Fun Things to Do As a Family
Time with our kids is tricky. We all want to spend as much quality time with them as possible, but doing it in a meaningful manner can seem like a lot of work.
The fact is, if you create a plan for it, you can make it happen. If not, life flies by sitting on the couch.
Below is a list of things you can do with your kids—ideas for weekdays and weekends.
Within the list below, you’ll find things that cost money and some that don’t. You’ll find ideas that take a lot of time and others that you can do quickly. It isn’t a comprehensive list, but it’s a good start.
Farm Visit
Locally, my family goes to Cox Farms every Fall. It’s incredible.
They have farm animals, slides, hay rides, cider, donuts, affordable food (believe it or not), a market, and so much more. They do it up right. Honestly, I don’t know who looks forward to it more every year: the kids or me.
This year we also visited Great Country Farms for the first time, which was awesome. You can spend the whole day at these places. A simple search will help you find local farms in your area.
Apple Picking
I went apple-picking with my kids for the first time last week (Great Country Farms). It was a ton of fun, but it doesn’t take much time to get all the apples you can handle. Before we knew it, our apple crate was full.
The kids had so much fun, so I bought another larger container. I knew that we didn’t need all those apples. We couldn’t even use them if we tried.
With the kids, we devised the plan to take the apples home and deliver them to neighbors. We loaded the apples into a cooler with wheels when we got home and began delivering. It made the whole experience that much better.
Pumpkin Picking
My family hasn’t done this yet, but it sounds like an excellent time. I plan on returning to the same farm we picked apples from to do some pumpkin picking in the coming weeks.
Hiking
Day Hikes
There’s nothing better than spending time with the kids and doing it in a way that provides some physical activity. Hiking is easy because it’s free and requires no special equipment.
Sure, you can buy stuff to make your longer hikes more enjoyable, but you can get by with sneakers and a bottle of water for the short walks. While you’re there, there’s nothing to do but talk. It’s a great way to connect with your family.
Overnight Hikes
This one is a little more intense than a day hike. Overnight hikes require some equipment, education, and commitment.
- Personal Shelter (Tent, Hammock)
- Backpack
- Sleeping Bag
- Sleeping Pad
- Map
- Water Bottles
- First Aid Kit
- Water Treatment System
- Lighter / Waterproof Matches
- Headlamp
- Towel
- Toiletries
- Hiking Boots
- Proper Hiking Clothes and Layers
- Rain Jacket
- Camp Shoes
- Knife
- Food
- Cooking Utensils
- Cutlery
- This list isn’t all-encompassing but gives you a good idea of where to start.
Camping
Backyard Camping
This is great for the newbies. I attempted a night in our backyard with my son when he was about 3.5 years old. It lasted about 20 minutes before he wanted to go inside to his bed. Had we been out in the woods in the dark, packing up and coming home could’ve been interesting.
Car Camping
This is a great next step after backyard camping. Car Camping is where you pull up next to your campsite. You have a space for your tents to be set up and a firepit ready to get a fire going. This camping style is much easier because you can bring all your creature comforts—the blow-up mattress, coolers full of food and drinks, Bluetooth speaker, etc.
Car camping is an excellent option for first-timers or people who don’t like the idea of roughing it.
Backpack Camping
This camping style requires a minimalist approach because you’re carrying everything you’ll need in your backpack. Backpack camping takes much more practice, skill, and generally different equipment than car camping.
It also takes a different mindset because you don’t have all your creature comforts.
Sports
Baseball
Depending on the size of your yard and your child’s skill level, it can be done in your backyard or local park. I love taking my son to the local field and throwing batting practice to him.
Soccer
Same as baseball. Depending on age and skill level, you can kick the ball around or run drills.
Basketball
My son is six, so I bought a mini hoop for our driveway. It’s been a great way to introduce him to the game. Yesterday, he said, “Dad, can we go outside and shoot some hoops?” That’s why we have it!
There are a ton of other sports, but you get the idea. With most sports, you can buy limited equipment and use local parks.
Ride Bikes
Neighborhood
There’s nothing wrong with an evening bike ride around the area to work off dinner. It’s a great way to promote physical activity and stay active with the family.
Off Road
There are many free mountain biking trails in my area. It requires a little more physical endurance, but you can take it at your own pace.
Downhill
This is supposed to be a ton of fun. I still haven’t done it yet. My area has a ski resort that has downhill biking in the summer. The lift takes you up, and you charge down the mountain, hitting or dodging jumps. They even rent bikes and protective gear.
