24 Hobbies for Kids to Pick Up Right Now

We're collecting a captivating list of hobbies for kids at home to easily pick up right now. Get going on a new pursuit! Whether it's a relaxing activity to help them unwind, a form of artistic expression, an academic interest or life skill they want to develop, hobbies for girls and boys are super engaging - and may just ignite a life long passion!

What hobby is capturing your child's attention these days? Share your ideas below, and any tips you'd recommend to families interested in giving it a try!

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    Yoga
    Ages

    All ages

    Shila:  Yoga is an invigorating yet calming activity for kids. There are over 84 yoga poses, or asanas, and anybody can learn them with practice. Positions range from athletic to restorative, many of which can be self taught. Set your little yogis up with their own mat at home, or enroll them in class to inspire this life-long prowess.

    Baking

    Shila:  Baking can one of the most irresistible hobbies for kids! It's crafty, fun, and deliciously rewarding. Encourage the kids to create a special treat for the family every night. There are so many easy dessert recipes for kids to learn and customize on their own.

    Stargazing

    If your kids are interested in space there are lots of easy ways to nurture this curiosity! It can be as simple as going into your backyard to look at stars, perhaps learning some constellations. A small telescope for home can make it especially fun, though check to see if any nearby colleges open up their large telescopes to the public, too.

    Photography
    Ages

    All ages

    Shila:  One of the nicest hobbies for kids at home is photography. There's no wrong way to do it! Whether it be digital using a camera phone or it requiring film to print, kids are naturals at capturing beautiful and interesting things. To encourage this hobby, parents can help assign categories as artful subject matter (i.e., nature, fruit, family, pets, etc.). It's always enlightening to see the world from a child's lens, too!

    Origami

    Shila:  It is incredibly impressive to master the art of origami, and there are plenty of easy origami tutorials for kids to follow as they press onto this new hobby at home.

    Learn Magic Tricks
    Ages

    Elementary+

    Alexandra F.:  Many kids (and adults!) are captivated by the illusions and tricks performed by magicians, and love seeing the magic in action - and trying to figure out how it is done! Though most magic tricks require pretty advanced skills and sleight of hand difficult for younger children to master, there are plenty of easy magic tricks for kids to start with if they are interested in picking up this fun new hobby!

    Sewing
    Ages

    Elementary+

    Alexandra F.:  Learning to sew is not only a great hobby, but also a great life skill for kids to learn while they are still young. That way, when they need to sew on a button or hem a pair of pants, they'll be able to do so without having to go to a tailor - or using tape! There are plenty of tutorials online to help you get started, but I like the kid-focused, step-by-step instructions at Make It-Love It.

    Coin Collecting
    Ages

    Elementary+

    Shila:  Collecting coins is an easy hobby for kids. Every country has its own unique set and certain coins can be incredibly valuable too! Young numismatists just starting out the hobby may want to get their feet wet with a simple collection of the fifty US state quarters. Because these quarters are not yet rare, there are many opportunities to collect them all, and it would be highly likely to pick them up anywhere you go. Kids may love showing them off in a framed display or on an official US state quarter map.

    Birding

    Kelly R:  Identifying and learning about birds is a great way to get in touch with nature, and a fun hobby for parents and kids to enjoy together. Get started with a kid-friendly bird guide, or download an app like Merlin so the resource is always handy. Kids can appreciate the wildlife right in their own backyard (especially if you have a bird bath or bird feeder), but can also take this hobby on the road and look forward to discovering new species when traveling!

    Create a YouTube Channel
    Ages

    Ages 13+

    Shila:  With parent permission and an appropriate control of privacy settings, kids can enjoy starting their own YouTube Channel where they can show-off any special talents like singing, performing skits, sports skills, craft and baking tutorials, etc. Using only their imagination, the possibilities are endless.

    Treasure Hunting with Metal Detectors
    Ages

    Elementary+

    Shila:  Metal detectors work by transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals into the ground, or on the beach where it's most commonly seen. If you detect a ping, perhaps there could be buried treasure a few feet down! High-quality metal detectors are used by the professionals, but there are junior-sized detectors available too that are light weight and adjustable for little kids.

    Electronics Tinkering
    Ages

    Elementary+

    Shila:  If your kids enjoy building, try a hand at taking things apart too - specifically electronics where you'll need to meticulously unscrew and pry open tiny pieces of material. Check out local thrift stores or rummage sales to purchase old items for cheap. Landline telephones, calculators, radios, old cell phones, and computer keyboards are just a few worldly inventions one can "un-build" to discover "how it's made."

    Create a Website

    Joseph Kelley:  This is a shameless plug for my daughter's website, but also is an example of something you can do with your kids. If your child is interested in creating their own website, try out Wix - it's reviewed the best for it's ease of use and free features.

    Cartooning
    Ages

    All ages

    Shila:  Cartooning and creating graphic story lines are seriously awesome hobbies for kids. These literary art projects combine imagination with illustration. Cartoons are simple to draw with just a sheet of paper and a pen, too! They can depict anything from short stories, silly scenarios, or even illustrate sets of funny jokes for kids. Create a book of your own!

    Rock Collecting and Polishing

    Emily Janda:  I don't know why but kids of all ages like to collect rocks. It is even better with a rock tumbler to polish up those stones. National Geographic makes an excellent hobby rock tumbler.

Primary photo:   Andriyko Podilnyk on Unsplash

Upparent collects community-submitted recommendations and reviews, and any ideas that are shared reflect the opinions of individual contributors.