With today’s hectic life we spend less and less time together as a family. Most families are having a hard time making ends meet, but there are many activities they can do that won’t dent the budget. Here are a few just to get you going.
1. Play a favorite game or board game.
2. Pop some popcorn and watch a movie or DVD.
3. Make some cookies from scratch.
4. Watch a home movie/DVD or look at family photos.
5. Play a fun game outside.
6. Make an obstacle course and see who can get through it the fastest.
7. Make up a board game on poster board and play it.
8. Play a video or computer game and have teams.
9. Make something as a family (craft, toy, bird house, garden, etc.)
10. Rake the leaves into a pile from your yard and jump into it.
11. Ride bikes or go for a hike.
12. Go fly a kite.
13. Read a book or a Bible story together.
14. Plan and cook a dinner together to eat as a family.
15. Go camping (you can even do it in the back yard).
16. Make ice cream the old fashioned way.
17. Go pick berries, apples, oranges, etc.
18. Go fishing.
19. Make a calendar using family pictures to give to relatives.
20. Go to the park.
21. Do a family life blog. Fill it with family news, musing, tips, etc.
22. Volunteering for community service together as a family is a wonderful way of creating a special bond and lasting memories for families.
23. Walk the dog together.
24. Do a Scavenger Hunt or Treasure Hunt. Scavenger Hunt- Make a list of things to find. Divide the family into teams. Set a time to find as many things as possible on the list. The team with the most items from the list at the end of that time wins. Treasure Hunt- Plan a Treasure Hunt for the family by hiding something and making a map that everyone must work together to find it.
25. Make your own putt-putt course and play it. [Successful Family Activities: familieswithpurpose.com]
Planning fun and successful family activities shouldn’t be a chore for busy parents. Most just require a little fore thought and a little planning to be successful. So don’t get bogged down in the details or overwhelmed with the planning. The first thing to spoil family activities is a stressed parent, so go slow and ease into your routine. *Alternate between planned and unplanned family activities. Not every family activity has to be an elaborate outing. Sticking around home and just “hanging out” can be just as fun. Just don’t let the TV, computer, and video games become a distraction. *Be flexible. Sometimes family activities don’t go as planned. The baby is tired, the car had a flat tire, or it rained when it was supposed to be sunny and hot. *Make sure the family activity is something everyone will enjoy or at least tolerate. Talk over the family activities ahead of time and get everyone’s input. This will help prevent resistance later on. *Schedule your family activities on the family calendar. Plan out for a month when the family will be together and schedule the family activities accordingly.
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