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Looking for a way to help your teenager discover their next hobby? Here’s a list of hobbies that are sure to get them off their phone and engaged in activities they love:
🤫 Quiet & Peaceful Hobbies
Reading
WattPad is a good place to read fiction from amateur writers. Those who create an account, can highlight and comment & leave their thoughts at the end of each paragraph, letting the author & other users know what they think.
Calligraphy
The Modern Calligraphy Co does children’s workshops. Calligraphy can be both relaxing and therapeutic, and it’s a skill that they can use for the rest of their life. Once they’ve mastered the basics, they can use their new calligraphy skills to create beautiful cards, letters and invitations.
Origami
Brightminds has Origami Kits for Kids. Origami is the perfect hobby for those who enjoy both crafting and problem-solving. Not only is it a great way to relieve stress, but it can also be quite therapeutic. And once your teenager has mastered the basics, they’ll be able to make all sorts of different origami creations, from animals to flowers.
Journalism
Starting a blog or submitting articles to their school newspaper is a great way for them to build a portfolio. Journalism can help your child build their voice and formulate arguments, and it’s a skill that will come in handy later in life.
Knitting & Crocheting
Hobby Craft has knitting & crocheting starter kits. They can be used to make scarves, hats and gloves. Plus, once they’ve mastered the basics, they can start making more complicated items like blankets, and maybe even sell one or two on Etsy.
🌲 Outdoor Hobbies
Camping
Campsite might be worth checking to find campsites near you. Camping is a great way for them to get away from technology and connect with nature. Plus, it’s a great opportunity for them to bond with their friends and build lifelong memories.
Skateboarding
Skatepark Finder helps people find skateparks in the U.K. Entry level skateboards sell for about £25 on Amazon.
BMX riding
RideUKBMX has in-depth reviews and lots of pictures of BMW parks across the U.K. Like skateboarding, BMX riding is a great way for your teenager to stay active.
Hiking Mountain Biking
Trail Forks is a good website to find mountain bike tracks in the U.K. Mountain biking is another great outdoor hobby. It’s a great way to stay in shape, and it’s also a lot of fun. Plus, once they’ve mastered the basics, they can start competing in races.
Fishing
See Fisheries to find places to go fishing, but make sure to check the rod licence requirements on gov.uk. Fishing is a great way to relax and connect with nature. And, if they’re lucky, they might even catch dinner!
Archery
Start Archery is ideal for beginners who want to join a club or find an experience venue. Archery is a great way for them to improve their focus and concentration, and it’s also a lot of fun.
Birdwatching
Bird Guides is useful for finding birds that’ve been sighted near you. Most adults, let alone teenagers, underestimate what they can learn by observing nature. Bird watching can be done all year round, and in the U.K, there are over 500 different species of birds that can be found.
Gardening
On Argos, a mini greenhouse only costs around £30. And even if you don’t have a garden, a simple indoor gardening kit is all that it takes to get started, or even something like a Rainforest Terrarium DIY Kit.
Plane Watching
A pair of binoculars (on Amazon) and The Big Book of Planes (also on Amazon) is a great way to get started. It does, of course, involve travelling to an airport in the U.K. Here’s a list of U.K. airports on Wikipedia to help you out.
🎨 Creative Hobbies
Photography
A DSLR isn’t necessary when starting out. An iPhone can do the job in most cases, and recently, companies like iPhone Photography School have created pretty decent courses teaching people how to master the camera on their iPhones. Then, if the hobby gets serious, it might be worth checking out some entry level DSLRs.
Painting & Drawing
Art in a Box sells monthly art subscription boxes for young artists. The kits come with a range of supplies and instructions. If your child doesn’t see this as a regular hobby, there’s also Artful, who sell art kits on a quarterly subscription basis, which come with a 120 page magazine.
Sculpting
Sculpd sells DIY pottery kits which come with supplies and instructions. Sculpting is a great three-dimensional, hands-on, creative outlet.
Drama & Acting
Joining an amateur drama society for teenagers might be a good way to get started here. Acting is a great way for them to build confidence and express themselves, and the communication skills will come in handy later in life.
