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Incredible Family Activities
It seems like life is just so busy these days. And, because of those days, it’s hard to fit in family fun time.But, that time is so important! So, let’s find some pockets of time and reconnect with our family.
Superscript
Families That Play Together...
Build Memories That Last Forever
These are some of my favorite family activities. I hope they will give you tons of ideas, whether you’ve got an hour or a whole day. Don't forget to add in your own flair when creating and preparing for your own family time. (I got you. I do the same thing!)
Let’s make some incredible memories together!
Family Fun Ideas
Whether you want to use your family time to give back to your community or you want to settle in for a cozy evening at home, you’ll find plenty of ideas below.
Make memories and go on adventures together with all of these awesome family fun ideas.
Family Friendly Movies for Family Movie Night
Have a family movie night together! Here are some great tips and movie suggestions.
Discover a New Playground for Outdoor Family Fun
Get out and explore together while you discover a new park.
Tips for Hiking With Young Children
Get outside and explore on a hike. These tips will help make your trip fun and successful.
10 Fun Walk Ideas for Families
Walks don't have to be boring! Check out these great ideas for family walks
Easy to Play Card Games for Family Game Night
Have a family game night with one of these great card games.
June Simple Family Fun Ideas
These simple family fun ideas are perfect for summer!
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Tips for Observing the Night Sky for Kids
Go outside and observe the night sky with your family.
Gratitude Conversation Starters
Start a conversation about gratitude with this free printable set of conversation starters.
Fun Ways to Help Your Local Animal Shelter
Volunteer together to help your local animal shelter with these fun ideas.
10 Reasons to Visit a State Park This Weekend (Or Any Weekend)
Go on an adventure to visit a nearby state park. There are so many fun things to do there!
Family Bird Watching Club
Start a new hobby with your family and learn all about birds.
Top 10 Simple Summer Field Trips
Go on a simple field trip with your family. These ideas are fun for summertime, but you can really do them any time of the year.
200 Fun Ideas for Your Summer Bucket List
Make a summer bucket list and fill it with one of these great ideas!
Creative Family Fun Nights: Spooky Stories
Have a fun family night telling spooky (but not too scary) stories.
Creative Family Fun Nights: Family Olympics
Get active together with this fun idea for a family outdoor game day.
Creative Family Fun Nights: Paper Airplane Races
Build and race paper airplanes with this simple family fun night idea.
Creative Family Fun Nights: Family Interviews
Get to know each other better with a fun night of family interviews.
Perfect Puzzles for the Family to Enjoy This Holiday Season
Work a jigsaw puzzle together with these great suggestions.
July Simple Family Fun Ideas
Have some summer fun with these simple family adventure ideas.
Spring Family Fun Ideas to Do in May
Spring is a great time to go on a family adventure. Try one of these simple ideas!
Neighborhood Halloween Scavenger Hunt
Explore your neighborhood this Halloween with this fun scavenger hunt idea.
Fun STEM Projects for Kids
Simple and Fun Activities for Toddlers
Tips for Observing Nature With Small Children
Nature Activity Books for Young Explorers
Connect with Other Families
Join our fun Facebook community, Creative Family Fun for Busy Families, for daily activities that are great for kids and families. We’ll chat, share, and have fun. It’s a safe and private place to share ideas for family and kids activities.
103 Sleepover Ideas and Tips for Parents
(Plus an Epic Movie List
Sleepovers are one of the most exciting experiences for kids and teenagers. Whether it's a birthday celebration, a weekend get-together or just an excuse to hang out in sleeping bags all night, there are endless fun things to do.
Could Too Much Screen Time Mean Obesity or Cancer?
You can add exposure to artificial light to the long list of factors that may affect your body mass index - and maybe even cause cancer.
10 Forts to Build With Kids
Every kid dreams of having the ultimate play fort. Here are 10 you can build for your child to make those dreams come true.
5 Fun Scavenger Hunt Ideas
Keep the kids busy on rainy days, long car trips, or at the park with these easy scavenger hunt ideas.
10 Great Hobbies for Busy Moms
Fun, productive, and satisfying hobbies that can be enjoyed in short bursts of time.
How to Stay Involved with Your Tween Without Hovering
They're called "helicopter parents," and their hovering behavior does more harm than good for a child. How do you prevent yourself from falling into this trap?
