160 Fun Things to Do with Family of All Ages

Things to Do with Family at Home

Plan a fun day in with your family. Sometimes, it can be a bit chaotic to try to arrange plans for the whole family. If you don’t want to go out, however, there are still plenty of fun activities you can do from the comfort of your own home. Get creative by playing different games, making fun crafts, or even baking yummy recipes. Here are some examples: Have a movie night Play board games (Tip: gather a bunch of different games to have a family game night!) Play a guessing game (like I Spy or Hangman) Play Hide and Seek Bake together Play The Floor is Lava Make a playlist and have a dance party Make homemade ice cream Play Charades Make friendship bracelets Make a time capsule Race paper airplanes Play Bingo Have a pajama party Have a family talent show Make shadow puppets Do a jigsaw puzzle Build a house of cards Put on a play Start a family band

Things to Do with Family Outdoors

Get your family off their phones and out of the house. These days, it seems like we’re always glued to a screen, whether it’s a phone, a computer, or a tablet. If your whole family is distracted by technology, you may not be bonding as much as you should. To get your family off their devices, childcare and parenting specialist Kathy Slattengren recommends that you “Go for family hikes, go camping, go to the park… If we want our kids off their digital devices, we’ve got to get off ours and go and engage with them.” Here are some examples of fun activities you can do in your own backyard: Draw on your sidewalk with chalk Fly a kite Catch fireflies Jump in the pool Camp in your backyard Walk your dog Ride your bikes Practice rollerskating Play tag Play kickball Have a water balloon fight Plant a garden Collect bugs Build an obstacle course Look for 4-leaf clovers Play in the rain (or the snow) Build a birdhouse Tie-dye t-shirts Look for shapes in the clouds Have a BBQ

Things to Do with Family On the Town

Arrange a fun day in the city with your family. While there are a ton of fun things to do at home, sometimes it’s good to get out of the house. Research your town and other nearby cities to see what kind of fun, family-friendly activities you can participate in. Decide on a budget beforehand so you can plan an exciting day. Here are some examples: Go to the mall Visit the park Visit any nearby historical sites Go to an amusement park Go to the aquarium Go to the zoo Try a new restaurant Go to the movies See a play Attend an age-appropriate concert Shop at local businesses Go to a farmer’s market Pick out outfits for each other at the thrift store Go to an art museum Go to a children’s museum Take a walking tour Watch a parade Attend a sports event Go ice skating Watch a magic show

Free Things to Do with Family

Find some free activities if you’re on a budget. You don’t have to break the bank to have fun with your family. In addition to doing things at home, there are probably a ton of free things you can do around your city. For example, teen life coach Desiree Panlilio says, “Go into the park and play softball or frisbee, or you can just chill out and watch the sunset. There are so many things you can do at a park if you’re on a budget.” Here are some other free, family-friendly activities to try: Go stargazing Visit the beach Go camping Have a picnic Go on a hike Visit a free museum Take family photos Visit the local library Volunteer at a community event Watch the sunset or sunrise Go kayaking Go fishing Make up a secret language Have breakfast at midnight Blind taste-test different drinks Use old boxes to make a miniature town Learn to juggle Say tongue twisters Learn a line dance Go to the park to get active Do a scavenger hunt EXPERT TIP Kathy Slattengren, M.Ed. Kathy Slattengren, M.Ed. Parent Educator & Coach Kathy Slattengren is a Parent Educator and Coach and the Founder of Priceless Parenting. With over two decades of experience, Kathy specializes in helping parents build strong, loving relationships with their children. She has helped thousands of parents around the world through Priceless Parenting's online classes, presentations, coaching, and books. Kathy holds a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science and Psychology from The University of Minnesota and a Masters degree in Education and Instructional Design from The University of Washington. Kathy is a member of the National Parenting Education Network, the US Alliance to End the Hitting of Children, the International Society for Technology in Education, and a founding member of Parent Learning Link. Priceless Parenting has been featured on ABC News, Komo News, King 5 News, National PTA, Parent Map, and Inspire Me Today. Kathy Slattengren, M.Ed. Kathy Slattengren, M.Ed. Parent Educator & Coach Ask your children what they’d like to do. If your children are old enough, at least four or five, have a family meeting and let the kids have input about what they want to do. Then, make it happen. Planning things out is much better than having no idea what to do with your kids.

Family Activities for Kids

Get your kids excited about spending time together. Kids are either very easy to entertain or very difficult to entertain. When thinking of fun things to do with your children, take their ages and personalities into account. Make sure the activity is age-appropriate and something they’ll enjoy. Here are some examples: Make slime Blow bubbles Finger paint Play dress up Put on a puppet show Make macaroni necklaces Play with Legos Play dolls Build a fort Make a homemade pizza Do pancake art Play Simon Says Have a staring contest Give each other silly hairstyles Make a volcano with Mentos and Coke Cut out paper snowflakes Write and illustrate a children’s picture book Play Red Light, Green Light Play with shaving cream and food coloring Have a watermelon seed-spitting contest

Family Activities for Teens

Plan activities your teen will actually enjoy. Every teenager is different, but it’s often hard for parents to get their teen excited about family activities. Get to know your child’s current interests and hobbies. Then, find a way you can enjoy them together. If you’re not sure what your teen will enjoy, Panlilio says to have a discussion with them: “It’s asking them what their interest is, what they are valuing, what’s important to them, and letting them try it without having to commit to it.” Here are some great teen-friendly ideas: Tell scary stories Make a scrapbook Take about the future Start a gratitude journal Try foods from different cultures Take a class together (like painting or photography) Tour a nearby college Make a t-shirt quilt Learn to play a new sport Volunteer at an animal shelter Play video games Get a manicure or pedicure Create a vision board Make TikTok videos Go laser tagging Do an escape room See who can tell the worst dad joke Make a song parody Take online personality tests Binge-watch a TV show

Family Activities for Adults

Spend time with your adult family to strengthen your bond. Once you’re an adult, life often gets in the way and you may not see your family as often as you used to. If you have adult children (or if you’re the adult child), try to plan some fun activities with your family to bond and create new memories. Here are some examples: Do yoga Attend a wine-tasting event Watch old home movies Have an at-home spa day Play a drinking game (like True American from New Girl) Start a book club Plan a weekend getaway Try a new workout class together Go shopping together Attend an open mic night Watch a comedy show Go to a reading by a local author Do karaoke Visit a brewery Take a cooking class Look through childhood photo albums Go axe throwing Go skydiving Play trivia Attend a murder mystery dinner event

Fun Things to Do Away from Your Family

Do something by yourself if you need time away from your family. Even if you’re close to your family, you’ll need some personal space now and then. If you can’t get away from your family altogether, try slipping away to your room or another private area so you can destress. Do something you enjoy by yourself rather than being bored around everyone else. Panlilio says, “Boredom is a choice. You can choose to be bored, or you can choose to be proactive and find something to do that creates stimulation.” Here are some examples of fun, solo activities: Read a book Do origami Call a friend Listen to a podcast Practice learning a new language Journal Listen to music Write a letter to your future self Research your family tree Rearrange your bedroom Solve a crossword puzzle Start a blog Draw something Learn to knit Learn to sew Take a bubble bath Meditate Give yourself a facial Start a workout routine Write a story