Jewellery making
Most jewellery making kits I found were designed to appeal to little girls. Older children may prefer using engraving tools, like this Electric Engraving Pen (on Amazon) to make personalised, and slightly more mature jewellery, like rings & necklaces.
Learn Photoshop
Outschool does live photoshop classes for kids. They can build on their graphic design skills and create amazing images and design projects.
Make Short Films
They don’t need expensive cameras to begin with. Instead, they can use their phone or a digital camera, and they can film anything they like. If they’re on a Mac, Apple has an Education Bundle where they can have Final Cut Pro and other industry leading softwares for just $199 (around £160). Many software providers offer discounts to students, so make sure to check. BFI has a list of film festivals open to young people.
Start a Twitch Channel
Twitch is a platform that allows users to livestream their gameplay and interact with other gamers from around the world. With some practice and perseverance, your teenager could turn their passion for gaming into a successful online business or career.
Animation
This hobby will require a powerful computer and some decent animation software (and there are MANY of them)…see this blog on Visme for a list of softwares ideal for beginners. With the right level of patience, animation skills can be used to build a portfolio to land jobs, start a YouTube channel, or even become a popular artist.
Stop Motion
Stop motion requires a lot of patience, but artists use it to create unique worlds & create scenes that would be too expensive to make with CGI, like for instance, this short Sci-Fi movie called Fabricated. Stop motion doesn’t always require models to animate. See what this YouTuber Kevin Parry did. He explains the behind-the-scenes process too.
Creative Writing
Creative writing is a great way for them to express themselves and explore their imagination. Plus, once they’ve mastered the basics, they can start writing short stories or even novels.
Vlogging
This is a popular hobby for teenagers, and one that could turn into a career. Vloggers can find work creating videos for brands, or earning money through adverts. To get started, your teenager will need to buy themselves a decent phone or camera (I found this Nikon on Amazon). They’ll also need some software to edit their videos, like Adobe Premiere or Final Cut Pro.
Playwriting
This hobby requires a lot of imagination, but it’s also a great way to learn about structure, storytelling and character development. It’s also a lot of fun, and kids can produce their own plays with just a few props and some willing friends.
Dancing
Dancing is a great way to stay fit, and it’s also a lot of fun. There are loads of different types of dance, so your teenager can find one that suits their personality and interests. If they’re into hip hop, try joining a class or crew. Or if they’re into ballet, there are plenty of classes and schools to choose from.
🎵 Musical Hobbies
Quick side note: if you’re thinking of purchasing a wind instrument, make sure your child knows how to sanitise it. While gathering resources for this article, I’ve read it’s a common problem for beginners, who often forget to sanitise their wind instruments, leading to all sorts of health problems, so take care!
Piano
Entry level keyboards cost around £100, like this Moukey 61 Key Keyboard on Amazon. With a tablet in front of them, apps like Simply Piano by JoyTunes and flowkey can make learning the piano fun and engaging.
Violin
Beginner violins cost around £60 & upwards, like this Eastar full size violin on Amazon. Apps like Violin Lessons – tonestro can help players learn with tutorials from real music teachers. If you’re concerned about noise, entry-level electric violins like this Vangoa model on Amazon cost around £100, and are much quieter. This video by Benjamin was the best video I could find on YouTube comparing the two.
Drums
An entry-level full-size drum kit is around £300, like this Tiger drum kit on Amazon. To learn the drums, Drumeo is a popular app full of engaging lessons. If you’re concerned about noise, an electric drum kit might be better, like this Carlsbro drum kit on Amazon. Electric drum kits are often cheaper too.
Flute
Something like a traditional Irish Wooden Flute (on Amazon) costs around £20. It’s a fairly simple, inexpensive instrument. Metal flutes, like this EastRock 16 Key Flute (on Amazon) cost over £100. Flute Lessons – tonestro is an app that offers lessons from music teachers. An alternative is Brass & Woodwind Lessons, where users can practise with live feedback.
Trumpet
Trumpets are not beginner friendly instruments, from what I just read. But they can produce amazing sounds – see this trumpet cover of Skyfall on YouTube. Entry level trumpets like this EastRock Gold Trumpet on Amazon cost over £100, and Trumpet Lessons- tonestro is a well-rated app that offers lessons.