10 Things Tweens Actually *Want* to Do After School
Maybe you'd prefer your tween to clean his or her bedroom or pick up a wholesome hobby like knitting or reading. But what does your tween really want to do after a long day at school?
10 Things Tweens Actually *Like* To Do After School
Tweens can be a finicky bunch. Your tween doesn't like sitting still in class, but all she wants to do after school is veg out in front of the TV. Inspire your tween to get out there and make the most of her day with these 10 after school activities.
10 Tips for Taking a Nature Walk in Your Backyard
Lots of families take a weekend break with a trip out to the park or zoo. But with a little preparation, you can have a similar experience in your own backyard. Get ready for a wild trek through home territory.
10 Ways to Entertain Kids on a Road Trip
If you're a parent looking for a few ways to break up the monotony of a long road trip with the kids, then look no further. We have a few ways to keep your little back-seat occupants entertained.
Snow Activities
Snowy days aren't just for sitting in the house. Winter craft activities are a great way to learn about the properties of snow.
Bird-Watching Activities for Kids
For centuries man has been obsessed with birds and flight. These bird-watching activities for kids will help to increase knowledge about birds and their daily activities. And, more importantly, they're just plain fun to do!
Bird-Watching Projects for Kids
Check out these projects and activities to learn more about the fascinating world of birds. Whether you are new to bird-watching or a seasoned birding veteran, you're sure to find a great bird-watching project in this article.
Christmas Games: Find Santa Claus
Nothing signifies Christmas in the mind of a child like Santa Claus, so your kids will be delighted to prepare for the holiday by finding Santa with these free printable Christmas games.
Christmas Games: Find the Night Before Christmas
It's the night before Christmas, and all through the town, A. Mouse is looking for signs of Santa Claus. Can you help him find Santa's reindeer, the Christmas shoppers, and more?
Christmas Games: Find the Twelve Days of Christmas
On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me a partridge in a pear tree. What comes next in the beloved Christmas song? Search for presents from The Twelve Days of Christmas and have some holiday fun.
Christmas Games: Find the Nutcracker
Going to see The Nutcracker is a favorite Christmas tradition in many families -- and familiarity with the characters and music makes these Christmas games that much more fun. Print out these games and have some fun beforehand!
Christmas Games: Find Christmas Angels
Everyone is aiming to be an angel during the Christmas season, so use these free printable Christmas games as some fun inspiration for parents and kids alike. Get your holiday spirit started.
Movie Parties
For family Fun
For family Fun
Ultimate Guide to 'Cars' Party
A fantasy world inhabited only by cars is the setting of the Disney/Pixar collaboration "Cars." Learn about the animation process as we take you behind the scenes with director John Lasseter.
Ultimate Guide to 'Monsters, Inc.' Movie Party
'Monsters Inc.' is one of Disney-Pixar's cleverest and best-loved animated features. Take a behind-the-scenes look at the making of this splendid film -- a combination of high-tech sparkle and heartwarming characters.
Ultimate Guide to 'The Incredibles' Movie
The Incredibles' wasn't only a box-office smash hit -- it was also a technological marvel of animation. In this article we go behind the scenes to find out how 'The Incredibles' was made. Learn more about 'The Incredibles.'
Ultimate Guide to Winnie the Pooh Party
Winnie the Pooh is one of the world's favorite bears. In this article we'll travel down memory lane and show you how the character of Winnie the Pooh came to life. Join the trip as we learn about Winnie the Pooh, his friends, and the movies and shows they've had.
Ultimate Guide to 'Finding Nemo' Party
'Finding Nemo' was a blockbuster movie that also set the standard for animation technology. Here is a close look at how this spectacular movie came to be.
Ultimate Guide to Thomas the Tank Engine Party
Thomas the Tank Engine is the world's most famous fictional locomotive. For more than 50 years he and his friends in the railyard have made the Island of Sodor a fascinating and educational place. Learn all the details about Thomas the Tank Engine.
Ultimate Guide to Scooby-Doo Party
'Scooby-Doo' has been one of the most popular cartoons of the past four decades -- during which it's undergone many changes but kept its vital spark. Here's a look at the phenomenon that is 'Scooby-Doo.'
Ultimate Guide to Elmo Party
Elmo joined "Sesame Street" 21 years ago, and his own "Elmo's World" segments debuted almost a decade ago -- to the delight of kids everywhere. He is now the most recognized children's character in the United States. Take a peek into Elmo's past, present and future.
