30 fun family activities to try this weekend

Does it feel like your family has fallen into a weekend rut lately? Or maybe you have a rare Saturday or Sunday free of birthday parties, games, or other scheduled activities and want to make the most of it. If you're unsure how to spend the day but want to plan something fun and unexpected to make new memories together, here's a list of activities that are ideal for family weekends.

30 fun family activities

1. Get creative with butcher paper

If your kids love drawing, switch up their art routine by having them color on the floor instead of a table. Buy a big roll of butcher paper (you can find it at arts and crafts stores, or online retailers like Amazon) and unroll it on the floor, taping the edges in place. The whole family will have plenty of room to use crayons or markers to draw whatever their imagination comes up with. (One idea: Create a long road then have races with toy cars.)

2. Make a DIY ice cream sundae bar

Something sweet can make any regular weekend night feel special, and this activity lets your kids get involved, too. Stock up on a range of ice cream toppings – sprinkles, fresh berries, sliced bananas, chopped nuts, small candies, mini marshmallows – and pour them all into individual bowls with serving spoons. Next, tell your kids they can each make their own ice cream sundae.

3. Have a living room camp out

While outdoor camping is awesome, it depends on good weather and having the right gear, and can be especially tricky with younger kids. Enter living room camping: Set up a tent inside (if you don't have one, sleeping bags and blankets will do!). Turn off the lights and just use flashlights. Eat dinner together on the floor and tell stories as you all fall asleep.

4. Bake bread

Homemade bread is easier to make than you might think, and it's a great project for young bakers. All you need is flour, water, and dry yeast sachets, which can be purchased at most local supermarkets. Find a recipe online (most require you to start the day before) and have your kids help measure the ingredients, prepare the dough, roll it into shape, and bake it.

5. Suggest a nature scavenger hunt

Head out on a nature walk with a list of 10 things your kids need to find before you come home (such as a pinecone, a white flower, a smooth rock, and so on).

6. Go thrift-store shopping

Have the whole family clean out their closets and fill a bag to donate to your local thrift store. Drop off the bag, then let the kids select something pre-loved like a book, toy, or clothing. Even if the shop doesn't carry a large selection of children's clothes, they'll find something fun to play dress-up with.

7. Plant herbs or flowers

Visit your local gardening center and have your kids select a few herbs, flowers, or small potted plants, plus potting soil and pots. At home, demonstrate how to plant them, then task kids with watering each of the new additions regularly.

8. Start a new collection

If your child doesn't already have one, introduce them to the concept of a personal collection and help them get started. Some ideas: Small rocks, stickers, postcards, pressed flowers, quarters from every U.S. state, or seashells.

9. Go on a family bike ride

Bike rides around your neighborhood or local park are a no-brainer, but if you need a change of scenery, look online for a new nature path, high school track, or bike trail you haven't explored before. Scooters, rollerblades, and roller skates work, too!  

10. Make cupcakes for a friend

All you have to do is say "cupcakes" to get the kids excited, and this is an excellent way to teach children about doing good deeds for others. Make a batch of cupcakes together (let kids do the decorating) then package the treats into a box and drop them off at a friend's front door for a sweet surprise. Let the little bakers keep one or two for their efforts!

11. Have a family movie night

Screen time can feel extra special when you find a new movie the whole family can enjoy together. Serve popcorn or movie-theater snacks in fun bowls, then have everyone cuddle up together with a blanket on the couch or floor.

12. Pack a picnic

Have a surprise picnic at your local playground or park. Sandwiches, chopped fruit, and cheese and crackers all make great picnic fare, or you could simply pick up a pizza.

13. Host a bake sale

Help your kids set up a neighborhood bake sale or lemonade stand, complete with signs. Use it to raise money for a cause that's important to your child, and talk to them about how they can help make a difference.

14. Have a family dance party

Children ages 6 through 17 need at least 60 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity a day, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and kids of all ages should be active often. A dance party is a great way to have fun and get little heart rates up! Have everyone in the family add a song or two to a playlist, then show off your moves.

15. Make a family scrapbook

Spread family photos out on a big table or the floor with glue and colored paper and let the kids turn shared memories into a collaborative scrapbook. Include a mix of recent photos, photos from when they were babies, and pictures of you and your partner before kids. This is a great opportunity to reminisce together, too!

16. Have game night with friends

Invite your children's friends over (either with or without their parents) for an interactive game night. Divide the group into two teams and play games like charades, Bingo, Jenga, and Twister. Create a big scoreboard and offer an exciting prize (a bag of candy, for example) for the winning team.

17. Visit a nearby farm

Take advantage of nice weather and plan a family day trip to a local pick-your-own farm, pumpkin patch, or animal farm. Or look for a state fair in the summer.

