A great way to get your kids to learn about themselves and what they like is to start them on fun hobbies that help them learn new skills.
With so many new hobbies on the horizon, you never know what will spark your child’s interests.
A creative hobby can also help give our kids something to do, especially when the “I’m bored!” monster comes out!
Hobbies are great for filling the criteria for creative ways to keep your kids busy when you need to be doing something else (like, I don’t know, cook dinner or clean up or any of the thousand other things that have to happen!).
For those times where you cannot be with your kids every second of the day (which is an impossible feat!) here are some wonderful independent activities that will keep your kids busy on their own for a while.
The importance of hobbies reaches even further that giving them something to do that is beyond screen time.
A hobby can help build social skills, problem-solving skills, hand-eye coordination and so many various life skills.
It is also a great way to learn about the world and what it has to offer.
Many people started on career paths based on a beloved hobby.
The positive effects of being involved in some type of hobby are so extensive and well worth the effort!
Hobbies For Kids
A good starting point may be to just ask your kids what they like to do.
Maybe your young person enjoys art galleries, so you could start them off on artistic hobbies and see what they enjoy.
Perhaps your child enjoys being outside, so start with outdoor hobbies.
Another great way to help them discover a fun hobby is to sign them up for camps whose activities can be filled with great hobby ideas.
Kids seem to have a better time learning about new things when they are attached with a sense of responsibility for what they are doing.
Start small and try not to overwhelm your kids (or yourself) with a ton of supplies before you are sure this is something your child really enjoys.
Show them how to start and where they may eventually end up if they keep up with practicing.
It is always exciting and motivating to have a goal in mind!
Let’s explore this list of hobbies in the hope that you can help your child find something that could spark a lifelong passion!
1. Origami
This ancient art requires very little space and is a creative activity that builds skills one project at a time.
The folds that are learned early on in the hobby will still be handy when they are learning more advanced techniques.
2. Jewelry Making
Learning how to make jewelry can be very helpful for building fine motor skills.
It is also a fun way to create gifts for a friend or family member and share what you know.
3. Learning Magic Tricks
4. Sewing
Learning how to sew is an important skill that your child will be able to make use of through their adult years.
Think of how many buttons you have sewn back on to clothing, or how many costumes you have put together using sewing skills!
5. Drawing
Drawing can be so calming and lead to many artistic job opportunities.
Try these fun drawing prompts to get your child interested in this fun hobby!
6. Becoming More Flexible
Working on this hobby can aid your child’s physical health for their entire lifetime!
Working a little bit each day to strengthen one’s body in this way is a great habit to build early in life!
7. Photography
To see if your child may be interested in this creative hobby, set them up with a simple camera and these photography activities to see if this sparks a joy of photography!
8. Crocheting
An activity such as crocheting can really help build up your child’s hand eye coordination.
It is also a great hobby that helps teach the concept of planning ahead as far as how much material they will need to complete a project.
9. Painting
The lovely thing about any art related hobby is that anything can be art!
This is an excellent hobby that you can start your little ones on very early in life.
They can start with hand painting (thanks very much to non-toxic paint!) and then move on to using paint brushes as they become older.
Painting can also be a great way for them to create birthday or holiday gifts for family and friends.
10. Reading
The joy of reading can truly stay a part of someone’s life forever!
One of the best ways to start a child on this path is to take them to the library or a bookstore and just let them browse.
There is something amazing to kids (and adults as well!) when they realize they can choose to go on an adventure simply by reading a story.
11. Coin Collecting
Coin collecting can help young ones form a better understanding of time and a deeper appreciation for history.
12. Gardening
Learning about horticulture and how to care for and grow things can make this new hobby priceless.
Kids will love seeing their hard work and patience pay off as they watch little saplings grow into strong plants and maybe even trees!
13. Predicting The Weather
Being interested in the world and how it works is a lifetime skill that can lead to so many wonderful outcomes!
14. Dancing
Whether they participate in dance as a competitive sport or simply enjoy street dance, this hobby is an excellent mix of physical activity and creative thinking!
15. Singing
What a wonderful gift to be able to bring your instrument along wherever you are!
Singing can bring a simple joy into one’s life and can also lead to a joy of other hobbies such as joining a choir or musical theater.
16. Playing An Instrument
Playing an instrument is one of the best hobbies for sharpening fine motor skills and letting creativity run wild.
Learning how to read music is also like learning a new language and helps kids make a connection between what they see written on a page of music and what they hear on their instrument.
17. Coding
It seems like we cannot even get through elementary school without our kids having some sort of experience with coding.
Kids enjoy seeing the correlation between the commands they have written or typed out and the actions on the computer.
In addition to that, it seems that in their lifetime, coding may be an integral part of their daily life or job, no matter what field they end up choosing.
18. Cooking/Baking
Like so many of these hobbies, cooking and baking can be a skill that will stay with your children as they grow up.
As we parents know from having constant meal prep, if you can find the joy in this activity, it is so much easier to complete every day!
In addition to that, learning how to cook and bake will aid them in their understanding of math and chemistry concepts later in life.
19. Performing Science Experiments
Building up a curiosity about the world and how things work is always helpful as our kids grow.
I personally know that my child remembers the most science facts when they have completed a science experiment to go along with the lesson!
This hobby also fosters a love of trying new things and like I said, a curiosity for how things work and why they work in that way.
20. Learning Survival Skills
Learning survival skills is another hobby that will be unendingly useful for years to come!
Not only can it be a lot of fun (think camping adventures!) it can make you feel so much better letting your little one out into the world.
