Create Play Travel Pacific Northwest family lifestyle and creative ideas
  • Holiday
  • DIY
  • Kids
  • Eats
  • Homeschool
  • Lifestyle
  • Family Travel
  • PNW
  • About
  • Resources

We may have received one or more of the products mentioned below free for review purposes. Our posts contain affiliate links which allow us to earn a commission, at no additional cost to you. All opinions are exclusive to Create. Play. Travel.

5 Awesome Family Day Activities for All Ages

by Katie Wallace | Updated: April 18, 2019

One of the best ways to make family memories is to spend some good old fashioned time together. Kids will often remember that awesome game night or classic book you read together as a family. We’ve been making more of an effort to disconnect from technology and enjoy an occasional family day with our kids. These 5 awesome family day activities are great ways to connect with your kids and encourage some new family hobbies!

Fun ideas to spend time together as a family

Play a Board Game

A family board game night is a fun and interactive way to make family memories. Kids will love competing to win the game and watching mom and dad join the fun. Roosterfin Games makes a variety of easy-to-learn educational games with fun characters such as ninja squirrels, roosters, rabbit pirates and monkeys.

Monkeys Up is a fun family game that reinforces counting, memory and strategy. Players compete to get the highest set of three monkeys. Each monkey has a hidden number under its feet that is only revealed when flipped. Take turns rolling the cube and completing the action; switch, steal or flip. The game moves quickly and keeps the whole family engaged!

Family Day Activities Roosterfin Games

Or take turns flipping Ninja Squirrels cards into the center of the ring and snatching nuts when the colors match. Whoever collects the most acorns wins! Ninja Squirrels is a fast paced game and helps kids learn color identification and practice quick response motor skills.

My kids love playing board games and they are delighted when they can easily understand the goals of a game. Easy board games that repeat simple actions take the focus off learning the game and maximize the fun!

Family Day Activities Roosterfin Games Monkeys Up

Read a Book Out Loud

Another special way to spend a family evening is to read a book out loud. We enjoy choosing a family classic such as The Hobbit or The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Weekend afternoons are a great time to get the family together and read a few chapters of a book out loud. Listening to the story will encourage kids to use their imaginations to visualize the story. I find reading to be much more relaxing than spending time watching a movie or a TV show. Reading out loud stimulates the brain and an imaginative storyline provides thought-provoking entertainment.

Go on a Family Hike

Looking for an outdoor adventure? My kids also enjoy hiking together as a family. We live near many hiking trails that are easy to explore. I love being able to choose a 30 minute hike or a 2 hour hike, depending on how energetic our family is feeling. A family hike is an interactive way to spend an afternoon and enjoy time out of the house, especially when visitors such as grandma and grandpa come to visit. We have spent many memorable hours hiking and casually exploring the outdoors in Idaho, Oregon, Colorado and California.

Family Day Activities Go on a Family Hike

Bake Cookies Together

Baking cookies together is one of our favorite cozy family day activities for all ages. Kids can learn some practical kitchen skills too! My kids enjoy helping me add the flour and baking power to our homemade chocolate chip cookie dough. I usually give my kids a turn to stir the dough and they like to lick the spoon. Incidentally, my husband is the biggest culprit who samples the most of our raw cookie dough, despite protests. You can easily include the whole family in making homemade cookies, and enjoy freshly baked cookies while you play a family board game!

Family Day Activities Painting Day

Paint & Create Custom Art

A painting day is an awesome way to spend the afternoon together with your family. Kids love to be creative and get messy, and what better place to do so than on a canvas?? Plus, if your kids’ art turns out interestingly, you can create a family art wall! I love inspiring my kids to create their own art, think through the design, and fill in the details. All you need for a family art day is some basic art materials:

Art Materials:

  • acrylic paint paper or small canvasses
  • tubes of acrylic paint
  • medium paint brushes
  • jars of water
  • paper towels

Family Day Activities Paint Party

A family day having fun is always a great idea. Which activity would be your favorite to do with your family?

Katie Wallace
Katie Wallace

Hi, I’m Katie! I live with my husband and 4 kids in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. I love Jesus, coffee, creative projects, photography, and traveling. I’ve previously worked as a web designer, journalist, and barista. I hope you enjoy our creative projects and family adventures!

Post navigation

Why You Should Take a Break and Drink Tea
Spring Nature Hunt & Interactive Kids Activities
guest
Recipe Rating




guest
Recipe Rating




1 Comment
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Travelogy
Travelogy
6 years ago

Wow! Lovely ideas for kids. You have described them very well. Kids can enjoy a lot of those activities, like painting. Thanks!

Reply

Kids Categories

  • Kids Activities
  • Paper Crafts
  • Toys
  • Snacks
  • Fashion

Hello

Wallace Family 2024 create play travel

Hi, I'm Katie and we are the Wallace family! We homeschool, go on adventures, and travel internationally with our four kids. I hope you enjoy our creative ideas on Create. Play. Travel.

Do it Yourself

do it yourself watermelon fruit bowl See our creative projects, kids activities, & party ideas »

Homeschool Ideas

katie wallace homeschool ideas Homeschool Tips & Ideas »

Popular Tags

  • Babies
  • Baking
  • Beauty Tips
  • California
  • Camping
  • Colorado
  • Disney
  • DIY
  • Europe
  • Fall
  • Fashion
  • Gift Ideas
  • Holiday Ideas
  • Idaho
  • Kids Activities
  • Kids Science
  • Memories
  • Pacific Northwest
  • Paper Crafts
  • Party Ideas
  • Product Reviews
  • Sensory Play
  • Snacks
  • Teens
  • Toys
  • Valentines Day
  • Videos
  • Wood Projects
  • Worldschooling

Latest YouTube Videos

Create Play Travel Youtube Videos@createplaytravel on YouTube »
Europe with kids YouTube videosEurope with Kids Video Episodes »

createplaytravel

Travel with kids tips & inspo 🌍🌺 Creative family ideas 🌟 Saved by grace ➑️ Follow our adventures!

