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Surveys show that Americans overwhelmingly view spending time with family as one of the most important things in their lives. Spending time with family is fun. Families provide love, support and a sense of belonging. In addition, family closeness benefits a person’s physical, emotional and mental health by reducing stress and anxiety, and has even been linked to a healthier lifestyle and longer life.
So, get the family together and have some fun. Here are some ideas for memory-making activities that you can enjoy with your family.
12 Days of Summer Family Fun
Day 1: Create a Family Scrapbook
The Idea
Ask your family members to share assorted digital photos from a favorite vacation or milestone events like weddings or graduations. Be sure to include all family members in the photos, so that no one feels left out. Build a slide show of the photos and include quotes and comments from family members to be included on each slide. Select a fun family song as the score to the slideshow.
Why?
Putting together a scrapbook or slide show sparks collaboration and fun conversations about times spent together. Thinking and talking about shared memories helps kids to understand that they are part of something that is established and secure. It also serves as a tangible reminder of the love, experiences and milestones that have shaped your family’s own unique story.
Prep
For a traditional scrapbook, you’ll need photos, mementos like maps, programs or menus, and stories about the events. Other supplies needed include an actual scrapbook, glue, pens and assorted stickers.
For the digital scrapbook, you’ll need digital photos, a computer, internet connection and some software like Power Point in which to build the story/slideshow.
Day 2: Family Game Night
The Idea
Gather the family to play an engaging, challenging or silly board game that requires everyone’s participation. Establishing teams instead of individual players is a great way to strengthen family ties.
The Idea
Instead of a standard board game, create your own game that tests the family members’ memories of past experiences, vacations and family events. One player can toss out a theme like, “Our trip to Yellowstone,” and each family member can share their favorite story or memory.
Why?
Family game nights create teamwork and a bit of friendly competition. This builds confidence and trust and helps strengthen the family ties.
Prep
For family game night, find age-appropriate games and activities that foster learning, engagement, teamwork and above all, fun.
Day 3: Go for a Hike
The Idea
Gather the family together for a hike. Change up the locations to give everyone the opportunity to see new things and experience the great outdoors, while getting some exercise.
Variation
If your family is not interested in hiking, do another outdoor activity like bike-riding or roller skating.
Why?
Hiking outdoors promotes physical activity and allows family members to enjoy nature, fostering a sense of wonder and connection to the natural world. Other outdoor activities like bike riding also are good exercise and offer the same health benefits as a hike and the opportunity to see new things
outdoors.
Prep
It’s important to choose a route that suits the ages/fitness levels of all the family members. Remember to dress appropriately, wear solid shoes, and don’t forget the bug spray for those walks in the woods.
Day 4: Explore Your City
The Idea
Spend a day with your family exploring your city’s unique landmarks, cultural attractions and hidden gems that you may have forgotten or overlooked.
Variation
If there is nothing in your city that you haven’t seen, visit somewhere new with your family. If you live in the city, spend a day in the country or vice versa. Getting a perspective on an entirely new environment/lifestyle creates many new topics for conversation.
Why?
Spending family time exploring the place you call home helps you to develop a deeper appreciation for where you live, while learning more about its history, heritage and diverse communities.
Prep
Do some research in advance of your exploration day and create a schedule of the places you want to visit, when you should arrive for the best experience, and what to see and do when you get there.
Day 5: Decorate Cupcakes and Cookies
The Idea
Ignite some fun creativity by decorating cupcakes and cookies with your family. Let imaginations run wild with designs and decorations from dinosaurs to Disney characters. When the decorating is done, ask each child to explain their design and give them lots of accolades to build confidence. When your family has finished, you can all enjoy your sweet treats or display them like works of art.
Variation
With older kids, consider having them make the cupcakes and cookies you will decorate later. Baking teaches organizational skills like assembling the necessary supplies and equipment, and how to follow a recipe.
Why?
Decorating cookies and cupcakes is a rewarding activity that encourages creativity and artistic expression. Best of all, it creates lasting memories and moments of joy, especially when indulging in the tasty treats you have decorated together.
Prep
In addition to the actual cupcakes and cookies, you will need frosting, icing in a tube for writing messages and assorted sprinkles and toppings. Food coloring also may be needed to offer multiple colors of frosting.
Day 6: Camp in the Backyard
The Idea
Take a mini-camping trip in your own backyard. You and your family will enjoy the outdoor experience without venturing far from home. Just pitch a tent in the backyard and eat your meals outside and enjoy being together in the great outdoors – even if it’s just a few steps from your back door.
Variation
Don’t let the lack of a suitable backyard or cold and rainy weather keep you from enjoying an at-home family camp-out. Build a campsite indoors using tables and blankets and pretend you are miles from home.
Why?
