When was the last time you did something really fun with one of your parents--just the two of you?
When
was
the
last
time
you
did
something
really
fun
with
one
of
your
parents
--
just
the
two
of
you
?
Parents who take their young children to music, swimming and art classes often stop arranging such activities once their kids are older and in school all day.
Parents
who
take
their
young
children
to
music
,
swimming
and
art
classes
often
stop
arranging
such
activities
once
their
kids
are
older
and
in
school
all
day
.
But it doesn't have to be that way.
But
it
does
n't
have
to
be
that
way
.
Doing something enjoyable with your kids just might make you look at each other in a whole new way, especially if you do it through a class or an event.
Doing
something
enjoyable
with
your
kids
just
might
make
you
look
at
each
other
in
a
whole
new
way
,
especially
if
you
do
it
through
a
class
or
an
event
.
When parent and child become students together, it puts them on the same level, at least for a while.
When
parent
and
child
become
students
together
,
it
puts
them
on
the
same
level
,
at
least
for
a
while
.
"I really like parents to come to class with their kids--they start sharing things and talking about what they're doing and what they like," said art teacher Pyper Dixon.
``
I
really
like
parents
to
come
to
class
with
their
kids
--
they
start
sharing
things
and
talking
about
what
they
're
doing
and
what
they
like
,
''
said
art
teacher
Pyper
Dixon
.
However, finding something new in common is a big choice for them, especially when kids get involved in sports and other after-school activities.
However
,
finding
something
new
in
common
is
a
big
choice
for
them
,
especially
when
kids
get
involved
in
sports
and
other
after-school
activities
.
But it's possible to learn a new skill or hobby together.
But
it
's
possible
to
learn
a
new
skill
or
hobby
together
.
That's certainly true of Lauren, 11, of Silver Spring, who is in Dixon's class with her father, Dennis.
That
's
certainly
true
of
Lauren
,
11
,
of
Silver
Spring
,
who
is
in
Dixon
's
class
with
her
father
,
Dennis
.
"I was just going to drop her off," Dennis said, "but Dixon persuaded me to stay."
``
I
was
just
going
to
drop
her
off
,
''
Dennis
said
,
``
but
Dixon
persuaded
me
to
stay
.
''
Now Lauren gets to "nag" her father about doing his art homework.
Now
Lauren
gets
to
``
nag
''
her
father
about
doing
his
art
homework
.
"He always leaves it to the last minute," she said.
``
He
always
leaves
it
to
the
last
minute
,
''
she
said
.
"But then he'll turn around to do amazing drawings," she added, "We have different styles of drawing, so it's interesting to talk it over with him."
``
But
then
he
'll
turn
around
to
do
amazing
drawings
,
''
she
added
,
``
We
have
different
styles
of
drawing
,
so
it
's
interesting
to
talk
it
over
with
him
.
''
Without the Saturday morning art class, Dennis said, he would be reading the paper, and Lauren would be on her own in her room or on the computer.
Without
the
Saturday
morning
art
class
,
Dennis
said
,
he
would
be
reading
the
paper
,
and
Lauren
would
be
on
her
own
in
her
room
or
on
the
computer
.
But they talk more now.
But
they
talk
more
now
.
"I can't think of an experience where you communicate with your kid so closely," he said.
``
I
ca
n't
think
of
an
experience
where
you
communicate
with
your
kid
so
closely
,
''
he
said
.
When was the last time you did something really fun with one of your parents--just the two of you?  Parents who take their young children to music, swimming and art classes often stop arranging such activities once their kids are older and in school all day. But it doesn't have to be that way. Doing something enjoyable with your kids just might make you look at each other in a whole new way, especially if you do it through a class or an event. When parent and child become students together, it puts them on the same level, at least for a while.  "I really like parents to come to class with their kids--they start sharing things and talking about what they're doing and what they like," said art teacher Pyper Dixon.  However, finding something new in common is a big choice for them, especially when kids get involved in sports and other after-school activities. But it's possible to learn a new skill or hobby together.  That's certainly true of Lauren, 11, of Silver Spring, who is in Dixon's class with her father, Dennis. "I was just going to drop her off," Dennis said, "but Dixon persuaded me to stay."  Now Lauren gets to "nag" her father about doing his art homework. "He always leaves it to the last minute," she said. "But then he'll turn around to do amazing drawings," she added, "We have different styles of drawing, so it's interesting to talk it over with him."  Without the Saturday morning art class, Dennis said, he would be reading the paper, and Lauren would be on her own in her room or on the computer. But they talk more now. "I can't think of an experience where you communicate with your kid so closely," he said.