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More Great Family Activities:

Barbara M. of CA
Entire family volunteer at animal-therapy center.

Christal B. of GA
We like to draw color cut and paste things to make cards for the familiy for birthdays.

Barb P. of CA
Washing the car.  Me and my husband do the top part and our daughters, ages 2 and 4, do the tires and the lights.

Cynthia W. of TX
My favorite family activity is fishing. We all go fishing together and keep whatever we catch that is within the legal limits. We are not big fish eaters though, so we usually give the fish to a friend or family that is needy. They always appreciate the fresh fish and we feel good helping others. I can't think of a better way for a family to spend the day together...catching fish and sharing.

Lisa U. of PA
Every Year we get the Family together and Pack a lunch, Go to an amuesment park. We ride the rides, Enjoy our time together Then all find a great spot to sit and enjoy our Home Lunch.

Laurie K. of Manitoba Canada
We like to harness our 2 large dogs (attach harness  to leashes to calf sled) in winter & go for a long walk through the trees on our property.  We make sure that we bring a picnic (cheese, crackers, fruit, decorated sugar cookies and of course hot chocolate).  If the beverage is too hot, we can then cool it off by putting the cup in the snow. Our young daughter can then have a ride in the sled if she is tired or the trip is too long. Sometimes we take along shovels for each of us and make a snow fort in the bush. If we do this, this is where we have our picnic. It also gives us a destination for our next "trip".  We can ALL get good exercise this way in the winter, since it is often through knee-deep snow.  We always look forward to this activity (the dogs do too) and we all enjoy it. :D In the summer, I just use the wagon instead of the calf sled.  Some of the picnic foods are changed to suit the season as well.

Karen C. of NJ
The family can plan the layout of a garden. Then each member can be responsible for a particular portion, or plants. If the family doesn't have access to a yard, they can each grow different herbs in window-boxes.

Amanda T. of TX
We have a large covered plastic storage bin in our garage, and all winter long when the children are indoors, or get restless, we find small soft items like yarn, doll hair, and cotton balls to help the birds make their nests for the coming Spring. I supervise what goes in, of course, and by early springtime, we have a bin full of colorful, soft and very unique items for our neighborhood feathered friends. My daughter noticed a mockingbird with one of her discarded hair ties in its beak yesterday. :)

My two daughters and I have become active in donating our time to the seniors living in a nearby assisted living facility. We live in a resort area, so many of the residents do not have any family nearby. We noticed this especially on holidays. So, the girls and I began a gift program from the children to the all the residents, now our friends. We save by buying practical items all year long, and adding a special touch of our own to make each person feel special. The crafts also teach my girls many skills. I supervise them, of course. For example, on Valentine's Day, we bought pink and white softly scented gentle cleansing bars we found on sale and turned them into Valentine's Day gifts. Each lady received a bundle of 3 sachet or bathing soaps ( her choice of the use) which we had wrapped in pink tulle net and tied on each end with ribbon. I hot glued a bit of lace and a small silk flower spray to each. The men received " man scented" soap, also a wi
nter sale item, wrapped in leather look paper which we made by tea staining butcher paper ( and some creative crayon and marker use by the girls) . We cut a double horseshoe design out of cardboard with safety scissors, sprinkled gold glitter glue on each horseshoe design, and affixed a brown ribbon to the soap, with the horsehoe " ornament" on top. The ladies were very pleased with their gifts, but the men were just thrilled that they were remembered. We made rainbow colored balloon bouquets  for St. Patrick's Day and some of our senior friends started telling us all  about how their lives had been like pots of gold. My daughters are learning the value of time, and of giving  something they create to those who are often forgotten in the rush of a holiday time. Also, they are learning what older people can teach them about life and the living of it well. Thank you for reading.

Leslie B. of HI
Get the family together and take a bunch of foster children on a picnic.