Ultimate Guide to Sponge Bob Square Pants Party
How has a humble little sea sponge soaked up so many viewers since his 1999 premiere? Learn about the secrets to SpongeBob's success and find your favorite episode with a complete episode guide.
Ultimate Guide to A Disney Princess Party
It started with Snow White six decades ago. Now it's an entertainment and marketing dynasty known as Disney Princess. Learn about Ariel, Belle, Cinderella, Jasmine, Mulan, Pocahontas and Sleeping Beauty in this article.
Ultimate Guide to Dora the Explorer Party
"Dora the Explorer" is one of the most popular television shows for preschoolers. We spoke with co-creator Valerie Walsh to find out how Dora the Explorer went from an idea to the series.
Family Activities and Adventures
Easy Outdoor Games for Kids
Turn stuffed-animal washing into a game.
Easy outdoor games for kids offer lively activities to capture imaginations and keep feet moving. Toss coins and roll balls. See who can wash their stuffed animal the fastest or follow a scent trail through the woods. Blow soap bubbles or ice-chip "darts." These are just some of the activities in these easy outdoor games for kids.
With so much to do -- and with easy instructions and limited materials needed -- there's no excuse to sit inside. Bring the kids out, enjoy the weather, and have some fun.
For more easy and fun activities and crafts for kids, check out:
Hit the Coin Game
The Hit the Coin Game proves that games don't need to be complicated to be fun. All you need are a sidewalk, a coin and a ball, and this easy outdoor game for kids will provide hours of activity.
What You'll Need:
Level sidewalk with large concrete squares
Coin or other token
Ball
Two players
Step 1: Find a level sidewalk of large concrete squares.
Step 2: Place a coin or other token on the seam between two squares.
Step 3: Have each player stand on the far end of one of the concrete squares with their toes on the seam so that each player is one square from the coin. (If the squares are small, players can move two squares away.)
Step 4: Take turns trying to hit the coin with the ball and move it into the opponent's square. Each direct hit scores one point. Flipping the coin scores two points.
Step 5: The first player to reach 21 points wins the game. In some versions, the player also wins the coin.
Look on the next page to see how you can add more challenge and fun to hopscotch with a 12-square version.
For more easy and fun activities and crafts for kids, check out:
Hopscotch With 12 Squares
Try playing hopscotch with 12 squares.
Play hopscotch with 12 squares -- this easy outdoor game for kids will have you jumping for joy.
What You'll Need:
Chalk
Sidewalk
Step 1: Make a grid of 12 squares, each 2 x 2 feet, on the sidewalk.
Step 2: Number the squares one to 12. (You don't have to number them in any particular order, but be sure each number is not more than one row away from the previous number.)
Step 3: Hop on one foot from square one to square two, square three, and so on.
Step 4: Each player's turn ends when he or she accidentally steps out of a square or lands out of sequence. If no one misses the easy way, turn up the heat. Make them put their hands behind their backs and repeat the process. Still no flubs? Try jumping to only even-numbered or odd-numbered squares.
Need a fast game to get everybody up and moving? Go to the next page to find an old favorite, the Boot Hill Game.
For more easy and fun activities and crafts for kids, check out:
Boot Hill Game
Slip out of your shoes and into some fun with the Boot Hill Game. Speed, dexterity and shoe recognition count in this easy outdoor game for kids.
What You'll Need:
Players' shoes
Whistle
Step 1: All players remove their shoes and put them in a pile.
Step 2: Mix the pile completely.
Step 3: Have the players form a circle around the pile, with everyone standing about 10 feet away from it.
Step 4: When the whistle sounds, the players head for the pile. The winner is the first player to find both of his or her own shoes and put them on.
Go to the next page to find out how to play a fast-action game that really gets the balls rolling.
For more easy and fun activities and crafts for kids, check out:
Ball Rolling Game
This ball rolling game is constant motion.
"The more the merrier" applies to this ball rolling game. The more balls you have, the more fun you'll find in this easy outdoor game for kids. And although the action may get fast and furious, this game can be fun for tots, as well as for older kids.
What You'll Need:
As many soft, rolling balls (of all sizes) as you and your friends can find
A clear, level section of ground or grass
Step 1: Gather your friends and all the rolling balls you have.
Step 2: Sit in a circle with your legs spread extra wide and the tips of your toes touching. Put the balls in the middle.
Step 3: Once the circle is formed, sit cross-legged with gaps in the circle on either side of you.
