14-04-2025
‘Grandma Hobbies': High school crochet club boosts teen's mental health in Old Saybrook
OLD SAYBROOK, Conn. (WNTH) — The popularity of 'grandma hobbies' is swirling on social media, as teens are finding peace and comfort in old school activities like knitting, crocheting, baking and gardening.
A club at a local high school is tapping into the trend.
'Time kind of flies when I'm doing it and I'm more grounded,' Eva Downes, a sophomore at Old Saybrook High School, said.
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She and a few other teens are sitting, creating and chatting, all while making something with their hands.
'I learned how to knit when I was really young because my mom liked to create stuff,' Downes said.
This is the Crochet Club, started by Rose McNaughton for her senior Capstone project.
'Many of my friends knew I crocheted and would ask me to either help them learn or make them things, and then I started to realize around school how much interest around crochet there was,' she says.
It's tapping into a growing trend, seen on social media.
'Grandma hobbies' are becoming increasingly popular with the younger generation. They boost mental health and provide a needed break from constant technology.
'I think it's nice to be off my phone because I get to talk to my friends without any distractions from text messages and Snapchats,' junior Abigail Minegar said.
'It's a long-form project. It teaches patience, understanding, how to persist despite challenges,' Dr. Ryan Loss of Connecticut Behavioral Health said, who thinks participating in old-school activities – like playing board games – is more important than ever. 'I think that's exactly the conversation that should happen across all families is, 'How can we reconnect together outside of watching TV, outside of being on our phones?''
She is even advising her faculty advisor.
'I'm not a super crafty person, so it's been exciting to learn this with her and have her teach me,' says teacher Sarah Fawcett.
'Grandma hobbies' provide serenity and maybe even a little wisdom.
'It's just calming, it feels like a deep breath,' McNaughton said.
While McNaughton is graduating this spring, the club will live on, thanks to an underclassman who is taking over the leadership role.
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