Julie S. of OH
Well, every two weeks or so, we have a family "craft" day (or night).  The girls go through our kid's crafts books or we go online and look up some crafting ideas and decide what we're going to do for the day.   I purchase whatever we don't already have, and we have a great time working and talking together.  It's a lot of fun and the kids are SO proud of themselves when they have something that they made with their own hands.  We've done paper mache' crafts, made our own sidewalk chalk, always make our own bath paint and soaps, etc.  :)

Marilyn L. of Nova Scotia
Join a naturalist group.  They are ususlly in the municipalities or states. The cost is nominal and an actual fun thing to do is to go when the project is organized to help clean un the beaches etc with the group.  It is a family outing that is fun and productive and gives the whole family a since of satisifaction. The family meets new friends also.

Diana S. of MI
One of our favorite activities is to take a walk in the woods. We each bring a bag with us, then we all pick up anything we think is pretty, unique or useful, ie:acorns, small stones, small twigs, etc. Then when we get home we use cardboard and cut it out to make a picture frame. We glue the items we have collected on to the front of the frame. (we place a solid piece of cardboard over the back of the frame leaving an opening between the 2 pieces, in order to slide a picture in). After we finish glueing our assortment of goodie finds on the frame we glue a magnet on the back, or make a cardboard stand on back, place a picture in and we each admire our beautiful homemade frames!

David B. of WV
Play a family game like horse shoes and the losser does the dishes for a day and the winner has choice of what to have for supper. Of course if you have little children please use rubber horse shoes and make the post real short distance and use some little poeple rules to help them win.

Amy H. of TX
For summer vacation every year, we started going on a road trip. We pick a state and learn whatever there is to know and then go see it first hand, hitting all the hotspots. Lots of stops and alot of fun later, not only did we get to spend the time together, but we get to see the sites and learn something in the process.

Patricia H of CA
We like to go on treasure hunts. We pick a park, field and even to the mountains. Once there, we start walking walking around and looking for treasures. It can be anything the kids find. We make up stories as we go along about teh things we find. Even a pinecone can be a great tresure. Sometimes, we take a lunch and make a day out of it. We all really enjoy this.

Michele C. of CA
Find some seashells at a craft store or even in garage sales and buy some wide popsicle sticks. Glue the popsicle sticks in a frame shape, let your kids paint the popsicle sticks (when glue is dry) and after the paint is dry let your kids glue the seashells to the frame and paste a drawing/picture they made onto the frame. After the entire frame is ready hang it on the wall for everyone to see!

Susan L. of Nebraska
All month long I save recyclable "garbage", such as cereal boxes, peanut canisters, egg cartons to have a "Family Craft Day" when the grandkids have a day off from school. IE this month because we had a abundance of egg cartons because of Easter we made tulip gardens. We use foam meat trays for the flower bed and cut the egg cups from the cartons zigzagged the edges to look like a tulip this was attachd to a pipecleaner for the stem and planted in the foam meat tray.

Lia Jueng C. of PA
My idea is for the entire family to get a metal detector( worthwhile investment, and go out and see what hidden Treasures you can dig up. It's way too fun and exciting especially when you never know what you might get. Great things from old relics, coins, jewelry, historic items, to who knows what! It's like getting a Cracker Jack prize each time you hurriedly dig to unearth your Treasure. The family will delight and marvel at some of the things you can dig up. Considering this is a whole lot of fun and can pay off with great rewards. I luv it and I think you will too ~

Nancy J. of MI
We pick ne nice summer day when every one has a chance to plant there favorite vegetable or flower plant Each member is responsible for tending there own plant during the summer Its fum watching the flowers come to bloom and the harvesting of a variety of vegetables

Joanna R. of SC
Every sunday night my family has a special supper, dessert, meeting and game night. I always try to plan a special supper that is a favorite (don't experiment with anything new on this night - it might backfire on your and ruin the whole atmosphere) along with a special dessert, whether it's something I made or just a store bought pie. Then we pull out our family meeting folder and a pen and start in on discussing any problems that we've had during the week that need addressed. I usually go first with my concerns, which are usually of the "cleaning up" kind or squabbling kind. I ask that everyone make more of a concentrated effort to work on these things during the next week. Then everyone else gets to voice their concerns also, even if they seem trivial. We are sure to give each person the respect of listening. Don't go overboard on your list. Just name 3 or 4 each week that need focused on. This is also a time to discuss any special plans coming up concerning vacations, parties, etc. My husband always points out any progress made since the past meeting and praise them for it. Then we put the folder away and always end with a game - whether it's just UNO, Go fish or a board game. It's a great family time around the supper table and a time for problem solving and fun as well.

