24 Hobbies for Kids to Pick Up Right Now

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!

Lisa R:  Stop motion video is surprisingly easy to make. Parents can show kids how to do it by taking a series of pictures of a Lego or beloved stuffed animal slowly moving over a table. Then, upload the photos into your favorite video app, set each photo to show for a short duration. Finally add music or a voice over. Once kids get the idea, it is pretty easy to come up with more elaborate sets and stories.

Lisa R:  I'm not sure what to officially call this, but if my daughter has a hobby right now, this is it. Early in the pandemic we gave her free access to do anything she wanted with whatever was in the recycling bin. Our house quickly filled up with avant-garde box towers and tinfoil-bottle cap collages before we had to reel it in a bit. Two years later, she's worked her way up to unrestricted recycling bin access again and some of her recent creations have been pretty awesome and sturdy. Her brother particularly appreciates the new multi-story car garage she made for him.

Lisa R:  Peg looms make it easy for even young children to learn how to knit. We recently got an adjustable one that can be shaped into different sized circles and even a square. The square configuration can be used for both regular peg knitting and weaving potholders.

Amy S.:  It’s the simplest way to get outside as a family. Having a cool destination (like a scenic view, summit, or waterfall) in mind can be motivating, but as parents we’ve really had to slow down and adjust our idea of what a “hike” is. Our kids love to play in the dirt, carry rocks, pick at moss, splash water—it’s all about the journey. Even younger kids can start to understand basic signs and develop map reading skills. Learning to identify animal tracks and scat is super fun too!

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.

Shila:  Many hobbies for kids can make pocket money and that can be a driver for passion. Young entrepreneurs may enjoy starting their own small business around the neighborhood. Kid-friendly jobs can include lawn work, power washing, babysitting, pet walking, etc. At home jobs can include selling easy-to-make products like quality homemade crafts. Set up a business model, come up with a name, promote yourselves, and more.

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.

Alexandra F.:  My daughter recently decided to pick up juggling and I have been super impressed by how she has persevered with practice even when it was hard, and to see her hard work rewarded with dramatic improvement over time. It's a great hobby for improving hand-eye coordination, and a fun skill to show off to family and friends! These beginner juggling balls have worked well for her, and are more reasonably priced than many others we've seen.

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.

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!

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!

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.

Alexandra F.:  Grab a ball of yarn and spend and hour or two finger knitting for an easy and relaxing activity that will keep little hands busy while sitting quietly, or perhaps listening to music or a kid-favorite audiobook. This article from Flax and Twine has lots of pictures and clear instructions on how to get started, as well as ideas for crafts that can be made from finger knit yarn. Her video tutorial below is also very helpful.

Shila:  Gardening is fun hobby for kids and those with enthusiastic green thumbs may also love caring for an indoor Bonsai tree. Purchase an easy starter kit and get it growing. Many owners tend to their Bonsai with pride and enjoy peaceful interaction while pruning its leaves. Some Bonsai can live up to 100 years! It may just become a part of your family for generations!