Family Time Activities for the Whole Family

Family time can be a great way to make lasting memories. With so many focused on technology, getting busy with day to day life, and juggling multiple schedules it can be hard to make time for family activities. So how do you pick out activities that will work for everyone? We have a few tips to help you pick some great activities. Here are some family time activities for the whole family you won’t want to miss out on.

Family Time Activities for the Whole Family

Many of the family time activities listed below will involve minimal spending on your part and give you a chance to make some fun memories together. Even better, these can be adapted to your family size or current situation.

Take Family Time Outside

Spending time outside as a family can be a refreshing way to get some exercise while having fun together. Even better, many of the things you can do outside together will cost little to no money. Here are a few ideas for spending time outside together. For all of these ideas, we highly recommend packing a backpack with needed supplies so you can have the best experience possible.

• Visit a park or nature reserve - Most states have some incredible parks and nature reserves that you can visit for free or for a low donation. This can be a great place to go on a family hike, spot animals, or just let the kids run off some energy in a safe environment.
• Take a family hike - Load your backpack with snacks, water, and a small first aid kit and then head out on a family hike. Taking a hike together can let you see parts of the area you may not be familiar with while broadening your family’s horizons.
• Plan a campout - Whether you go to a campground or do a backyard campout, you are sure to make some great memories together. Set up a tent, start a fire, roast marshmallows, and look at the stars together. Spending this time camping together can be a memory your family won’t soon forget.
• Have a picnic - Take some time to plan a family picnic. You can do this in your own backyard or take your picnic anywhere you want to for a fun family meal. Even better, you can pack items for kids of all ages or add a few toys to your backpack to keep younger kids entertained. 

Give Back As A Family

Another great way to make memories as a family to find ways to give back together. There are so many charities and organizations that will let a family come in and volunteer together. Spending this time together can be a rewarding way to make lasting memories. We have a few suggestions for you to help you give back as a family.

• Check out a shelter dog - Many shelters will let you take out a shelter dog for a few hours to play with, walk, and spend time with. The goal is not adoption. Instead, the goal is to help socialize the animal so it will be more adoptable by other families. This can be a fun way to give back as a family.
• Volunteer at a local shelter or homeless mission - Many shelters and homeless missions need people to work in kitchens, help with childcare, or serve meals. Even better, quite a few of these will have opportunities for you to volunteer as a family. Reach out to your local shelters to find out what their requirements are.
• Take part in a cleanup project - Places such as beaches, parks, and trails often have group cleanup events. Even better, these often accommodate people of all ages to help contribute. Reach out to your local beach, park, or trail to find out what projects they have on the schedule.
• Be kind at a nursing home or elderly care facility - Reach out to your local nursing home or elderly care facility to ask how you can give back. Many welcome families to bring in store-bought treats for the residents to enjoy. Some will also let families come in and visit with the residents. This can be a fantastic way to give back and show kids that kindness can change someone’s day.

Plan a Family Day at Home 

Who said you had to leave the house to make memories that will last? There are many things you can do from the comfort of your home. Even better, many of these will involve minimal prep time and can take all day or only a short amount of time. You don’t have to have all day to make great memories together at home. Here are a few ideas for family time activities at home.

• Plan a family game night - A family game night can be a great time to pull out a few of your favorite games and spend time together. Even better, you can pick games based on the age and developmental level of each child. You can pick a quick card game or make a night of it with multiple games.
• Have a movie night - Pick out a family favorite movie and pull out some of your favorite snacks for a family movie night. This can be a fun way to spend some quality time together while watching something appropriate for all ages. Want to put a fun spin on it? Do a sing-along movie night with a family favorite musical or animated movie.
• Have a minute-to-win-it night - Minute-to-win-it games are challenging games that can be done by different ages using items you probably already have in your home. Many of these games can be found on Pinterest. You can also find a huge variety of these games on YouTube to see how they are played.
• Do a special family dinner - This might mean teaching everyone to make a family favorite meal. It could also mean that everyone takes part in creating a buffet-style meal with multiple ingredients everyone can enjoy. This could mean a taco night, a mashed potato bar with multiple toppings, or a build your own salad bar. The idea is to create a meal that everyone can enjoy together in a fun way.