24 Hobbies for Kids to Pick Up Right Now

Shila said:  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."

Lisa R said:  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 said:  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 said:  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. said:  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!

Alexandra F. said:  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.

Shila said:  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!

Shila said:  Practicing primitive survival skills and living-off-the-land are valuable hobbies for boys and girls to get into. Kids have so much to discover when it comes down to learning about edible plants, starting a fire, building a proper shelter, filtering water, and more. There are so many resources where you can gain this expert knowledge, from books to popular TV shows, and your kids can try many skills right in your backyard!

Alexandra F. said:  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.