Fun Hobbies for Teens & Tweens

Alexandra F. said:  Grab a pencil and paper and start sketching! Kids who enjoyed doodling (cartoons, people, objects, anything!) might naturally take to drawing as a hobby in their tween and teen years. A nice sketchpad can help keep their work in one place, rather than strewn about all over the house.

Alexandra F. said:  My kids got really into baking as soon as they hit their tween years, and all of us have been quite grateful for their tasty new hobby! They started off with easy dessert recipes like cookies and brownies, but have been growing in their skills and daring ever since, tackling three-layer cakes, fruit tarts, and other yummy treats the whole family can enjoy.

Alexandra F. said:  Speaking more than one language opens up new opportunities and experiences for all of us, whether it be for travel, work, or just getting to know other cultures - and the younger you are the easier it is to learn! Some easy and cost-effective ways teens and tweens can dive in to learning a new language include using apps like Duolingo, watching and listening to shows, movies or music in the new language, and searching for free tutorials on YouTube.

Alexandra F. said:  The soap making unit is a highlight at my daughter's middle school, as the process is not only a cool hands-on science experiment but also a fun way for kids to express their individuality and creativity. I was super impressed by the variety of designs and scents in the soaps the kids made, and my tween was excited to replicate the experiment at home. This easy guide from Hello Glow is a great place for beginners to start!

Alexandra F. said:  The Japanese art of folding square sheets of paper into decorative shapes and figures is one that fascinates many kids - but it's not easy to do! Tweens and teens are old enough to begin mastering the more complex directions of most origami projects, though even they might want to begin with some of our hand-selected and truly easy origami tutorials.

Alexandra F. said:  I love that running does not require any special equipment (though a good pair of running shoes does make it easier on the joints) and is something almost anyone can do. I started running in high school and both my tween and teen have started running with me this year, too. It's a great way to exercise whether you run a mile or ten, and encourages perseverance and personal goal setting.

Alexandra F. said:  There's no wrong way to do it, and it's a wonderful form of creative expression! Acrylic paints or water colors are probably best for beginners, as they are less expensive, easier to clean up and less high-maintenance than oil paints.

Alexandra F. said:  As computers and tech continue to play a more prominent role in our day-to-day lives, coding becomes an increasingly interesting, useful and practical skill for young people to learn. There are a growing number of excellent websites for teaching kids and teens to code, but our family's personal favorite is Scratch, a programming language developed by MIT that allows kids to create their own games and online worlds totally free.

Alexandra F. said:  Whether it’s journaling, drafting short stories or novels, or researching and writing up information on a topic of interest, writing is a wonderful creative outlet as well as a practical and important life skill. It can also be a great way to hang out with friends virtually, using a shared Google Doc to create stories together.

Alexandra F. said:  Kids who have been drawn in to the Rubiks cube craze can take this brainteasing hobby to the next level by challenging themselves to solve the classic 3D puzzle as quickly as possible. There are even regional, national and worldwide competitions for those who want to test their skills against other speed cubers!

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:  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.

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.

Alexandra F. said:  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.

Alexandra F. said:  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 to follow in the impressive footsteps of Shin Lim and Mat Franco, magicians they may have seen win it big on America's Got Talent!

Alexandra F. said:  There are so many tutorials on YouTube to help fashion-forward teens and tweens learn to create some pretty cool hair styles. And, if any family members are willing to serve as guinea pigs, learning to cut hair is a great skill to have whether or not teens are interested in pursuing this hobby professionally.

Alexandra F. said:  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!

Alexandra F. said:  Scrapbooking is a fun and creative hobby that also allows tweens and teens 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.

Sue Krawitz Tandoc said:  My 13 year old son loves to play chess. He has played at library game groups (even with adults) and now participates in a chess club at school. It is a game of skill and concentration and challenges the mind and can be played in person with others or online. It is a game that he can carry into adulthood as well!

Alexandra F. said:  Great for getting around, keeping active, or even for trying cool tricks (don't forget a good helmet!!), skateboarding is a great outdoor hobby for tweens and teens who like to keep moving and are able to find and maintain good balance!

Alexandra F. said:  You know The Nightmare Before Christmas, that popular Halloween movie for kids that's also perfect for watching at Christmastime? That's stop motion animation at its finest! And, thanks to free apps like Stop Motion Studio (available on iOS and Google Play), tweens and teens can adopt this fun hobby with relative ease, using Lego figures, dolls or other toys to create their own movies frame by frame.

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:  If you've ever seen The Goldbergs (a fun show to watch with your teens & tweens!), then you know how every day family life can inspire the art of future filmmakers! And, modern technology like smartphone cameras and video editing apps like iMovie or WeVideo make the process ever so much easier than it was in the 80s.

Alexandra F. said:  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.

Alexandra F. said:  A practical outlet for your teen's artistic expression! 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!

Alexandra F. said:  Thanks to the many step-by-step video tutorials available for free online, this relaxing activity is easier than ever for even a total beginner to pick up on their own. My tween, teen and I have been learning using the free patterns and tutorials on PurlSoho, but any time we get stuck a quick search on Google or YouTube helps to set us straight! I especially love the variety of knitting patterns and designs which make it easy to find practical and beautiful handmade gift ideas anytime of year.

Alexandra F. said:  Yoga is a wonderful way for kids, teens and adults alike to stay fit, engage in a relaxing activity and practice mindfulness all rolled into one. Best of all, it's a hobby that can be shared with others when you join a studio, or practiced independently, for those who might prefer doing workout videos at home.

Alexandra F. said:  Whether it's ice skating, roller skating or roller blading, tweens and teens can enjoy a fun workout indoors or out any time of year.

Alexandra F. said:  Growing your own fruits, vegetables, herbs or flowers takes tremendous patience and care, but offers a wonderfully tangible reward at the end of your labors! Plus, it's a great way for eco-conscious teens and tweens to do something to help care for the environment, too.

Alexandra F. said:  So much of our life is spent on computers that there is something really appealing about taking the time to use pen, paper and the skill of our hands to write beautifully. All you really need are some nice calligraphy pens, and perhaps a book to make it easier to learn and practice the technique, and teens and tweens can dive right in to learning this ancient art.

Alexandra F. said:  This active hobby for teens can be enjoyed indoors and out, and is a great way to develop strength and physical fitness. Plus, it's fun! If your teen gets really into it, they can join local programs to climb competitively, and it is a hobby they can carry into adulthood.

Alexandra F. said:  For big kids who are natural daredevils, BMX biking offers a great outlet for trying out tricks big and small, depending on their comfort level (and yours). It's also a hobby that will keep teens active and outside, and which they can enjoy just as easily on their own as well as with other bike-loving friends.