PSA: It Might Be Time to Try an Analog Hobby With Your Child

Posted that 2016 vs 2026 photo montage yet?

In case you missed it, 2026 arrived with a barrage of content reminiscent of the past. Of course, we still saw the usual new year resolution posts. But taken as a whole, nostalgia feels like the general vibe.

And it’s not just limited to social media. Digital cameras are everywhere—the kind that take  grainy photos that are too bright or too dark, just like they did years ago (and still do to this day). Photobooths now look like the 1x1 photo stalls once found outside department stores. And every teen, including their mama, has rediscovered hobo bags and even kili-kili bags—those small, rectangular bags that nestle right under your arm, hence the name.

Beyond the warm, familiar feelings, the nostalgia trend has sparked another obsession: the analog lifestyle, often referred to online as “analog core.”

Analog lifestyle is defined “as an effort to slow down and find tangible ways to complete daily tasks and find entertainment.” At its core, It’s about intentionally stepping away from digital devices and screens and reconnecting with physical, hands-on experiences.

Analog core leans into the idea that not everything needs to be optimized, recorded, or shared online. It values texture, process, and presence—doing things with your hands, paying attention to small details, and allowing yourself to move at a slower pace. Whether it’s writing on paper, crafting something imperfect, or playing a game without notifications interrupting you, the goal is to be more engaged with the moment and the people around you.

For parents, this movement feels especially relevant. Screens are everywhere, and kids are growing up surrounded by them. So if you’re looking for ways to gently peel your children away from devices, analog hobbies can be a good place to start.

Yes, playing on the Nintendo Switch or Xbox with your kids is fun. But there’s something different about sitting down as a family—or even just a parent-child pair—and playing old-school board games.

Snakes and ladders and Uno work well for younger kids, Scrabble and Monopoly are great for bigger kids, while Chess or Backgammon can challenge older ones. You can also explore more modern board games from toy stores for inspiration. Our family, for example, loves memory games and games that involve balancing penguins on top of “ice cubes.”

Board games encourage strategy, patience, and concentration. More importantly, they create space for conversation and shared laughter, without screens pulling attention away.

Reading today requires conscious effort, especially with all the screens and activities  competing for kids’ and our attention. Carving out dedicated family reading time helps normalize reading as part of everyday life.

Let kids choose books they like. With younger children, you can read side by side, helping them sound out difficult words and understand the story. With older kids, “reading together” might mean choosing the same book, reading at your own pace, and talking about it afterward. Regular check-ins about what they’re reading and how they feel about it can also make reading feel more interactive and less like homework.

Specifically, so-called “grandma hobbies” like embroidery or crochet. These have made a strong comeback, especially among younger people who enjoy crochet both as a creative outley and for the finished pieces—amigurumi, flower bouquets, and various anik-anik.

If you need help with your crochet skills, the internet has plenty of tutorials and downloadable patterns. Just make sure to check them out beforehand so your actual crafting time with your child can be screen-free.

Embroidery is another good option, especially if you choose more playful, modern projects. Dainty embroidery on shirts, jeans, jackets, or tote bags often feels more appealing than traditional pillowcases or table runners, especially for kids and teens.

Painting-by-numbers kits gained popularity a few years back. Each box usually includes a canvas, paints, and a paintbrush, along with a promise that even beginners can complete a “masterpiece.” While the trend may have cooled slightly, these kits are still easy top find online and in mall stores.

The concept is simple: the canvas has pre-printed sections, each marked with a number that corresponds to a paint color. All you have to do is fill in the sections until the painting is complete. It’s a relaxing activity that encourages you and your child to slow down and focus. It requires concentration but still leaves room for easy conversation, making it ideal for bigger kids who are curious about art and who might not be as open or chatty like when they were younger.

If you love whipping up sweet treats and your child loves eating them, baking together is an easy analog hobby to try. It’s a screen-free activity that also teaches practical, real-life skills.

If you’re both beginners, start simple. No-bake freezer or float cakes, no-bake cookie dough bars, three-ingredient cookies, or basic muffins are viable options. Baking also teaches kids patience, measurement, and following instruction—plus, you get something delicious at the end.

Most parents today have hundreds (if not thousands) of family photos saved on their phones. Very few, however, still print them out and carefully place them into photo albums—the kind that used to be staples in every 90’s family home.

Scrapbooking can hit two birds with one stone. It gives you and your child time away from screens while helping you clear digital storage and preserve memories in a tangible, creative way. You can include other mementos too, like movie ticket stubs, photobooth printouts, or doodled pages. This activity works well for both younger and older kids, since it can be as simple or detailed as you want.

In case you missed it, Lego has released sets specifically designed for adults. These include  pop culture characters and scenes, art and design pieces, music-related builds, travel and history themes, vehicles, science and tech, nature, and even games. In short, if you’re passionate about something, there’s probably a Lego version of it now.

If you enjoyed building Lego as a kid—or alongside your child—this is your reminder to revisit it. You can build one set together or each work on your own. Lego boosts cognitive development, encourages creativity, and can even be therapeutic. While it requires focus, it still allows for conversation, making it another great shared analog activity.

With gadgets and screens constantly competing for our attention, sometimes stepping away requires intentional effort. This is especially true when studies continue to highlight the risks associated with excessive screen time and social media use for kids.

Analog-core hobbies won’t eliminate screens entirely, and they don’t have to. What they do offer is balance. They create moments of presence, shared focus, and connection—small pockets of time where you and your child can slow down together.

So whether it’s a board game on a Sunday afternoon or a scrapbook slowly coming together over weeks, good luck finding your own version of analog core with your child.

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