Brenda C of MA
Every place you vacation pick up a rock or shell the make a craft project out of it and you can always view your vacation.

Marci P. of FL
Every year, since before the kids were born, my husband and I went to Michaels or ordered online christmas ornaments to paint. In July, when it's too hot to go outside, we would put on Christmas music, lay out the ornaments and paint them.

Kathleen J of TX
Everyone in family puts their handprint(palms in paint) on each others T-shirt.When handprint dries,  then family members can sign their handprint with theirhand.  Tshirt can be worn when on vacation, at family reunion, etc.

Susan N. of OR
Going to a local park, picking up leaves and then sitting down with a nature book and trying to identify them.  Even young ones can help by looking at the pictures.  Exercise, fun and knowledge all wrapped up in one fine day out.

Perrie S of PA
Pack a days picnic and head out to a local Nature park or wilderness area where there is a creek or body of water. Bring along some field guides and see how many species of flowers, trees, birds, bugs, or rocks you can find.  Bring along a pair of binoculars and a magnifying glass or bug jar.  Make it fun, relax, You don't have to hike the length of the appalacian trail to slow down, decompress and take in the world around you.

Shari W. of KS
We like to pick a town we've never been to, off of a state travel map. We pack a picnic lunch and take the scenic route there, and when we arrive, we pretend we are out-of-state tourists, and visit a few local tourist attractions. We buy post cards and send them to friends. We've discovered some of the hidden treasures of our state and learned about people from all over.

One of our favorite family activities is volunteering at a local animal shelter. We've learned about compassion and responsibility. It also provides us with the opportunity to give love and care to animals who may not have previously experienced it, and it makes us more aware of what special family members our own pets are.

Lorie J or GA
Get all the family together and head out on a trip you can make with one tank of gas and head to a fun place have a picnic and play and have a great family time with just your family

Sharon B of Quebec, Canada
A family scavenger hunt in the park

Kris S. of WI
We have 2 daughters, and to teach them the story of Queen Esther in the bible, we had a day (after we read the story of her) where we treated the girls like queens, like Queen Esther!  They got to make their own crowns and wands, play dress-up in their fanciest clothes, and got the royal treatment from their mommy & daddy like a fancy dinner with candles and their favorite meal and even rose petals in their baths! What a memorable day that also reinforced what we were teaching them!

Carolyn B or TN
We love to get together and have a day at the park and have a watermelon eating contests(winner recieves a prize) and we play horseshoes and have water gun fights. we do this every year and we all cook our favorite recipes and eat like big dawgs(dogs)

Barbara J of IL
Begin each evening meal with two questions for each family member: What was the highpoint of y our day? What was the lowpoint of your day? It will become natural to have given the questions a good bit of thought during the day as well as promote lively family discussions each evening. Family activities like this are rememberd for a lifetime, and hopefully promote future family discussions.

Cindy S. of NY
Mom & Dad time -- take the kids (all of them) in the car for a drive. Stop at EVERY single playground you see, but only stay for 15 minutes! If you plan this out right - it takes all afternoon - the kids think it's great and Mom & Dad get to really relax at a picnic table near by. Plus, except for the cost of gas - it's FREE! (Bring a roll of waxed paper to make the slides work better)

Daphne H of NC
Take your family to the park.  One member chooses to slide, others must follow.  When everyone chooses an activity, start over and walk backwards to yhe following activities.  Soooooo much fun!

Cynthia R. of OH
At Christmas time our family creates a memorable cloth by drawing different christmas scenes or items then have everyone "autograph" it and add a special sentiment about the past year. This cloth is passed around at the Christmas eve gathering of friends and family.

