By Christa Protano
You may think you’re too old for certain hobbies — or too young to pick up a specific craft — but ladies, the Internet is telling us otherwise. And at Thunder Bay Press, we are here for it. The beginning of 2025 has come with more than it’s fair share of mentally challenging moments, but it has also shed light on a growing movement to deal with modern-day stressors, triggers, and anxiety. Dubbed “granny hobbies” and “kidulting,” these low-key pastimes are very much of the moment. Think embroidery, rock painting, coloring, playing with stickers and the like. They are activities we may have forgotten or dismissed based on our age, but they are very much the latest forms of self-care.
If you want to try to add one of these activities to your everyday routine, you’ve come to the right place. Thunder Bay Press has a variety of granny hobby options and ways to “kidult” geared toward Millennials and Gen Xers. No doily making, tomfoolery, or doomscrolling here. Many of these crafts and puzzles feature the pop culture icons you’ve grown up with — Bob Ross, Barbie, Gilmore Girls, Harry Potter — and you can revisit them without ever having to log into a streaming service. Here are a few of our favorite new ways to reset and unwind.
Embroidery, Crochet, & Cross-Stitch
The trifecta of the granny hobbies, these three traditional forms of needlework caught on during the early days of the pandemic and have become mainstays on the adult activity circuit five years later. But not just for seniors, young people are picking up needle and thread to try their hand at embroidery, crochet, and even cross-stitch. These “cozy” hobbies, as Good Housekeeping calls them, can boost one’s self-esteem and overall good vibes as you try to learn a new skill or work out a difficult pattern. To appeal to newbie crafters, today’s kits are low-cost and come with easy-to-follow instructions and craft supplies all in one box.
Find embroidery, crochet, and cross-stitch kits here.
Coloring, Stickers, Puzzles, & More
Remember all those coloring and activity books your mom used to give you to keep you entertained? Well they are back and are being curated with your age group mind. While adult coloring has been around for some time, the newest coloring books include detailed illustrations of popular stars like Taylor Swift, Chappell Roan, and Barbie & Ken. Likewise, you can now find word search books featuring the Dunder Mifflin crew and Dungeons & Dragons sticker puzzles. According to an article publishing in Well + Good, doing the hobbies that you once enjoyed as a kid (aka “kidulting”) lowers stress levels by invoking a sense of nostalgia, feelings of hope, and helping us to think more clearly in the long run.
Click here for adult coloring books, word search, and sticker puzzles.
Rock Painting, Color-by-Number, & Water Colors
When I was younger, my artistic creativity was endless. But somewhere along the way, I’ve forgotten how to draw even the most basic things. Thankfully, there are art kits that take the guesswork out of creating little masterpieces. Whether it’s rock painting or coloring-by-number, I don’t have to worry if I have the skills to make something beautiful thanks to the color keys, step-by-step instructions, stencils, and more. Another granny hobby we’re loving? Painting with water. This type of medium lets the user create something magical and enjoy it long after, without having to clean up a mess. All you need is a small paintbrush and a little H2O. And, of course, there are plenty of familiar faces to choose from, such as Bob Ross, Disney faves, and Tim Burton’s Jack Skellington & friends.
Take your pick from Rock Painting, Color-by-Number, & Paint with Water titles here.