Model Rockets & Cars
Model Rocket
I’ve never been a model guy. However, I’m tired of all the junk toys lying around the house, so I bought my son a model rocket for his sixth birthday. I figured it would be fun to assemble and launch the rocket together.
Well, I put the rocket together myself. So that part didn’t work, but my kids still enjoyed watching me do it. Then I realized I glued something wrong, so I bought another one and, yep…put it together myself again. I’m excited to get both kids out to a field for launch day.
Model Car
We haven’t done this yet, but my son seems interested in cars, so I plan to give it a shot sometime this year. Most cars are rated for older aged kids. After the rocket experiment, I’m in no rush.
Puzzles
Little Puzzle
My kids love puzzles. My daughter and I put together the United States of America puzzle yesterday. It’s a great learning tool and a great way to spend time with them.
Big Puzzle
My kids are a little too young for this yet. However, my wife and I have done this before. Having a giant puzzle on the kitchen table or somewhere you can keep for a while is fun. Try to fill a few more pieces whenever you walk by or have some time.
My brother-in-law got my wife a Golden Girls puzzle a few years back. It’s the freaking Golden Girls. A puzzle piece to all of our home-from-school sick days as kids.
Gravely Point
Next to Reagan National Airport, this is a great place where you can watch the planes land and take off. There’s a parking lot and a large field where you can have a picnic and play games. It’s great for younger kids. I would imagine that they have something like this next to many airports.
Art Projects
Walk into Michaels, and your mind will be blown. If you’re creative, this place is no secret to you. If you’re not, maybe your kids are. Start some art projects and see where it goes.
- Paint rocks
- Finger Paint
- Water Colors
- Coloring
- Halloween Decorations
- Christmas Decorations
- Photo Albums
- Holiday Cards
- Thank You Cards
- I had two cornhole boards that were blank wood. I also have two kids who love to paint. Enter a few cans of spray paint, and we have a great time and fun cornhole boards.
Farmer’s Market
Farmer’s markets are a great place to do weekend shopping. It’s usually local farmers, so you get a chance to support them and pick up some fresh produce. They also generally have other local food and art vendors with great products. It beats the bland grocery store which you usually go to by yourself.
Cook
Not everyone’s a good cook, but you gotta eat. It could be as simple as boxed brownies from the store or being a real baker with some homemade cookies. Maybe you’re making a new creative dish or passing down a family recipe. What you make doesn’t matter. It just matters that you’re doing it together.
Clean the House
If you can make it into a game, great. My sister and I had competitions on who could clean their room better. It didn’t happen often, but my mom somehow got us to do it every now and then. Make it a requirement before you can do another fun activity.
Build a Fort
Some of my greatest memories come from building forts—both outside and inside. If you have the space to make one in the forest, that’s awesome. If not, grab some blankets, pillows, and whatever else you can find and start building in the living room. I remember a fort we made in my friend’s basement when I was seven. It seemed like a castle. Far from it, but at that age, it seemed like it.
Go to the Pool
If you have a pool in your neighborhood, take advantage of it. It’s an easy way to get out and enjoy the weather.
Museums & Monuments
I live across the bridge from Washington, DC, so many museums and monuments are within striking distance. They are fun, free, and very educational. Some of my favorites are listed below.
- Natural History
- American History
- Air and Space
- Washington Monument
- Lincoln Memorial
- Jefferson Memorial
Fishing
Fishing is like any hobby. You can do it reasonably inexpensively or get deep into it and spend a fortune.
Local Lake
The lake by me has paddle boats you can rent. That alone makes it fun for the kids.
River
Offshore
This is more expensive but very fun. You can stay close to shore to troll for fish or go further out for the big boys. Both are memorable experiences. I know a guy that takes people out for Rockfish (I’m sure other fishing as well) and then steams up a bushel of crabs on the boat. So, at the end of the fishing trip, you’re eating crabs on the water. It doesn’t get much better than that.
Game Night
This is old-school fun for all ages. There are a million games out there today, but below are some classics. My family used to play 500 Rummy all the time. I also remember playing Monopoly with my grandmother whenever I stayed with her.
Heck, I still remember the first time I saw the Monopoly game. I’m a realtor, and Monopoly has always been my favorite board game. Go figure. Four greens, then a Red! My motto as an investor to this day.
