We spend a lot of time talking about how recreational therapists help other people discover meaningful recreation.
But what do recreational therapists themselves do for fun?
During a recent Rec Therapy Today giveaway, we asked our readers a simple question:
“What are things you do for fun?”
We received 74 responses, and because participants could list as many activities as they wanted, many responses included several different forms of recreation.
We grouped similar responses together to see what stood out.
What RTs Do for Fun: Ranked
1. Outdoor Activities & Nature — approximately 32 mentions
Walking, hiking, visiting the beach, parks, camping, kayaking, boating, fishing, gardening, and simply spending time outside.
2. Exercise, Sports & Active Recreation — approximately 30 mentions
Going to the gym, swimming, pickleball, yoga, running, biking, volleyball, golf, dancing, and other forms of exercise.
3. Family, Friends & Socializing — approximately 24 mentions
Spending time with family, friends and grandchildren, going to dinner, attending social events, and simply being together.
4. Reading & Books — approximately 21 mentions
Reading books, listening to audiobooks, and even collecting and reading comic books.
5. Arts, Crafts & Creative Hobbies — approximately 20 mentions
Painting, coloring, scrapbooking, crochet, knitting, drawing, photography, crafts, and other creative pursuits.
6. Travel, Sightseeing & Trips — approximately 17 mentions
Vacations, national parks, sightseeing, amusement parks, road trips, and exploring new places.
7. Music, Concerts & Performing Arts — approximately 14 mentions
Listening to music, attending concerts, singing, dancing, enjoying live music, and going to the theater.
8. Games, Puzzles & Gaming — approximately 13 mentions
Board games, card games, trivia, video games, Skip-Bo, mahjong, and puzzles.
9. Cooking, Baking & Food Experiences — approximately 12 mentions
Cooking, baking, trying new foods, eating out, and visiting coffee shops.
10. Movies, TV & Entertainment — approximately 10 mentions
Going to the movies, watching television, binge-watching favorite shows, and watching videos.
11. Pets & Animals — approximately 9 mentions
Playing with dogs and cats, visiting dog parks, and spending time with pets.
12. Shopping, Collecting & Special Interests — approximately 7 mentions
Shopping, thrifting, visiting flea markets, and collecting things such as coins, comic books, and physical media.
13. Writing, Learning & Personal Enrichment — approximately 5 mentions
Journaling, writing, learning new things, research, and visiting historical sites.
RTs Practice What They Promote
One thing immediately stood out to us:
Recreational therapists have incredibly diverse leisure interests.
There wasn’t one definition of “fun.”
For one person, fun might mean hiking through the woods. For another, it’s curling up with a good book. Someone else might choose pickleball, painting, kayaking, gardening, a concert, a board game, cooking dinner, or spending an evening with family.
Some respondents packed an impressive variety of recreation into a single answer—combining travel, outdoor recreation, sports, friends, family, music, arts, and more.
And perhaps that’s exactly what we should expect from recreational therapists.
Fun Is More Than Entertainment
Another interesting finding was how frequently active recreation appeared.
Outdoor recreation and physical activity occupied the top two spots.
Walking. Hiking. Swimming. Pickleball. Gardening. Kayaking. Yoga. Running. Biking. Dancing.
These aren’t simply ways to pass time. They can provide movement, challenge, connection, relaxation, accomplishment, creativity, and opportunities to experience something new.
Social connection was another major theme.
RTs talked about spending time with friends, family members and grandchildren. They mentioned dinners, concerts, festivals, vacations, games, outings, and other shared experiences.
Sometimes fun isn’t really about what we’re doing.
It’s about who we’re doing it with.
Recreation Looks Different for Everyone
Perhaps our favorite takeaway from these responses is just how broad recreation can be.
Fun can be…
Hiking a mountain.
Reading a book.
Playing pickleball.
Painting.
Going to a concert.
Cooking something new.
Walking your dog.
Traveling.
Playing a board game.
Gardening.
Going to the movies.
Having dinner with friends.
Or simply spending time with the people you love.
That’s something recreational therapists understand especially well:
Meaningful recreation is personal.
What brings joy, connection, challenge, relaxation, or meaning to one person may be completely different for another.
Our job isn’t to define fun for someone else.
It’s to help people discover what fun, recreation, and meaningful leisure look like for them.
Now We’re Asking You
Take a moment and think about your own leisure life.
What do YOU do for fun?
And maybe an even better question:
When was the last time you made time to do it?
— Rec Therapy Today
Continuing Education Through Innovation