Step 4: Count "one, two, three" with your friends, and then go! Start those balls rolling all at once.
The object of the game is to keep the balls moving as fast as you can while preventing them from leaving the circle. Roll the balls low to the ground so no one gets a ball in the face. And have fun.
Remember, there are no losers in this game. You're all winners because you're all having a good time, no matter how long the crazy game lasts.
Go to the next page to find out how you can test your senses while getting to know a tree.
For more easy and fun activities and crafts for kids, check out:
Meet a Tree Game
The Meet a Tree Game tests how well kids know the trees in their favorite park -- and how well they remember details. Kids use every sense but sight to explore a tree, and then see if they can find that tree again once their sight is restored. Play this easy outdoor game for kids in a wooded area or a park with lots of trees.
What You'll Need:
Area with a lot of trees
Partner
Blindfold
Step 1: Divide the players up into two-person teams. One person in each team puts on a blindfold.
Step 2: The partner turns the blindfolded person around two or three times, and then leads the person in a zig-zag path to a tree. The partner must be very careful to lead the blindfolded person around dangers.
Step 3: The blindfolded person explores the tree, taking as much time as he or she needs to feel the texture of the bark, find bumps or hollows, and find patches of moss or other features.
Step 4: When the blindfolded person is done, the partner leads him or her in a zig-zag path away from the tree, turning the blindfolded person around two or three times in the middle.
Step 5: The blindfolded person takes the blindfold off and tries to find the same tree.
Step 6: The partners switch places and explore another tree.
Why just play Blind Man's Bluff inside? Go to the next page to find an easy outdoor version that focuses on nature.
For more easy and fun activities and crafts for kids, check out:
Blind Man's Bluff in Nature
See nature in a new way with Blind Man's Bluff in Nature.
Blind Man's Bluff in Nature will have kids using all of their senses except sight. This easy outdoor game for kids will have them discovering details they never experienced before.
What You'll Need:
Strips of cloth to use as blindfolds
Partner
Step 1: Divide the players into groups of two.
Step 2: One player puts on the blindfold.
Step 3: The other player leads the blindfolded player around, guiding him or her to touch, smell, and listen to different things in nature.
Step 4: The blindfolded player tries to guess what each thing is.
Step 5: The players trade places and try the game again.
Step 6: After the game, ask the players, "Do you notice more how things feel, smell, and sound than you did before?" Even familiar places can seem like strange new worlds!
Test your sense of smell, and find out how dogs feel when they sniff their way around a park. Learn how on the next page.
For more easy and fun activities and crafts for kids, check out:
Test Your Sense of Smell
Test your sense of smell, and find out how dogs and cats feel when sniffing their way around a park. Humans have an amazing ability to distinguish hundreds of different scents, but our sense of smell isn't nearly as well-developed as in many other mammals. This easy outdoor game for kids will let them perceive the world as many animals do -- by scent.
What You'll Need:
Spray bottle
Strong-smelling flavoring extract (vanilla, mint, lemon)
Water
Step 1: Fill a spray bottle with water, and add one or two teaspoons of a strong-scented extract. (Peppermint, lemon, and vanilla work well.)
Step 2: Make a trial spray on a tree to see if the scent is strong enough to detect.
Step 3: Have the players close their eyes while one person runs ahead through a wooded area with the spray bottle. The person laying the trail should spray trees and other objects along the way. If playing in grassy fields, be careful not to leave an obvious track through the grass.
Step 4: When the trail maker is done, the rest of the players try to follow the trail.
Go to the next page to learn how you can take your imagination on a wild ride with Drive-By Fiction.
For more easy and fun activities and crafts for kids, check out:
Drive-By Fiction
Let your imagination take you on a wild ride with Drive-By Fiction. Most people wonder how writers come up with their stories and tales. This easy outdoor game for kids may give them an idea.
What You'll Need:
Imagination
Notebook
Pencil or pen
Step 1: Sit with a friend and a notebook, facing the street. Carefully watch the cars as they drive by, one by one. Watch the people walking their dogs or riding their bikes. What are the people wearing? How do they sound? What are they carrying with them? What do their cars' license plates say? Do their cars run smoothly? Are their cars' windshields cracked?
Step 2: Make as many observations as you can about five different people.
Step 3: Build a story around those people.
Step 4: Share it with your family, teacher, or friends, or just write it down for fun. But let your imagination run wild!
