How to Make Family Time More Fun: Top 8 Activities
From Boredom to Joy: Transforming Family Play Into Creative, Unforgettable Family Adventures.
Rudy Anderson - Pixabay.com
From one parent to another, I’m sure you know how important doing stuff together is. It helps us bond as a family and boosts their development.[1] Plus, the fun and laughter are an added bonus we can’t get enough of.
There are so many other benefits to consistent family activities. Your little one can learn how to:
Behave positively
Have good self-esteem
Become better at communicating
Do better academically
But as a momma who gets bored of playing the same car game for the friggin’ 10th time in one day, sometimes it can get a little boring for us when we play with our kiddos. But it doesn’t have to be boring! Doing something creative and new is all you need to up the fun.
As a momma of two hyper little boys and a parenting copywriter, a lot of my time is focused on staying up-to-date with all things parenting and child development. And I’m no gatekeeper, friend, that’s why I’m sharing some tips and tricks that make family activities fun for everyone!
The Benefits of Play for Both Kids and Adults
Your connection with your child will strengthen the more you spend time with them. Whether it’s fun family games, creative activities for kids, or even a dance party. 💃 Your bond with your child will grow and create a safe space for your child to better communicate with you.
You can also help your child regulate their emotions through play. If your child is trying to do a puzzle and can’t seem to put a piece in, they may get frustrated. So, they throw some puzzle pieces and turn away. Maybe they even cross their arms and do that “hmph!” sound my 3-year-old loves to do.
This is a perfect opportunity to help your child figure out their emotions and how to handle these situations. You can teach them patience and to keep on trying when things get tough.
This is why it’s essential to find fun and creative activities for kids. It can help you and your child’s creativity, imagination, and emotional regulation.
If we let our children play with little to no rules, they will think out of the box and play differently than we would. (Which, honestly, is pretty impressive, I must say.) By letting them explore their curiosities safely, we can enjoy playing with our children and watching them learn.
Creative Play Ideas for Fun Family Activities
I know it can be hard to come up with new and fun activities all the time. It’s like when you’re craving to make something new for dinner, but you’re not sure what else there is to make aside from the usual.
The most important thing to remember is to just have fun as a family. Especially because this time together is what creates memories and strong bonds. So I’ve put together a list of 8 family activities you and your fam will absolutely enjoy.
Arts and Crafts: You can color together, finger paint, make hand prints, and more. You can also draw together – take turns adding something to a piece of paper to create art together. Get some chalk and draw outside. Everyone will get some sun, and the rain will handle the clean-up. Win-win!
Collage Making: Use any old magazines to clip pictures or letters to make something together. You can add family photos or make a scrapbook together.
DIY Sensory Play: Stimulate your child’s senses with a sensory bin. You can use items like rice, beans, marbles, play-dough, sand, water, etc. Give them tools like spoons, cups, small shovels, small bowls, small buckets, etc. You might wanna get in on the fun, too. It’s pretty soothing for your inner child.
Homemade Play-Dough and Slime: You and your kiddo can make slime or play-dough together with just a few ingredients. Use the play-dough to build things together like sandcastles, houses, fake pizza, and so much more. Cutting the play-dough with your tiny toy knife may even make your inner child happy.
Dress-up and Role Play: Unleash your and your child’s imagination. You can play out a scene from their favorite show or movie. You can take turns dressing up as favorite characters or family members and guess who the other is.
Acting Out Stories: You can act out stories or scenarios without having to get dressed up. This will leave a lot up to your imagination. You can make reading a book more fascinating by acting it out or reading in different voices. Take turns with this – you act out one page and your little one the next.
Cooking Adventures: Involving kiddos in the kitchen goes a long way. Include them in the decision-making and prep. If you’re making a cake, have ingredients ready for your child to toss in the right amount. You can make different shapes together or use shape cutouts. Involvement in the kitchen increases their chances of eating what was made and gives them a sense of independence.
Indoor and Outdoor Games: Play some active games to burn energy. You can also create obstacle courses or scavenger hunts, play hide-and-seek, Simon says, keep the balloon up, and more. Feel free to add your own twists to any game you’d like. Or, for even more fun and independence, have your kiddo come up with the rules.
These are only some of the many activities you can enjoy doing with your child. Even just one activity together a day makes a massive difference in your child and even in you. So here are some tips to make sure you’re optimizing on the fun.
Tips for Parents to Maximize Fun and Engagement
As a parent, I’m sure you’ve heard people say that kids grow in the blink of an eye. If I had a penny for each time I’ve heard that, my kids would be set for college. But it’s true – these moments are fleeting. So it’s crucial to actually enjoy it to the fullest.
Here are some tips to help make the best of family activities:
Be Present and Engaged: Give your undivided attention during playtime.
Ex: Turn off the TV and put your phone down. This makes them feel like it’s truly one-on-one time and shows you’re solely focused on them. A few minutes of undivided attention can go a long way.
Encourage Imagination: Let your child take the lead during play.
Ex: Don’t tell your child how to play, let them figure it out safely to grow their own creativity and imagination. And if they’re confused, guide them towards the answer without quite telling them it.
Embrace Mess and Chaos: Foster a carefree play environment.
Ex: Prepare for messes so that clean-up can be easier. Try not to stress about it and enjoy your child having fun. Letting them play carefree lets them be creative. After playtime, you can show them how to clean up after themselves. Win-win!
Celebrate Accomplishments: Praise effort and creativity.
Ex: Children thrive on praise. It makes them feel good about themselves and gives them confidence. Let them know they’re doing good or how creative they’re being.
Make Memories: Document playtime through photos and videos.
Ex: Sometimes you’re so busy having fun and living in the moment that you may forget to record it. Every now and then, take some pictures and videos to remember playing together and what you want to remember your child doing. For instance, if you feel really excited about your child singing a song for the first time, take out your phone and record it. Use your excitement as a reminder, you won’t regret it.
As a busy momma, it’s hard to always have fun and constantly give your undivided attention, especially with more than one kid. But please remember to give yourself grace.
As parents, we juggle a lot while wanting the best for our children. You don’t have to play or do family activities all day. Playing with your child every once in a while or once a day with your undivided attention is enough to have a good impact on them and your bond with them.
Child Play Can Be Enjoyable for You Too
If you’re like me and you want what’s best for your little ones, then please know you are doing your best. Knowing the benefits of play will definitely help you prioritize and enjoy creative activities with your kids.
I personally know that after reading articles like this, you may start questioning whether you’re doing a great job. And I want to take the time to remind you that you are. You being here, and reading these words, already shows how caring of a parent you are.
And your kiddos don’t want, need, or expect a perfect parent – they just need a present one.
I hope you’ll enjoy these family activities with your fam. Because playtime doesn’t have to be boring and repetitive. You may even find yourself releasing your inner child (your kids will love that version of you).
Feel free to share this blog on family activities with your friends and family to spark their creativity and playtime.
Have a parenting or child development business and are interested in getting similar blogs? No problem, reach out to me today to see if we’re a good fit.
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