38 Hobbies for Teens (& How To Get Started)

Whether it's making advanced patterns using kid-favorite Rainbow Loom bands, crafting friendship bracelets using embroidery floss (a rite of passage that doesn't ever seem to go out of style!), or creating more sophisticated, handmade jewelry with craft wire, beads, semi-precious stones and whatever else they can imagine, this creative hobby is one that can grow with your tween and teen, and perhaps even lead to a small business enterprise on Etsy or other similar platform.

Being able to sew on a button or hem a pair of pants is a practical life skill worth passing on to all of our kids, but creative tweens and teens can go even further and learn to machine sew, or sew by hand, to make their own clothing or other more complex sewing projects.

Tweens and teens can go beyond the easy magic tricks they may have picked up in their younger years and really perfect their sleight of hand, misdirection, and other performance tricks.

YouTube has so many video tutorials for styling (and cutting) hair for anyone looking to try out this practical hobby for teens, tweens and adults.

Teens and tweens who love to express themselves through their personal style can learn to do their own gorgeous nails without having to get them professionally done every time. A full set of nail art supplies is fairly inexpensive, and then it just takes practice, practice, practice!

Scrapbooking is a fun and creative hobby for teens that will allow them to capture special memories in a way they can continue to enjoy year after year. Consider getting a mobile photo mini printer for a special birthday or holiday gift to make it that much easier for them to print photos whenever they are ready to start a new project.

Skateboarding is a great outdoor hobby for teens, whether they use it to get around or to try cool tricks. Either way, they'll need a good helmet!

Shila said:  Not only will your adolescents fill the hearts of others, it can fill their own, too. In addition, this experience could come in handy for a college essay or job interview. Teens can look for volunteer opportunities in their own community, such as visiting a nursing home or helping at a soup kitchen or shelter, and even explore ways of volunteering from home.

This cool filmmaking technique makes a great creative hobby for teens, who can use Lego figures, toys or images to create their own movies frame by frame. Free apps like Stop Motion Studio (available on iOS and Google Play) make it easy to jump right in without any experience.

Alexandra F. said:  My teen recently picked up juggling and I have been super impressed by how she kept practicing even when it was hard, and to see her perseverance rewarded with an impressive new skill. 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.

Alexandra F. said:  Cooking is one of those hobbies for teens and tweens that is both creative and practical. It's a great age to develop this essential life skill, as they will generally be mature enough to safely handle kitchen tools and appliances without assistance, and also be able to follow more complex recipes to really delve into their new craft. Point your teens in the direction of a few favorite family recipes and let them handle dinner at least once a week!

Alexandra F. said:  Kids, teens and adults alike are often drawn to the mysteries and beauty of space, but stargazing can be an especially great hobby for teens as they are old enough - and still have the time! - to sit patiently for long periods of time observing the night sky. A decent pair of binoculars can open up the wonders of the universe from home without having to purchase an expensive telescope, and apps like the free Sky Live for iOS help predict visibility based on location. My teen has also really been enjoying live programming from our local planetarium, along with space-related research projects on Zooniverse.

Smartphone cameras and video editing apps like iMovie or WeVideo make the filmmaking process accessible even to amateurs, and creative teens might enjoy the opportunity to express themselves through film.

The high quality cameras on today's smart phones make this one of the easiest hobbies for teens to adopt, allowing them to practice capturing the world around them before investing in a fancy and expensive camera.

This is a practical hobby for teens who also want to express themselves artistically. Gather some nice cardstock, stamps, fancy pens or markers, foam tape, ribbons and any other fun & decorative tidbits, and never give another store-bought card again.