably video games are entertaining, stimulate your thinking and improve your visual skills when chosen correctly and practiced in moderation. They also undoubtedly communicate and are a relevant topic of conversation between friends, as long as they don't limit your other interests. Some of them also involve movement, which helps develop certain motor skills as well as other skills.

But video games cannot replace face-to-face communication, much less sports, which are necessary for your full intellectual and physical development. If the balance is lost, gaming leads to addiction. As with any other addiction, video games become a major source of positive emotions and experiences. To feel good, the addict spends more and more time playing, with all other responsibilities and interests taking a back seat. As a result, relationships with family, social ties and school life begin to suffer.

Excessive involvement with video games also leads to other negative effects - such as being overweight due to reduced exercise and eating unhealthy foods in front of the monitor. Also manifestations of aggression when playing video games with violent content and the occurrence of injuries from prolonged use of the controllers.

If your thoughts are preoccupied with video games, if you prefer them to your favourite pastimes, if you find it hard to control the time you play and get irritable and nervous when you have to stop playing, you may already be addicted and need help. Don't delay and seek help from your parents, the school psychologist or a significant other or professional.

You can also contact the NATIONAL TELEPHONE LINE FOR CHILDREN by dialling 116 111. We will listen to you and work together to find a solution. YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

We certainly cannot imagine the modern world without the internet and social networks. How else are we going to keep up to date with the latest news around the world, keep in touch with friends and family, check public transport schedules, or simply watch a favourite movie. Of course every interesting experience should be captured, described and shared on social networks so that we attract more and more followers, friends, likes and other benefits. However, we should always keep one thing in mind when sharing information about ourselves and ask ourselves the following questions:

Do you know this person who sent you an invitation? It's not always the unknown guy or girl who they pretend to be. Sometimes adults make fake profiles to access personal information and photos of children and young people to use for illegal, illicit or blackmail purposes.

Is it okay to share this post? It could happen that your photo ends up on an inappropriate site without you even suspecting, or it could be used as the basis for a fake profile. Sometimes it seems like a joke until it becomes cyberbullying.

Have you checked your privacy settings? Share information in places where you can manage your privacy.

Are you using the internet, social media and apps correctly? When you do, you have the opportunity to access information that is useful and of interest to you. It could be about your studies at school, your favourite sport, music, places you dream of visiting, films or your hobby. When you learn to use the resources the internet offers you properly - it could bring you satisfaction and inspiration.

If something happening on social media worries you, share it with your parents or another trusted adult.

You can also contact the NATIONAL TELEPHONE LINE FOR CHILDREN by dialling 116 111. We will listen to you and work together to find a solution. YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

After a long day at school, you can't wait to get home to play, watch your favourite TV show or just curl up on the bed with your phone and check out your friends' new Instagram posts. Instead, you're greeted with "Don't come in with your shoes on!", "Fix your room!", "Do the dishes!"... Not only do you have homework, but now this!

You think that keeping your home clean and tidy is your parents' responsibility, but it's actually not. If you think about it, you will find that apart from going to work, they have a lot of other responsibilities, as a result of which they are often tired, nervous, have no time to pay enough attention to you or do something nice for themselves. When caring for the home is a shared responsibility between all who inhabit it and everyone contributes what they can, family life is more relaxed and enjoyable. By caring for the household together, we care for each other. And this brings us satisfaction and joy, we feel useful and important, our self-esteem grows, and we are more likely to receive approval and recognition for our efforts.

Moreover, by helping others, we are actually helping ourselves. We learn to be more organized, more independent and more confident. In addition to learning skills that will benefit us in the future, we learn to appreciate the work of others and contribute to family comfort and understanding.

So, don't wait for a second invitation, but do what you are asked to do by the adults. Try to make it fun - put on your favourite band while you fold the laundry, for example.Along with doing your assigned chores, think of other ways to help and please your parents. Do an experiment and do something they haven't asked you to do. Help your younger brother with homework, make a pot of coffee on a Sunday morning, or just write them a thank you card. You'll be surprised how good it will feel!

If housework is causing tension in your home, if you find it difficult to cope with your assigned tasks or if you think your parents are overwhelming you with them, contact the NATIONAL CHILDREN'S PHONE LINE by dialling 116 111. We will listen and support you. YOU ARE NOT ALONE!