To have “childish” hobbies?

[Littleanchor]

I am 32 and I still play the sims occasionally and I love to colour. I have an assortment of different colouring pens and books and find it very relaxing to switch my mind off and do some colouring. Is this really pathetic?

They’re not my only hobbies. I also like to swim and read and go to shows and concerts, and we don’t have children so spend a lot of weekends exploring new places etc. but I almost feel ashamed of playing computer games and colouring in… my friends and colleagues are at home raising children and I’m sat colouring haha. Does anyone else have hobbies or interests that would be perceived as childish?

Anyone that judges and ridicules someone else for the hobbies they do is likely a massive saddo with a huge stick up their arse who wants everyone to be as miserable as they are so I wouldn’t pay any lip service to them and their fun sponging.

I'm 37 and still have some of the same hobbies I had 25 years ago - reading fanfiction, listening to angsty guitar music and rollerskating (plus others of course).

I find it really weird how some hobbies are seen as completely normal and mature, whereas others are nerdy/childish, but there's really not much in them! Why is dressing up in a special outfit to support your football team normal, but cosplay weird? Why would colouring books be childish but 'normal' painting or drawing a standard hobby or even a career? Why is chess a serious, intellectual game but playing d&d or werewolf nerdy?

Probably the only thing I'd really judge a person for (rather than thinking 'that's really not my cup of team but whatever floats your boat!) is someone who doesn't have any hobbies or interests at all!

Came here to say that.

Adult colouring books are hugely popular because colouring isn’t just for children and is very relaxing.

Also, the Sims is great. I’m in my 40s and remember the very first edition.

Thanks everyone! I am loving hearing about what everyone is into. Glad to see some others who also like the sims 😆

I'm really into little sticker books of 3d room scenes at the moment. I find them so relaxing. I gave up smoking last year and needed stuff I could do sitting on the sofa in the evenings, to keep me distracted and my hands busy! I also got into embroidery.

I also like colouring, jigsaws, lego, diamond painting etc. I didnt have any of that stuff as a kid. Some because it didnt exist then but also we were very poor.

I really don't care what other people think. As long as I'm having fun!

Ive just spent 3 hours gaming on my pc playing coral island. Sod what anyone else thinks!

I like colour by numbers & dot to dot books. I don't think it's a new thing. My nan had her own set of books & pens when we were kids, 50 years ago!

I paint toy soldiers OP - go for it!

Me too Harry Potter Lego mainly. I started with Brickheads before progressing to Harry Potter. I was gifted some of the Botanical range and Tweedy Pie for Valentines gift.

I love Our Generation dolls and make stuff for them.

I also have a secret weakness for teen werewolf romance.

I started playing The Sims again last year aged 33! It has lead me onto finding some really fun indie games to play now and then. It doesn't take away from my day to day responsibilities, so why not?

I don’t know about hobbies but I kidnapped a Jellycat rabbit from my son’s house the other day and have spent the last few days sending pictures and videos of his antics . I currently have my adult daughter creating / colouring him a snowboard out of cardboard for this afternoons video . Tomorrow he’s going to play rugby . I don’t think playing online games is childish and colouring has become quite popular . We all do Lego here and I love a 1000 piece jigsaw

If you fancy playing older games on new computers. Gog.com sells them already configured to play. They might not be updated but they are still playable

I like playing computer games too. Puzzle games rather than stuff like the Sims though.

I'm 50, play PS5 and I now have to get a second shelf put up, because my first Lego shelf is full.

I also hold a very responsible and grown up job, in a senior position.

We can do fun things and embrace our inner child, and this be a very mentally healthy thing to do, whilst still also upholding our adult responsibilities in other areas of our life.

I love gaming, I play my Switch then at around 7pm meet up in vr with a bunch of adults from around the world and play a game called Population One which is the same as Fortnight.
We put on our headsets, get into a virtual pod, fly down from high in the sky, grab guns and work as a team to eliminate the other one, it's great fun!

It's a great social activity from the comfort of my sofa.

My best mate (31) bought a gaming laptop specifically for the Sims 😂 You like what you like

I am spending my day off playing the alters on Xbox. At over 50!

Like any hobby, as long as it’s not impacting the things that need to be done then crack on. I think the reason things like gaming get labelled as childish is because of the subset of gamers who prioritise gaming over adult responsibilities (you see it in so many threads on here, where the DP finishes work and immediately starts gaming, doing nothing around the house or for the family) and it’s become a stereotype.

I work 2 jobs, 7 days a week. If I want to do something, I bloody well do it. My reasoning is that I work damn hard, don't have much time for myself between work and kids so if I want to spend a couple of hours putting hair chalk in our ponies mane or playing pokemon on the switch, I defy anyone to stop me.

Gaming is only childish if a man does it.

I am 46 and I love playing Super Mario and Animal Crossing

I love playing with the children’s Lego
(I’m 45)

I've played animal crossing new horizons for over 1000 hours. I game with my son we both have switches. I don't care if it's childish because it makes me happy and unwinds me

I love colouring in - did you try the Coco Wyo colouring books and alcohol markers yet? There’s a Tik Tok deep dive treasure trove of inspo.

I also knit and crochet and do jigsaw puzzles and I’m also 32!