Fun Hobbies for Teens & Tweens

Alexandra F.:  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.:  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.:  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.:  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.:  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.:  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.:  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.:  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.:  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.:  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.:  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.:  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.:  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.

Alexandra F.:  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.:  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!