Imagine standing at the other end of this year. A glance back into 2016 and what would you hope to see?
I’ve pondered on this often as I step into this new year. One yearning that stands out for me is to spend many “I’m going to treasure this forever” moments with my family.
You know, those times with your family when you laugh so hard that your side hurts. Those evenings when you dig deeper into a conversation and really get to know those you love. Those moments you thank God for choosing this family for you.
I long for more of those precious moments with my family. Setting the table and eating meals together, long car rides, reading books, and playing together.
The Benefits of Play
Among the many benefits touted by experts and studies, playtime for both children and adults stimulates creativity, relieves stress, improves thinking, and enhances social skills.
For families, playtime can be a catalyst for building relationships. Think about how children form friendships. They often happen during playtime. And isn’t that true for families? Don’t we learn about one another when we play together? Don’t we grow in our relationships in those free-spirited times?
For many of us, our lives are busy, and sometimes we forget to stop and play together as a family. So how do we step back and make a commitment to engage in more family playtime during this year?
A good place to start is to schedule family playtime on your calendar. It can be as simple as designating a day or an evening each week to participate in a fun activity together as a family.
Then come up with some ideas as a family on activities that you can do together. To help you get started on this, I’ve listed below 40 fun activities that you can do as family. (Click on the following link for a PDF file of this list: 40 Fun Family Activities.)
Finally, keep your commitment to get together as a family to play. And when you do this, embrace this wise advice:
“Rejoice with your family in the beautiful land of life!”
~Albert Einstein~
♥Question for You♥
What are your favorite activities to do as a family?
40 Family Fun Activities
#1
Park Hop
Pack a picnic and outdoor toys.
Ride bikes to nearby parks and play!
#2
Back in the Olden Days
Select a historical site in your state
and take a day trip to visit the site.
Take photos and assemble a photo album or collage.
{Optional: Do a little research about the site before your visit.
This will enhance the experience.}
#3 to #6
Dinner and a Movie Night
Themes: Pirates, The Great Outdoors, Disney/Pixar, Asian
Choose one of these themes for each family fun night.
Using the theme, make dinner together and enjoy a movie.
#7
Keep It Simple Camping Trip
Go on an overnight camping trip. Pack light.
Keep food prep and camp set up simple.
Enjoy your time together in the outdoors.
#8
Admire the Arts
Go to a free play or concert or art show.
#9
We Can Build It
Build something together.
#10
Armchair Traveler
Choose a country your family wants to learn more about.
Make a meal from that country, check out library books
about the country, and watch a documentary together.
{Optional: Spend the week praying together
for the people of that country.}
#11
Shoot Hoops
Play basketball together at an inside or outside court.
Then watch a basketball movie together.
{Optional: Change out the sport to one your family
would enjoy or has never played.}
#12
Serve
Participate in a service project together
that benefits your community.
#13
Trail Trot
Go for a hike or a walk on a nature trail.
Stop at a bench or log and take a few moments
to take in God’s beauty.
Draw a picture or snap some photos.
Enjoy the moment!
#14
Vintage Fun
Play old-fashioned outdoor games together.
This can include sack races, hopscotch,
three-legged races, four square, and more.
#15
Be Neighborly!
Do something special for your neighbors.
#16
Puzzle Pizzazz
Put a thousand piece puzzle together.
This may take several days, but work together.
#17
Green Thumbs
Plant an herb garden together.
The garden can be in pots.
Talk about how you will care for it
and the ways you’ll use the herbs.
#18
Have a Ball!
Go bowling together or play a round or two of miniature golf.
#19
Game Night Marathon
See how many board and card games
you can play as a family in one evening.
#20
Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!
Visit a zoo, aquarium, butterfly pavilion,
or wildlife refuge together.
#21
Delight in Your Downtown
Spend an afternoon or evening in your city’s downtown area.
Set a budget of $10 to $15 per person.
If available, take a bus to downtown. Sightsee!
#22
Pedal Power
Go for a family bike ride in your community.
If you’d like, pack a picnic to enjoy on the bike route.
#23
Buy Local!
Visit a farmer’s market or a local farm as a family.
Buy food from the market
and prepare a farm-to-table meal together.
Enjoy your local community’s fresh flavors!
#24
Outdoor Treasures
Go for a hike in a national or state park or monument.
Pack lunch and enjoy a picnic on the hike.
#25
Movie Marathon Weekend
As a family, select a movie genre or series to watch together
over a weekend (preferably a snowy or rainy weekend :0).
Make plenty of popcorn.
#26
Campfires & Smores
Go on a camping outing to a campground
your family has never visited.
Don’t forget the smores!
#27
Playtime!
Build a fort together. Use large boxes
or scrap pieces of wood outside
or sheets, pillows, chairs, and tables inside.
#28
School Spirit
Go to a local high school sporting event.
Cheer for your community’s team.
#29
Big Fish Tales
Go fishing at a pond, lake, or stream near your home
or in the mountains or wilderness.
#30
Fun at the Fair
Go to your county or state fair.
#31
Windy Wonders
Fly kites.
#32
Be an Artist
Draw pictures of each other.
Share at least three things you appreciate about each other.
Hang the pictures in your home.
#33
Marching Bands, Floats, and Plenty of Horses
Watch a parade.
#34
Bootcamp!
Go to a park with an obstacle course
or build one in your backyard.
Take turns going through the course and time each other.
#35
Under the Stars
Watch a free outdoor movie together
or find a spot outside of the city to stargaze.
#36
Snow! Snow! Snow!
Go sledding or build a snowman together.
#37
Be a tourist
Choose a town in your state that you have either never visited
or haven’t visited in a while.
Take a day trip to that town and be a tourist.
#38
New Game
Learn the rules to a game your family has never played
(e.g., tennis or pickleball).
Then play the game together.
#39
Water Fun
Gather up your squirt guns and water balloons
and have a water gun fight.
#40
Chalk Art
Draw a mural on your driveway with sidewalk chalk.
Don’t forget to take a picture of it.