Clarinet
Clarinets sell for over £120 on Amazon, like this Eastar B Flat Clarinet. Tonestro has an app on Clarinet Lessons, and there’s also the Brass & Woodwind Lessons app, listed above.
Guitar
Although entry level guitars are cheap, and having played the guitar myself, I’d avoid going too cheap (below £50). Poor build quality makes it harder to progress. Yamaha makes great entry level acoustic guitars, like this F310 Full Size Steel model on Amazon. Entry level electric guitars like this RockJam model (Amazon) cost around £130, and often come with a speaker. With the right adapter cables, the sound can be diverted to headphones instead.
Saxophone
Saxophones are a little pricey compared to what’s been listed above. Models like this Eastrock Alto Saxophone on Amazon sell for over £250, and professional models go well into the £1000’s. Tonestro also has an app for Saxophone lessons.
📊 Entrepreneurial Hobbies
These are a range of hobbies which can help build entrepreneurial skills, and may one day even turn into a successful business. All of the hobbies in the entrepreneurial section are covered in more depth in this article here.
- Blogging
- Start a Podcast
- Create a Print on Demand T Shirt Store
- Make Custom Greeting Cards
- Candle Making
- Jewellery Making
- Build & Launch a Game on the App Store
- Soap Making
- Custom Greeting Cards
- Candles
- Custom Coasters
- Fridge magnets
- Gift boxes
- Clocks
- Study Notes (digital copies can be sold on Etsy)
- Upcycling unwanted furniture from sites like Freecycle.
- Art prints (although an entry level printer can cost around £200 to £500)
- Digital icons to sell on Gumroad (a marketplace for creators to sell digital goods)
- Build a computer game (Elon Musk made one at age 12)
- Take photos to upload on stock photography sites
- Make videos to upload on stock videography sites
- Publish a book (can be done through sites like WattPad and Amazon)
Illustrate & sell an out-of-copyright book (these can be found on sites like Gutenberg.org)
🧠 Brainy Hobbies
Chess
Chess.com and Lichess.org allows users to play and join tournaments online, but nothing really beats the thrill of playing in person, so it might be worth looking out for a local chess club.
Computer Building
This can turn out to be a very expensive hobby, but further down the line, it can help build all sorts of skills that can be turned into a business, or just a side hustle. I tried finding a website with good PC building kits, but in all honesty, what’ll inevitably happen if your teenager goes down this route is they’ll end up on PC related forums on places like Reddit, and by that time, the knowledge they’ve built on computers will be MILES ahead of what you and I know, so I won’t bother here.
Learn new language
I’ve tried the popular language learning programmes like Babbel and Rosetta stone, but in all honesty, I couldn’t get myself to commit. Instead, it might be worth seeing if your school is registered in a penpal programme, like Penfriends on CambridgeEnglish.Org.
🤺 Sporty Hobbies
Running
If you live in a busy city, or in the country, where many roads don’t have pavements, running might not be the safest hobby. Instead, try looking into athletic clubs. EnglandAthletics.org is a website where you can find an athletics or running club.
Table Tennis
This is relatively cheap to get into, with tables and rackets available from £20. Table Tennis England has a table finder where players can find parks with table tennis apparatus, and also clubs.
Taekwondo
British Taekwondo is the place to go to find a taekwondo club in the U.K. Taekwondo is a martial art that’s popular around the world, but it can also be a great way of getting fit and improving flexibility.
American Football
If you’re in the UK, American football is not that well known, but still, there are plenty of teams and leagues around the country. BritishAmericanFootball.Org has instructions on how to find a UK based youth American football team on their website.
Basketball
Training with a basketball team depends on what’s available near your area. Almost every major city in the U.K. has a basketball team. Basketball England has a club finder page. Just make sure to click on the jersey icon with ‘clubs’ under it, then enter your postcode.
Climbing
TheBMC (British Mountaineering Council) has a climbing wall finder on their website. Entry level climbing shoes cost around £40, and it’s a great way to build upper body strength and flexibility.
