The weekend is a great time for families to catch up and spend time together – especially if you have young kids. But knowing how to keep kids occupied and engaged is a constant challenge. So in this article, we’re going to provide you with some helpful ideas and suggestions.
When you’re a parent with children, you look forward to spending time together as a family each weekend. But you also know how chaotic things can get if you don’t have activities planned. So it’s always helpful to have a list of activities and ideas that you can throw into action when you’re unsure of what to do.
Here are a few of our favorite ideas:
There’s value in creating something tangible as a family. There’s power in process, action-taking, and even getting messy. And while it can be challenging in the moment – especially with smaller kids – the reward on the backend makes it all worth it. Especially if the reward is cookies!
Baking cookies as a family is fun, silly, and tasty. But rather than grabbing a package of break-and-bake cookies from the frozen section of your local supermarket, try doing it from scratch. Flour, sugar, eggs…the whole deal!
Make things even more enjoyable and memorable by using cookie cutters to cut out fun shapes. Then you can decorate the cookies with icing and sprinkles for a magical result that’s sure to make the whole family smile.
Camping is fun, but it’s a whole lot of work! If you aren’t careful, you can eat up an entire weekend and come to Sunday night feeling tired and frustrated. But there’s an alternative: backyard camping.
“Whether you’re a camping newbie or have roughed it tons of times, backyard camping is a blast,” blogger Rachel Seis writes. “You get to immerse yourself in the outdoors, without all the packing, planning and gear-buying associated with traditional camping (plus, having nearby access to a clean bathroom is a pretty big perk).”
Still not convinced? What about living room camping? Grab some blankets, throw down a few sleeping bags, turn off the lights, and tell spooky stories. You can even roast marshmallows over the stovetop.
There’s something really fun about visiting the zoo as a family. Kids are naturally curious and will ask a ton of questions, which leaves the door open for some fun and educational conversations.
Don’t have a good zoo in your town? Drive to the nearest big city and make a day trip out of it. It’s something your kids will enjoy and talk about for years to come.
A Sunday afternoon picnic is a great way to close out the weekend. You can go to a local park or even throw down a blanket in the backyard. Be sure to bring some yard games – like cornhole or croquet – for a little afternoon fun.
When was the last time you played four square? Why not teach your kids how to play and host a neighborhood tournament?
A four square tournament is fun because it’s easy for anyone to play. You can have guys and girls, adults and children, experienced and inexperienced players. At the end of the day, it’s fun and social.
It might not be the decade of peace and love any longer, but who says you can’t throw a tie-dye party for the entire family?
The great thing about tie-dye parties is that you don’t have to plan anything crazy. The tie-dye is the activity and the fun. Just get some tie-dye kits, clothing, a few plastic tablecloths, sealable bags, and a bucket with water. Each kid can let their creativity run wild.
There’s nothing wrong with traditions, but it’s easy for families to get so caught up in doing the same old activities over and over again that they forget about the importance of trying new things. Consider switching things up this weekend by doing something unique. Whether it’s baking cookies together, camping in the living room, or hosting a four square tournament in the driveway, there are ample opportunities to create new memories! Let loose and enjoy the time together.