Betty G. of AL
Make a "Living Playhouse" together:  Plant sunflowers (make sure it's a tall variety) in 2 rows about 3 or 4 feet apart.  Kids love to plant things and to watch 'em grow!  Plant Morning Glories in the same rows.  Help the kids water and take care of the planted area.  As the sunflowers sprout and get taller, the morning glory vines will grow up the sunflower stems.  Help the kids loosely tie strings around the top of the sunflower stems while the sunflower are still short enough fo them to reach, and run the string across the row to tie the other end to a sunflower on the adjacent row.  As the sunflowers grow, they become the "walls" of the living playhouse.  When the morning glory vines grow, they'll follow the strings across the rows to the opposite sides and make a living, leafy "roof."  Parents and kids can watch the playhouse grow from day to day.  The area underneath the sunflowers will be open and makes a wonderful, cool, shady "playhouse" for kids to play in.  Growing a "living Playhouse" is a really fun (and educational!) activity that lasts all summer long and gets the whole family involved.

Paul M. of BC
Nothing beats this as an exciting an inexpensive family activity. On hot summer evenings head to the airport in your area. Find a dirt road or a parking lot near the runway and lie on the hood of your car, or spread blankets on the ground; anything to get horizontal. Then watch as giant planes swoop over you. You will soon learn the markings and what exactly is underneath a plane. Bring lots of snacks and wait for night to fall so that the lights of the planes come swooping down from the night sky. Can't beat it.

Qué B of BC
Do a mural together with coloured sidewalk chalk on your driveway. Take pictures after to capture your artwork that you created together.

Johnny M of AR
On the Weekends,we love to go to Yadsales, the Kids save up their Allowance and they hardly can't wait for Saturday. Everybody hope to find some Treasure.Afterwards we stop and have Lunch together.

Christine G of OR
On camping trips I like to teach my kidsbout plants.  I have some  flower presses, buyou can use heavy books and wax paper.  First, ind some interesting plants and take a snip, then pressd put in their scrapbook so they can remember the scenery from that trip along with some pictures.  If you get a really good one, they also are great for framing.

Donald F. of WV
A really great activity for a family is a fall outing where everyone helps to make apple cider.  We have this every fall & invite all the families we know & everyone from the youngest to the oldest really have a great time.

Christine W. OK
It is a family affair each August as we prepare for the county fair.  My brother has a huge pear tree which provides us with plenty of pears for making our special recipe of Pear Honey.  It takes all of us to gather the pears and then prepare them for the Pear Honey.  Then while some are preparing the jars, the others are preparing the actual Pear Honey.  We generally have enough for all of the relatives and some extras for Christmas presents.  We have won several blue ribbons at the County Fair.  It is also a family affair when we prepare our entries for the bread baking contest.  We may not win at the fair, but the members of the family and friends love to sample our efforts.

Stephanie T. of OH
One of our favorites is to collect weird shaped rocks, wash them and paint them with animals, houses and wild things! The kids love it and it doesn't cost much.  We save the really good ones and coat them with clear varnish to preserve the artwork...the rest get repainted or we throw back into the wild!

Sherry C. of AR
Have a most hideous contest.  Prizes go to the most horrible hairstyle, made up song lyrics, loudest most off key voice, dance, story or poem, recipe, etc...  Everyone is so busy laughing no one much cares if they win or not, but there are so many things you can do that everyone wins (or loses) at something.

Shirley K of MO
We go to the creek, pick out interesting rocks and paint them like animals.

Kimberly K. of VA
A family reunion with as many or as few people that you want for a long weekend at a campsite (so no one has to put anyone up at their house)with cookouts, sports,games, be as competetive or as relaxed as you want to be.

Kelly To of MO
We get together and make homade dog bones for the animals at our local shelter. We make enough for the dogs at the shelter and then we sell the rest at the annaul christmas bazaar. This is our shelter's largest fund raiser. We have a great time together mixing the dough, cutting out the cookies, baking, and packaging them. People will come to the bazaar just to buy some of our special biscuits. We have been doing this for about 5 years now and its a great way to kick off our holidays, as the bazaar is held the 2nd Sunday in November.