Now that my little guy is starting to grow up (okay, he's only 9 months), it got me thinking. My husband & I used to spend our spare time usually watching a movie or a TV show. We spent ... a lot ... of time in front of that screen. I realize ... probably not the best ... so I thought I'd try and compile a list of activities that are screen free and family-friendly.
I had this old jar lying around in my house and thought it would make a great "Family Fun Jar" where I could stick all the ideas and we could pull from them when we are either bored or want to do something fun.
It took a few days and a lot of research, but here is the list I compiled...hopefully there are a couple things that might interest you. It ranges from free in-your-own-backyard activities to all-day adventures.
- Play croquet
- Play ladder golf
- Throw the football
- Play catch
- Have a water balloon fight
- Food fight!
- Start a puzzle
- Play hand & foot
- Play a board game
- Make something in the kitchen
- Play a card game
- Draw a picture
- Fly a toy plane
- Fly a toy helicopter in the house
- Play balloon ping pong
- Write an ad-lib story
- Finger paint a masterpiece
- Chase after bubbles
- Run around the park
- Get a Slurpee (or hot cocoa) @ 7-Eleven
- Go swimming
- Go for a walk
- Explore a new hike
- Make smores up the canyon
- Look at the stars tonight
- Treasure hunt!
- Swing in the hammock
- Garden together
- Build a fort
- Wash the cars
- Visit the fire station
- Sidewalk chalk
- Build an instrument
- Visit Wheeler Farm
- Visit grandparents
- Visit cousins
- Play in the dirt, get messy!
- Walk around Temple Square
- Play at City Creek’splayground
- Visit Antelope Island
- Visit Kennecott Copper Mine
- Visit the Capitol building
- Explore Thanksgiving Point
- Enjoy a picnic together
- Eat outside on the porch
- Make homemade ice cream
- Visit the planetarium
- Visit the aquarium
- Visit the zoo
- Practice your family's emergency drill
- Feed the ducks @Sugarhouse Park
- Make a bird feeder
- Go to the fair
- Go to the farmer’s market
- Fly a kite at the park
- Explore the library downtown
- Visit the natural history museum
- Go for a scenic drive
- Toss a Frisbee around
- Check out the Heber Creeper
- Walk around a flower nursery
- Have a photo shoot with nature
- Read a book together
- Visit This is the Place Heritage Park
- Discover new birds @ Tracy Aviary
- Make a sack lunch to eat at the park
- Splash in the fountain at Gateway
- Cheer at a baseball game
- Play in Liberty Park’s Seven Canyons Fountains
- Go out for ice cream
- Make homemade popcorn
- Explore the Church History Museum
- WALK AROUND MEMORY GROVE
- Make paper airplanes & fly them
- Visit the local library
- Have a dance party
- Have a backyard camp out
- Take cookies to the neighbors
- Write random thinking of you cards
- Visit the hospital
- Donate canned food to Utah food Bank
- Give someone a “Heart Attack”
- Perform a random act of kindness
- Make sugar crystal pops
- Make food art
- Tour a candy shop
- Send a card to a far away relative
- Make your mailman a thank you
- Visit the folks at the Wentworth (or local nursing home)
- Visit family members' graves
- MAKE A MUSIC VIDEO
- Rearrange the furniture
- Make a snowman (or ice cream snow man)
- Learn origami
- Write love notes & hide them for family members
- Scavenger hunt
- Squirt bottle fight
- PLAY HIDE AND SEEK
- PLAY IN A CARDBOARD BOX
- DRESS UP AND HAVE A FAMILY PARADE
- Explore Hill Air Force Base
- Have an arm wrestle
- Play shadow tag
- Play spider web toss
- Trace your body on paper & color it in
- Take a bubble bath
- Play the alphabet game
- Give your pet a bath
- Put together a scrapbook page
- Pillow fight
- Learn how to use a compass
- Enjoy a game of checkers
- Find a good spot & watch the sunset
- Visit the airport
- Go bowling
- Have a jump rope contest
- Go puddle jumping
- Look out every window of the house
- Learn a new word in the dictionary
- Back massage train
- Climb a tree
- Walk backwards for 20 minutes
- Practice juggling
- Write a grateful list
- Cloud gaze
- Eat an apple without using your hands
- Make a paper chain for an exciting event
- Learn the alphabet in sign language
- Draw what you see out the window
- Make something out of a cardboard box
- Melt crayons for new artwork
- Play outdoor scrabble
- Have a stamp party (pull out all your stamps & stickers)
- Try different yoga poses
- Make a letters with your body
- Enjoy an outdoor concert
- Make footprint/hand print art
- Have a cup stacking contest
- Build something
- Set up an obstacle course
- Dye Easter eggs
- Attend a local sporting event
- Clean up litter at the park
- Learn a new language
- Run through the sprinklers
- Play dodge ball
- Learn a magic trick
- Play in a band
- Play soccer in the school yard
- Melt something with a magnifying glass
- Hike Ensign Peak
- Learn about an animal
- FIND THE TEMPERATURE BY COUNTING CRICKETS CHIRP
So, turn off those screens, pick an activity and go enjoy some quality family time:)
