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So-called “grandma hobbies” have seen a huge boom among younger generations this past year. In today’s hyper-digital age, there’s been an increasing shift towards “analog wellness” (a term coined by the Global Wellness Institute, which means essentially pre-tech hobbies and experiences) with surging interest in screen-free, hands-on activities like knitting, crocheting, embroidery, baking, gardening, bird-watching and scrapbooking.
If you’re thinking “Geez, these are things my grandmother did — not me,” you’re right. Many Gen Xers and Baby Boomers are also freshly rediscovering these hobbies that their own grandmothers once enjoyed. But there’s a benefit for people of all ages to pick up these slow-paced hobbies — and a great opportunity for grandparents to learn and enjoy a new “granny hobby” alongside their grandkids.
Why is everyone returning to “grandma hobbies?”
As is the case with so many things that trend among Gen Z and Gen Alpha today, we can probably credit Taylor Swift with some of the resurgence of these crafty hobbies. From fans making and trading beaded friendship bracelets at her shows to her admitting her passion for the “granny” hobby of sourdough baking on her fiancé’s podcast, younger generations have begun to refer to their embrace of these activities as “being in your granny era,” a la Ms. Swift’s own growing list of distinctive personal eras.
The trend of following a slow-paced, cozy lifestyle and engaging in these equally cozy hobbies has also gone viral on social media — although the irony of this low-tech trend being spread via the internet is not lost on us.
Still, there’s definitely a multigenerational appeal of these “grandma hobbies” that offer stress relief and the joy of creating something tangible with your own hands. It’s fostering connection among Boomer and Gen X grandmas, millennial moms, and Gen Z and Gen Alpha grandkids all the same. As it harkens back to a time when we weren’t constantly bombarded by screens — like your own childhood in the ’70s and ’80s — it can help deepen family connections via common pastimes and passed-down skills, and help everyone to focus on the present moment. Learning a new skill and engaging in these hobbies can even lead to better mental health and boosts in self-confidence, problem-solving, focus and cognition.
To help you kindle kids’ interest in these activities, we gathered a selection of giftable “granny hobby” essentials that are perfect for beginners. Whether they’re little kids or young teens, these productive and creative activities help calm the brain and encourage them to wind down from their daily stresses — even (or especially) if they just scrolled TikTok all day.
11 Gifts for Kids Inspired by “Granny Hobbies”
STMT D.I.Y. Dreamers Become Doers Journaling Set
Scrapbooking and its casual cousin “junk journaling” offer a fun opportunity to reflect on both big and small moments. This kit includes a spiral-bound book with blank pages, pretty papers and stickers, a glue stick, washi tape and lots more so she can make it her own. Pair it with an instant-print camera to start making, capturing and sharing memories together right away.
The Woobles Crochet Kit for Beginners
Crochet is a great entry point for yarn arts, and The Woobles kits have earned quite the reputation for helping newbies (ages 12 and up) learn the craft. They include everything needed to jump right in: a hook, needle, pre-started yarn and easy-to-follow tutorials. It even comes with eyes and stuffing to bring the adorable little creatures to life. Choose from several designs — like a penguin, lion, bunny or dinosaur — to match their favorite animal.
Cross Stitch Kits for Beginners
Needlework is a classic “granny hobby” and cross-stitch is probably the easiest form to learn. This kid-friendly kit makes it easy to get started, including hoops, pre-printed canvases, kid-safe needles, high-quality thread and step-by-step instructions that are easy to follow for ages 8 and up. It also includes keychain clips to turn their craft into the most adorable backpack charms to show off at school. Choose from different sets, such as dogs, cats, superheroes and more.
Unicorn Baking Set
Young bakers will love making fantastically tasty treats with this 19-piece set that includes a unicorn-shaped cupcake tray, cookie cutters, a spatula and recipes. It also comes with frosting bags and tips to take their food decorating skills to the next level. If they’re looking to expand their horizons further, you can even pair this kit with “The Complete Baking Book for Young Chefs” by America’s Test Kitchen — filled with sweet and savory recipes, and insightful commentary from fellow youngins.
The Slow Birding Journal: A Field Diary for Watching Birds
Dedicated birders often travel far and wide to spot avian species with their own eyes, but evolutionary biologist Joan Strassmann advocates for a slower-paced, more approachable mindset. This journal offers lots of opportunity for guided observance and reflection of the birds in one’s own backyard — and it’s a birding philosophy that’s perfect for newbies of all ages. Inside, she provides advice for spotting birds alongside detailed illustrations, and thoughtful prompts with blank space to record (and even draw) their sightings. Pair it with some kid-sized binoculars so they can get started right away.
Studiostone Creative Soapstone Carving Kit
This may be more of a traditional “grandpa hobby,” but this soapstone carving kit is such a fun, kid-friendly introduction to whittling — no wood-carving knife needed. It contains all the tools needed to create two cute, lifelike sculptures, including pre-cut sandstone shapes, a kid-safe carving file, sandpaper, polishing wax, a buffing cloth and step-by-step instructions.
Learn to Watercolor: 20 Step-by-Step Beginner-Friendly Lessons
This book includes 20 gorgeous watercolor paintings and detailed (but easy-to-follow) instructions to recreate them in the accompanying pad. It’ll tell them which tools to use, the color palettes to prepare and which pages to flip to for more in-depth techniques to enhance their skills. The watercolor pad is pre-printed with sketches, so they can jump right into painting and perfecting their technique without having to draw anything themselves. Go ahead and throw in a set of watercolor paints to complete the gift.
National Geographic Flower & Herb Gardening Kit for Kids
Gardening is probably one of the most enduring “granny hobbies” to span the generations, and this adorable gardening kit helps kids get started as young as 6 years old. It comes with three flower pots, peat pellets, a shovel and seed packets to grow cosmos, nasturtium and basil. There’s also some artsy stuff to decorate the pots, and an illustrated learning guide full of botanical facts and opportunities to track progress as the plants grow.
Creative Flower Press Kit for Kids
Whether grown by their own hand or plucked from the wild, pressing flowers is such a fun, kid-friendly hobby that combines an appreciation for both nature and art. This kit includes multiple layers of absorbing cardboard and wooden press plates to dry lots of flowers in as little as 24 hours. It also comes with frames, bookmarks, ribbons and craft glue to turn the pressed flowers into displayable or functional art.
Pickleball Paddles, Set of 2
If your grandkids are a little older, perhaps it’s time to introduce them to a “granny hobby” that you may have already dabbled in yourself: pickleball. While the low-impact, easy-to-learn sport skyrocketed to popularity thanks to the 50+ crowd, everybody’s playing it now — and this fun beginner’s set is all they need to get started. It includes two pickleball rackets, four balls and a stylish carry bag to store it all. Pick from lots of racket and bag designs to match their style.
jackinthebox Poke Poke Art
Poke art is somewhat reminiscent of latch hook or rug hooking, but it’s even easier and safer for little kids to enjoy. Simply poke squares of fabric into small holes in a foam board to create soft, 3D pieces of art. These kits include pre-cut fabric squares, six pre-punched foam boards, kid-safe poke-in sticks, a poke-in pad and instructions to bring the designs to life. Pick from several themes like dinosaurs, candy, ocean life and outer space.
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