Difference Between Recreation And Recreation

Reflection One of the coolest, yet most frustrating parts about the English language is that there are multiple words that have very similar, yet different, meanings. Leisure, play, recreation, and sport and tourism can all be related to each other and used to describe each other. Often time’s people consider sport tourism, recreation, and play as a leisure activity. On the other hand, recreation does not necessarily always refer to a leisure activity. The definition and classification of each activity into these categories can change with time. As time goes on and the world becomes for technology advanced, people find new activities to participate in. An activity that one person might consider leisure, another person could consider work, …show more content…
According to dictornary.com, the definition of leisure is “time free from the demands of work or duty, when one can rest, enjoy hobbies or sports, etc.” When viewing leisure, it is broken down into three categories. These categories are leisure as time, leisure as state of mind, and leisure as activity. Leisure as time is any time free from obligations, work, and tasks that are required for you to survive. Leisure as activity is activities that a person participates in during their free time. Leisure activities can be used to help a person relax, grow in a certain area, or participate in a competition. These activities can range from a wide variety of activities such as doing yoga, reading, painting a picture, or playing a sport. Leisure activities do not focus on how the participant feels about the activity but instead focuses on the time at which they are performing the activity. The big problem that I can see with leisure activities, is who decides whether an activity is considered leisure or not? I might greatly enjoy making sport infographics and consider it a great leisure activity, but someone else might consider it a job and not leisure. Unlike leisure as activity, …show more content…
Participants participate in recreation activities that are recognized as having social redeeming values. The outcome of performing an activity is more important than the actual activity performed when referring to recreation activities. Recreation activities are not only morally acceptable to the participant, but also to society as a whole. Leisure activities focus more on the participant’s perception opposed to recreation which focuses on the contribution to society. I believe activities that are considered socially acceptable and classified as recreation can change overtime. An activity that is socially acceptable today might not be acceptable 20 years from now. Examples of recreation activities would include but is not limited to playing an instrument, hiking, playing games, constructing arts and crafts, playing sports, etc. People participate in these activities for the outcome they bring upon completion. People also participate in recreation activities for the social aspect. Many times recreation activities are used to meet a range of physical, psychological, and social needs. Some of the most famous recreation programs I think of are YMCA, Boy Scouts, Life Time Fitness Centers, Boy and Girls Clubs of America, and Planet Fitness. All of these programs