- Monopoly
- Cards
- Candyland
- Jenga
- Risk
- Clue
Neighborhood Walk
Same as the bike rides. Get out after dinner and take a walk around the neighborhood as a family. It doesn’t get any easier than that.
Movie Night or Movie Marathon
Who doesn’t love a good movie? I wish more “good” movies were coming out these days. Pull from the classics if there’s nothing new on one of your streaming options. Run back an 80’s movie marathon. Introduce the family to some of the “classics.”
Wash the Cars
I know, this sounds about as fun as the cleaning the house option. I don’t know how she did it, but my mom used to have my sister, and I wash the car every weekend. It felt like it, anyway.
In reality, it was probably more like two or three times. Either way, I have memories of waxing my mom’s 1987 Ford Tempo in the driveway on Taunton Dr. in York, PA.
Create a Time Capsule
This is an excellent time to put it together and a good time again when you open it. The longer you wait, the more fun it is. My family did our first one this year and set the open date for 20 years. Now it just sits in the attic and waits.
- Photos
- Letter to yourself
- Prices of things
- Technology
- Newspaper
- Magazine
- What do you think the future will look like in 5,10,15,20 years?
- What your favorite song is.
- What are the current fashions?
- There are many more things that you can put in the capsule. Have fun with it!
Play Video Games
I’m not saying you should spend your days playing video games, but it can be fun and a good bonding time. My son and I love to play Mario Kart or Sonic on Nintendo Switch and Xbox.
Miniature Golf
I don’t know why but I’ve always related miniature golf with beach vacations. However, several are in my town, and my kids love playing.
Science Projects
There are all kinds of different science experiments that you can do. There are prepackaged kits that you can buy or look up individual experiments online. These are great learning experiences for the whole family.
Bowling
I don’t know when bowling got so expensive, but it’s turned into a big night out. However, it’s extremely fun. You have bowling that works for all ages, and most bowling alleys have some arcade section. I know Bowlero has a great setup.
Laser Tag / Paintball
Both of these are extremely fun. Laser tag is a good option for those who think paintball is too intense. We had my son’s sixth birthday party at a laser tag location, which was awesome. The kids and the parents had a great time.
Ice Skating / Roller SkatingAdd Your Heading Text Here
Alright, everybody, next up, we have couples skaaaattttee!!! Ok, no couple’s skates with the family, but wow, a throwback to third-grade rolling skating rink parties. Those were awesome. How about the races? Insert, “Another One Bites the Dust.” Either of these options is excellent for a family event.
Sporting Event
This is another one that can add up in price, but it’s a great time. My family is lucky to be close to the Washington Nationals, Capitals, DC United, Washington Commanders, and the Washington Wizards. All great events.
Concert
Your whole family might like the same music. Great! If not, suck it up and enjoy a concert with the music they like. It’s about being together. I still remember my first concert. It was Metallica at Merriweather Post Pavilion. My mom had no interest in Metallica, but she was there. Good times!
Garden
Get outside and enjoy life! It doesn’t have to be a big garden. It can be something as simple as one tomato plant in a pot. Create something together and watch it grow. Or kill it and laugh at how you suck at gardening.
Collect Seashells
I’ve never cared about collecting seashells, but my kids love doing it. So, we do it. My stepdad also collects shark teeth on the beach, which is fun. The kids love looking for them, and we make a big deal about what we find. You can take it a step further and research what sharks they’re from and how old the teeth may be. Again, a great learning experience.
Take this list and add to it. Once you have the list, add it to the calendar. “He who fails to plan, plans to fail.” Wherever you add it on the calendar, add multiple events. As you get closer to those dates, you can solidify what you will do.
If it’s not on my calendar, it’s not happening. That’s everything. I won’t be showing up if I have a meeting and didn’t put it on my calendar. If it’s someone’s birthday and it’s not on my calendar, I won’t remember.
My mind is in a thousand places at once. My calendar controls my schedule. Put it on the calendar and make it happen.
As time goes on, make notes of things that worked and didn’t work. Something that you would change for next time. Keep adding to this list.
It’s not that we don’t want to do these things and live these extraordinary lives. The problem is life gets in the way. We’re too tired to plan and execute.
It’s easier to let the kids play on their iPad or watch tv. But neither of those things creates memories, and they’re not lives worth living. Plan ahead of time and figure it out as you go.
Get out there and be somebody!