Want to try a simple game of skill? Go to the next page to find out how you can use pennies to capture a quarter in a bucket of water.
For more easy and fun activities and crafts for kids, check out:
Coins in a Bucket Game
Try the Coins in a Bucket Game.
Try your luck at the watery Coins in a Bucket Game. You'll find it's a lot harder than it looks! But this easy outdoor game for kids provides a lot of amusement for only a handful of change.
What You'll Need:
Bucket
Water
Quarters
Pennies
Step 1: Fill a bucket with water, and drop a quarter into it.
Step 2: Take a handful of pennies, and drop them into the bucket one by one. Try to drop each penny so that it lands right on top of the quarter.
Step 3: Keep track of how many tries it takes to "capture" the quarter. If you're playing against a friend, take turns, and the one who captures the quarter first wins.
Try a safe version of dart-blowing with straws and ice. Keep reading to find out how.
For more easy and fun activities and crafts for kids, check out:
Ice Shot Game
Try the Ice Shot Game to let kids test the power of their breath. Some ancient tribes used blow guns to hunt for food for their families. This easy outdoor game for kids lets them try the dart-blowing technique safely while having wild and watery fun.
What You'll Need:
Paper
Washable markers
Tape
Drinking straws
Finely crushed ice
Step 1: Make targets out of paper, and color them with washable markers. Make sure nothing is left white.
Step 2: Tape your targets to a fence post, and have each player back away at least 10 paces.
Step 3: One by one, have each player shoot for those targets, using an ordinary drinking straw as the blow gun and tiny pieces of crushed ice as "darts."
Step 4: Set a time limit for each player, and then check the target for the watery smear marks that show dead-on hits of ice.
Step 5: Continue until every player has had a turn. The person with the most hits wins the round.
Are some of your kids' stuffed animals overdue for cleaning? Go to the next page to find an easy game that makes plushy grooming fun.
For more easy and fun activities and crafts for kids, check out:
Stuffed Animal Wash
Groom fast to win the Stuffed Animal Wash.
The Stuffed Animal Wash puts fast first as kids shampoo plush pets. How long does it take to give a pet a bath? Gather the kids in your back yard with their stuffed animals and find out. Pick a warm and sunny day for this easy outdoor activity for kids.
What You'll Need:
Stuffed animals
Stopwatch
Shampoo
Buckets
Hose and water
Step 1: Make sure each player has his or her own fabric friend.
Step 2: Give each player enough room to bathe that animal.
Step 3: Start the clock, and have the players get to work wetting and soaping their animals.
Step 4: Have them make sure the entire animal is covered in suds, and then hose it down and check their time. The quickest groomer wins the race.
Go to the next page to find out how you can float some fun with a soap bubble bonanza.
For more easy and fun activities and crafts for kids, check out:
Soap Bubble Bonanza
Float some fun with a soap bubble bonanza! Almost nothing is more fun than blowing hundreds and hundreds of soap bubbles. When kids are bored and looking for something to do, try this easy outdoor game for kids. Dig out a bottle of bubbles, and float on the fun.
What You'll Need:
Bubble solution
A few friends (optional)
Step 1: See how many bubbles you can blow, alone or with friends.
Step 2: See how many bubbles you can pop.
Step 3: See how big you can blow your bubbles, or how far yours can travel before bursting.
Step 4: See if you can find a way to make bubbles extra small.
Go to the next page to find out how your kids can exchange secrets with coded message kites.
For more easy and fun activities and crafts for kids, check out:
Coded Message Kites
Share secrets with coded message kites.
With coded message kites, kids can send secret messages to friends -- messages that only their friends can read. Try this easy outdoor game for kids on a windy day.
What You'll Need:
Permanent markers
Plastic shopping bag
Ball of string
Ribbon
Stapler and staples
Step 1: Draw pictures on the plastic bag with markers to make a coded message.
Step 2: Tie the handles of the plastic shopping bag together with the end of a ball of string.
Step 3: Staple a few 2-foot lengths of ribbon to the bottom of the bag for kite tails.
Step 4: Find a windy spot outdoors (away from any overhead wires), and start running.
Step 5: As the bag fills with air, slowly let out the string. The kite should begin to soar and dive.
Step 6: See if your friend can figure out the message you drew on the kite.
Don't forget to take your kite in the house or put it in a trash can when you've finished playing with it. Plastic bags are dangerous for small children and animals.
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