Camping at home is a great way to bring the family together for a “little vacation” in a fun, convenient and budget-friendly way. You and your family can enjoy fun conversations, telling ghost stories and maybe even enjoying some “made at home” s’mores.
Prep
If you have camping equipment like a tent, sleeping bags and a cookstove, you can certainly use it and just set everything up in the backyard. If not, just improvise with pillows, blankets and lots of fun snacks.
Day 7: Do a Random Act of Kindness
The Idea
Teach your kids about the importance of giving back and helping others by engaging in a random act of kindness. Whether it’s serving a meal at a homeless shelter, stuffing back-to-school backpacks or visiting a nursing home, your family can work together to serve others.
Variation
Random acts of kindness can be extended within your own family, too. Each week, put the names of all your family members into a hat and have everyone draw a name. Throughout the week, do some nice things to help and support them, and make them feel loved.
Why?
Engaging in random acts of kindness is a powerful way to make a positive impact on others and the world around you. Teaching your kids the importance of random acts of kindness helps them to learn empathy and compassion, and provides them with a sense of connectedness by showing care and generosity towards others.
Prep
Research opportunities within your community where you and your family members can volunteer, visit or offer support. It’s easy to do at home, as all it requires is paper and a pen to make names for the weekly drawing.
Day 8: Go on a Scavenger Hunt
The Idea
Plan an exciting scavenger hunt with your family. Create a list of items and corresponding clues. Ask a friend to hide the items either in your yard, a park or other location. Divide the family into teams, give them the list of items with the clues and send them off on an adventure. Be sure to give them a specific amount of time to complete the hunt.
Variation
Ask a friend to set up the scavenger hunt in your home and follow the same steps of giving each team a list of items and the accompanying clues. You also can invite other families to join you in the scavenger hunt and compete as teams.
Why?
Scavenger hunts are exciting, interactive adventures that promote teamwork, problem-solving and communications skills. They encourage exploration and curiosity and create fun and lasting family memories.
Prep
A scavenger hunt does require advance preparation. Items must be selected and hidden in the designated area. Clues on how to find them also must be written and provided to each team. Game parameters also must be established, including where to search and the time allowed to complete the hunt.
Day 9: Have a Backyard Movie Night
The Idea
Turn your backyard into an outdoor movie theatre by showing a family-friendly movie. Set up chairs or blankets on the grass and serve refreshments like popcorn and movie snacks. After the movie ends, discuss it with your kids, asking them to share what they learned and what part they enjoyed most.
Variation
Have your kids dress like their favorite characters. Ask them to share what they admire most about the character or what they have learned from them.
Why?
Any time you set aside for being together as a family is time well-spent. Activities like watching a movie are significant as when they are added up over time, they send your children the message that they are loved, appreciated and belong to something bigger than themselves.
Prep
Set up the movie outdoors and makes some popcorn or treats that make the movie even more special and enjoyable.
Day 10: Host a Barbeque
The Idea
Invite your family and friends over to enjoy a fun and casual barbecue. Ask the kids to help with the food preparation and setting up the event and encourage them to socialize with your guests.
Variation
If your family is not up for grilling, make the event a pizza party or Taco Tuesday.
Why?
Bringing people together to enjoy the atmosphere of a casual event is a great way to foster social connections and create lasting memories for your family and friends.
Prep
Planning and preparing the get-together food, drinks and snacks, and getting activities like outdoor or indoor games set up is required.
Day 11: Plan a Family Reunion
The Idea
Get the entire, extended family together in person at a family reunion to reconnect with relatives and share stories.
Variation
Today’s technology makes it so much easier to stay in touch with loved ones. If it’s too difficult to get the entire family together, plan and promote a Zoom call and ask everyone to join and share family updates and stories.
Why?
Family reunions promote a feeling of belonging and celebrate the unique bond family members share. When children attend family reunions, they get a better understanding of the heritage and common traditions they share.
Prep
Since arranging a family reunion can be labor intensive, some families put together informal committees to share the work. Each committee group takes responsibility for planning and executing everything from invitations and locations to accommodations, food and fun activities.
Day 12: Plant Flowers
The Idea
As a family, plant flowers around your home to enhance the beauty of your surroundings. Taking care of the flowers teaches children responsibility and fosters a sense of pride in their accomplishments.
Variation
Plant a small garden and grow some vegetables. Just like a flower patch, this, too, fosters teamwork and teaches responsibility. As an added bonus, the children will enjoy harvesting the vegetables and serving them at family meals.
Why?
Planting flowers or a garden offers a hands-on learning experience for children, teaching them about growth, nurturing and the importance of biodiversity. It also brings joy and the satisfaction of a job well done.
Prep
Before planting a flower or vegetable garden, be sure to make a plan of what you would like to plant and where. Both seeds and small plants will work and access to water is essential.