18. Tackle chores together

Toddlers and preschoolers often want to help out with chores but tend to get underfoot on serious-cleaning days. Let them get involved by making a list of household chores even the littlest helpers can handle: Sweeping, cleaning up crumbs with a hand vacuum, or picking up clutter, to name a few.

19. Organize stuff

Help strengthen your kids' sorting skills by emptying a basket of clean clothes on the ground and asking them to help you divide everything into different piles (your child's own clothes, their sibling's clothes, a parent's shirts, and so on). Or, work together to organize their stuffed animals, spices in the pantry, your bookshelves, tools in the garage, or anything else that comes to mind.

20. Play pretend school

Pretend play is an important way that kids experiment with social roles, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Help encourage your little one's imagination by creating a "school" with chairs and desks (stuffed animals can act as additional students), a chalkboard, books to read, and a lesson plan for the day. Let your child take the lead as teacher.

21. Visit a local museum

If you're up for a bigger adventure, plan a visit to a local children's museum, aquarium, or zoo. A number of museums around the country are free (including the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. and the Minneapolis Institute of Art, for example), and there are a variety of programs you can take advantage of for free or reduced museum admission. Bank of America offers cardholders free general admission at more than 225 cultural institutions in the U.S. during the first full weekend of every month, and Museums for All has free or reduced admission at more than 1,000 museums for those who receive food assistance through their EBT card.

22. Try a new library

Many public libraries offer a weekend storytime or similar activities for families. You might want to check out a new library slightly farther from your house – if you go to your local library all the time, a fresh location can be exciting for kids.

23. Create an imagination box

Help spark your child's imagination with a box that encourages make-believe play. Just save a cardboard delivery box and fill it with costumes, props, and household items that can inspire pretend games. A few ideas: Empty paper towel rolls, scarves, hats, stickers, costume jewelry, and old shoes.

24. Construct a family fort

Work together to build a fort that's big enough for the whole family to fit inside. Stretch a sheet over stacked couch and bed pillows, then spread a quilt on the ground inside along with books to create a cozy reading space.

25. Create life-sized self-portraits

Place a big piece of paper (such as from a crafts store) on the ground and have your child lie down on top of it. Trace the outline of their body with a crayon or marker and encourage them to color the inside to make a life-sized drawing of themself. Ask your child to trace you so you can create one as well!

26. Stage a family Olympics

Turn your backyard into an Olympic field by setting up games like a javelin toss (you can use a pool noodle), ring toss (the plastic rings from stacking toys work well), egg and spoon races, or an obstacle course, to name just a few possibilities. Physical and outdoor play are key for developing children's motor skills, awareness, and balance, according to the AAP, and this high-energy activity checks all those boxes.

27. Go grocery shopping

Kids love to be in charge, so let them do the shopping at your own make-believe grocery store. Empty the pantry and line up boxes and cans in a row to resemble supermarket shelves. A small cardboard box or tote bag can double as a shopping basket. One person can be the shopper while another acts as the cashier.

28. Play the guessing game

Fill a large jar or glass vase with something small like candy, marbles, or buttons, and ask everyone in the family to guess how many there are in the jar. (If you have toddlers or babies at home, use larger items like cookies to avoid choking hazards.) Write down everyone's guesses on a piece of paper. Then, empty the jar and work together to count them and see who had the closest guess.

29. Start a growth chart

Even if your kids are a bit older (and taller), it's never too late to start a family growth chart. On a fence, a doorway, or post in the garage, measure everyone in the family's height and mark it with names and ages in different colors. Your kids will love being able to track their growth over time.

30. Make a time capsule and bury it in the backyard

Take an empty shoebox and have your kids fill it with different small, non-perishable items that represent the current time, such as a drawing they've made, a small toy they're done playing with, and other memorabilia. (Just skip food, which could attract bugs.) Include a handwritten letter explaining what year it is, what's going on in your family's life, and what items are in the box. Ask your kids to guess what year they think the box will be discovered and opened, and what they imagine the world will look like then. Or, just plan to dig up your time capsule yourselves after a certain amount of time has passed.

What are the best family bonding activities?

The best activities for a family are very personal, and there's no "right" way to bond with your kids. While one family might love outdoor adventures like hiking, biking, and sports, others may treasure time spent on creative outlets like art projects or puzzles. Other families might love cooking together, and still others might seek out local museums or cultural institutions.

It might take some trial and error to figure out what works best for your family. The most important thing is to seek out activities that everyone in the family enjoys. If you can't agree on favorites, take turns so everyone's interests are recognized.

How can I find family activities near me?

Although every area is different, the following can be helpful resources as you search for local family activities. Many of these offer special programs for families:

• Libraries
• Playgrounds
• Museums
• Farms or petting zoos
• Play gyms
• Aquariums
• Public parks or gardens
• Community centers
• Art galleries and museums
• Religious organizations

You can always do an Internet search and ask parents you know for ideas, too.