We all want to send our kids out into the world with as many tools and preparation as possible and knowing that they have this “particular set of skills” can be very comforting!
21. Learning A New Language
Anything that helps kids work on their communication skills can be fun and helpful in so many ways.
In addition to activating important parts of their brain, knowing a second (or third or fourth) language can open doors for travel and exciting jobs in the future.
22. Cake Decorating
Not only is this a super fun (and excitingly messy!) hobby, it may also spark a love of baking and insight into a future passion.
23. Playing Chess
Learning how to play chess can strengthen your child’s reasoning skills and planning ahead with strategy.
This game is known worldwide and played by people of all ages and backgrounds.
There are several fun and different chess learning kits for kids, so you have a lot of help if you yourself do not know how to play!
24. Stargazing
Learning about the stars and being able to see and understand constellations and planets can be so much fun!
Kids will love when they are able to stay up and see the stars up close through telescopes.
Many local museums and planetariums hold events that cater to kids and helping them learn more about the cosmos.
25. Kart Racing
26. Biking
Kids can choose from biking around the neighborhood, trail biking and even learning how to mountain bike!
They will be able to enjoy this physical activity outside and also learn a lot about bike safety at the same time.
27. Roller skating/Rollerblading
28. Rock Climbing
Rock climbing is a great hobby, not only to learn about safety, but also how to plan your steps ahead and how to have patience with yourself and your surroundings.
29. Skateboarding
Learning how to skateboard will help with balance and definitely learning about physics in a real-life way!
30. Ice Skating
31. Fishing
Fishing is a life skill that will stay useful for your child as they become older.
Whether they keep what they fish or learn about catch and release, they can learn about the importance of life and how everything works together.
This also helps them get a greater understanding of where food comes from.
32. Hunting
33. Woodworking
Woodworking is a fun and creative hobby that can teach children about using natural items in order to create art.
They will learn about the various tools used to create different styles and how to get from an idea to the finished product.
34. Bug Collecting/Identification
35. Archery
36. Martial Arts
Martial arts is not only a great physical hobby, but there is also a lot to learn from the philosophies and ideas of being peaceful from this beautiful art.
It is great to have the skills to defend oneself if one must, but also to understand that that should be the very last option.
Being able to teach your children that they do not have to fight is a priceless lesson.
37. Swimming
Swimming is a very helpful skill that can lead in many directions.
While most of us are simply glad to be able to swim in general, some end up taking part in competitive swim teams or end up being able to teach others.
Whether this skill is used for everyday survival, or it takes someone to the Olympics, it is a very fun and active way to spend one’s time!
38. Hiking
Hiking is another lifelong skill that will help nurture a child’s appreciation for the natural world around them.
They will also learn about what things to pack, what to look for to remain safe and aware and how to plan ahead.
Most importantly, they will learn the value of simply being out in nature and listening to the world around them!
39. Scouting
Scouting has so many benefits for social and general survival knowledge.
It is a wonderful activity where kids can get together to learn about the world and to learn about skills they may otherwise not learn about.
Many people who were part of Scouts still use several of the skills they learned as children in their everyday lives.
40. Horseback Riding
Horseback riding can really help a child learn about responsibility and taking care of animals.
Most stables will require students to help with things such as mucking out the stall and brushing the horse’s coat.
It is a great hobby to understand the responsibility that comes along with the fun!
41. Kayaking
42. Model Building
If you have a child who could benefit from some activities involving patience, model building may be right up their ally!
Between interpreting instructions and taking the time to put together many pieces to build a whole item, kids will also learn about setting goals and meeting them!
43. Car Mechanics
Learning about the intricacies of how a vehicle runs can open so many avenues!
Not only could it open doors to a possible career, but it could also be very helpful to your child in the future when they are in charge of their own car.
44. Boxing
45. Weightlifting
46. Yoga
The practice of yoga has so many physical health benefits as well as some great mental health benefits and habits that can grow with your child.
They can practice from home or take a class with other kids their age.
47. Rowing
48. Running
49. Clay Bird Shooting
50. Pottery
51. Foraging
Foraging can be a great survival skill and provide hours of fun roaming around in nature!
It is a great way to help learn about an earth science in a hands-on way.
Another great benefit of learning about foraging is that it can instill a great respect for nature and how things grow.
52. Needle Felting
Needle felting is a hobby that builds as you learn.
What I mean is that with each new technique, kids will be able to create more complex and complicated designs.
They will also learn about how to carefully handle needles, so this one may be better for kids who are slightly older and have a grasp on safety and manual dexterity.
53. Clay Sculpting
One of the most wonderful things about clay sculpting is that everything is art!
Kids will certainly enjoy being able to make whatever they imagine.
It is also a great hobby that will let kids see their progress as they learn about new techniques.
In an effort to search out different interests, you can always enlist the help of fellow friends and family members.
Let them share their hobbies with your kids in their free time.
Not only will this give your kids an insight into such activities, but it will also give them some wonderful bonding time with people who care about them!
Letting your child explore all of the different hobbies and amazing things to do in this world will open their eyes to all of the wonder that is being alive!
Try to make sure that your child gives an activity a good try before deciding how to feel about it.
It is also good to remember that it is ok if they do not like a certain activity.
As evidenced by the list above, there are so many different hobbies, and your child will find one they enjoy.
They may also change their minds with age.
That is the beauty of being able to try different things.
It is our responsibility to help foster curiosity and support our kids in their interests.
Remember to have fun and enjoy watching your child find out who they are and what they like!
And, as always, you’ve got this!