Fun trend! ✨ Happy New Year! πŸ“Έ Take a picture Fun trend! ✨ Happy New Year!
πŸ“Έ Take a picture of your kids in front of the Christmas tree and ask ChatGPT to turn it into a Norman Rockwell painting.

I love how this turned out! Our family is ending the year with happy hearts, even though our home is busy and loud. 😁 We look forward to the grace, blessings, and growth God has for us in the new year. πŸ©΅βœ¨πŸ’—

🌟 Inspiring families to live creatively and make memories, through adventures! 🌎🩡

➑️ follow along! @createplaytravel

family fun, creative ideas, homeschool family, traveling with kids, family adventures
✨ 2025 held so many adventures, moments of disco ✨ 2025 held so many adventures, moments of discovery, and growth! We’re so thankful for the chance to witness more of God’s beautiful creation with our kids!

✈️🌍 This year’s adventures led us toπŸ“Merida MX, Rome, Pompeii, Florence, Verona, Venice, Lyon, Paris, London, UK and more! 

➑️ follow along! @createplaytravel

🌟 Inspiring families to live creatively and make memories, through adventures! 🌎🩡

family fun, creative ideas, homeschool family, traveling with kids, family adventures, worldschooling
Art from the Louvre felt like the perfect way to a Art from the Louvre felt like the perfect way to add a little culture to our home… do you think anyone will notice? πŸ˜…πŸŽ¨

We love decorating in ways that bring travel memories into our everyday life. πŸ™Œ

Inspiring families to live creatively and make memories, through adventures! 🌎🩡

➑️ follow along! @createplaytravel

family fun, creative ideas, homeschool family, traveling with kids, family adventures
That squeal though πŸ˜‚πŸ˜πŸ˜Š Haha! I just disco That squeal though πŸ˜‚πŸ˜πŸ˜Š Haha! I just discovered my baby girl posted this partially made video from Edits. Her first reel! Go Juliet! I’m glad she loves her play kitchen so much. πŸ’—πŸ˜Š We will love starting the new year with our almost 2-year-old!

🌟 Inspiring families to live creatively and make memories, through adventures! 🌎🩡

➑️ follow along! @createplaytravel

family fun, creative ideas, homeschool family, traveling with kids, family adventures
Skating through snowflakes at CDA on ice! ❄️⛸️

This was a fun pre-Christmas activity for the whole family! ✨

πŸ’¬ Have you done a fun activity this week? 

🌟 Inspiring families to live creatively and make memories, through adventures 🌎🩡

➑️ follow along! @createplaytravel

family fun, creative ideas, homeschool family, traveling with kids, family adventures
Merry Christmas everyone! βœ¨πŸŽ„ Enjoy the treats Merry Christmas everyone! βœ¨πŸŽ„ Enjoy the treats, twinkle lights, and joyous hope celebrating our Savior’s birth!

🌟 Inspiring families to live creatively and make memories, through adventures 🌎🩡

➑️ follow along! @createplaytravel

traveling with kids, family adventures, homeschooling, creative family lifestyle
πŸ’‘ Essential tips for traveling with our 4 kids! πŸ’‘ Essential tips for traveling with our 4 kids!

🧳 Pack light with items that do more

We bring clothes that mix and match, quick-dry layers, fold-flat totes, and activities that encourage creativity. Think art supplies and travel board games. The less we carry, the more we can explore.

πŸ₯ͺ Eat often and try new flavors
We use snack stops and meals to experience local culture. Bakeries, fruit stands, and small cafΓ©s become our favorite spots. 

🏞️ Choose simple adventures over packed days
We go on kid-friendly hikes, stop at playgrounds, and tour cultural centers. We visit great houses, historic workhouses, and local museums.

πŸ“± Use screens sparingly
Ideally our kids only use screens on travel days, and with a time limit. Shows and multi-player games can help turn dull afternoons into family fun!

πŸ”¦ Encourage curiosity
We explore as much as we can with our four kids, shopping at markets, using public transportation, and visiting immersive attractions. We find many free activities, and budget for must-see destinations. 

➑️ Which of these travel tips would help your family the most?

🌟 Inspiring families to live creatively and make memories, through adventures 🌎🩡

➑️ follow along! @createplaytravel

traveling with kids, family adventures, homeschooling, exploring Europe, worldschooling
For us, it’s snacks… lots of them. πŸ˜„ Snacks For us, it’s snacks… lots of them. πŸ˜„ Snacks save the day on long travel days, unexpected detours, and those regular afternoons when everyone needs a boost. ✨

Come join our adventure-loving crew! Follow @createplaytravel for family travel tips, kid-friendly ideas, and creative inspo for exploring the world with your crew. πŸŒπŸ’›

🌟 Inspiring families to live creatively and make memories, through adventures! 🌎🩡

traveling with kids, family adventures, homeschooling, worldschooling
Follow on Instagram
  • Elara Pro by LyraThemes.com
  • Copyright Β© Create. Play. Travel. • Privacy Policy