Cycling
You probably know your local cycling routes, but if it turns into a serious hobby, it might be worth visiting your nearest velodrome. These are special made arenas for track cycling, and almost every major city in the U.K. has their own, which can be found with a quick Google search by typing in ‘Velodrome’.
Gymnastics
Gyms in the U.K. can be quite expensive to join, but if you’re just looking for a gym class or two, it might be worth checking your local leisure centre or community centre. Gymnastics England has a search tool that lets you find nearby gymnastic classes and clubs, sorted by postcode.
Badminton
Badminton is a popular sport in the UK, and there are plenty of local clubs that you can join. Badminton England has an easy to use club finder tool. Entry level badminton rackets only cost around £10 to £20, and shuttlecocks are fairly inexpensive.
Boxing
Boxing is a great way to get fit, improve confidence, and there are plenty of boxing clubs around the U.K. that you can join. Just bear in mind that regular concussions, even if they’re minor, can cause long term memory problems, and other health issues.
Fencing
British Fencing has a club finder on their website. Fencing is a fun sport that combines strategy, agility and skill. It’s quite a popular sport in the U.K. and there are plenty of clubs for fencers of all ages and levels.
Judo
Judo is a martial art that’s popular around the world, and it’s also a great way to stay fit. British Judo has a club finder on their website where you can search for judo clubs near you.
Karate
Karate is a martial art that’s popular around the world, and it’s also a great way to stay fit. Dojos.co.uk has a useful page where you can find martial arts schools by entering your postcode.
Tennis
Having played tennis for many years, my main problem was bad weather. This is why, if your child wants to take this sport seriously, it makes sense to find your nearest indoor courts. Playfinder is a good website to find local tennis courts.
Wrestling
Wrestling is a great way to stay fit, and there are plenty of wrestling clubs around the U.K. that you can join. British Wrestling has a club finder on their website.
🍲 Food Hobbies
Side note: with food-related hobbies, it might be worth checking out local cooking competitions, like Create & Cook.
Experimenting with new recipes
Cooking up a storm in the kitchen is a great way to spend some quality time with your teenager. If they’re into baking, there are plenty of cookbooks and online tutorials that they can follow. Or, if they’re more into savoury dishes, you could sign them up for a cooking class at your local community centre or leisure centre.
Baking cakes & confectioneries
Baking is a great way to express creativity and have some fun in the kitchen. There are plenty of cookbooks and online tutorials that your teenager can follow to learn some new baking skills. Whether they’re into cupcakes, pastries, or something more elaborate, there are countless recipes out there to explore and try out.
Baking bread
Another popular baking hobby is making bread. There are a variety of different techniques and styles to experiment with, whether they’re into artisan loaves or more classic sandwich breads. Again, there are plenty of cookbooks and online tutorials that your teenager can follow to learn how to bake delicious, homemade bread from scratch.
Growing fruits & vegetables
If your teenager is interested in getting into gardening, why not start by growing some fruit and vegetables? This is a great way to learn about plant care and get them excited about eating healthy, homegrown produce. You can either grow things in pots on your balcony or patio, or in a small patch of garden if you have one.
🔧 Hobbies That Involve Engines & Motors
RC Car racing/ building
RC car racing and building is a fun hobby that combines mechanics, creativity, and strategy. BRCA (British Radio Car Association) has a list of clubs on their website. There are plenty of RC car racing competitions around the U.K., as well as plenty of places where you can buy the parts and materials to build your own RC cars from scratch.
RC Boat racing/ building
RC Boat racing & building is more of a niche hobby, so there aren’t as many clubs as RC car racing, but it might be worth checking the Model Power Boat Association’s website for a club.
RC Plane racing/ building
RC plane racing and building is another popular hobby that’s growing in popularity around the world. The British Model Flying Association has a club finder on their website with over 800 affiliated clubs in the U.K.
Go Karting
Teamsport is one (if not, the) U.K’s most popular go kart experience providers. Their go karts can go up to 40mph, but if that’s too slow, it might be worth checking the Motorsport UK website on how to start karting (like, proper racing karts which go up to 70mph).
