On family nights or weekends, during children's holidays, we often find ourselves trying to find activities to engage our kids instead of just leaving them in front of the TV or computer.
With some preparation and a lot of optimism, these activities will help bring everyone closer and create good moments together. Check out these activity tips that can be done:
1. Make kites for the whole family and have a kite festival at home.
2. Make paper boats, put them in running water, and sing this hymn while placing the boats in the water.
3. Take a historical trip with your family.
4. Go fishing and compare it to missionary work, using Matthew 4:19 and Mark 1:17.
5. Go for a hike. Learn about safety and certain situations in the woods, etc.
6. Take the family swimming and teach about water safety.
7. Go for a bike ride and learn about safety.
8. Observe birds and prepare for a lesson on Creation.
9. Learn motor coordination by playing backyard games. Community and culture.
10. Read a Bible story or scripture book and paint a picture on the theme.
11. Have a patriotism night at home. With country-colored plates, flag ceremony, and country hymns.
12. Visit a museum or an exhibition.
13. Make Christmas tree ornaments (at no cost).
14. Have an ethnic meal. Learn about the country and, over time, prepare a book with recipes from various parts of the world.
15. Learn about Christmas customs in other countries.
16. Look for events in your city or community.
17. Visit community theaters like SESC and SESI (they are usually free).
18. Read excerpts about a prominent member of your community (who was the person that gave the name to my street?).
19. Read the story of a military person who experienced a war.
20. Learn how to support the country's troops.
21. Have fun writing poems.
22. Learn a choreography or put on a family play.
23. Take an old-fashioned family photo.
24. Make a flower arrangement.
25. Create a decoration to give to someone.
26. Learn Morse code.
27. Hold a tournament of some game (Bets, commonly known as Taco, for example).
28. Learn photography techniques.
29. Learn how to exercise as a family.
30. Have a cultural night where the children put on an art exhibition.
31. Write a story together.
32. Learn the history of dance.
33. Visit a library.
34. Try playing musical instruments.
35. Learn magic tricks and put on a show at your home (for those who speak English, try the website Mysterynet).
36. Teach good study habits.
37. Learn something new about culture.
38. Learn new systems of measurements and weights.
39. Learn the alphabet in sign language.
40. Watch the sunrise.
41. Have a picnic. If it rains, have the picnic in the living room, under a blanket, etc.
42. Have a family treasure hunt (the clues can be scriptures, pictures, temple photos, etc.).
43. Hold a bubble gum blowing contest.
44. Cooking contest.
45. Dance in the rain.
46. Decorate the Christmas tree while singing Christmas carols.
47. Make your own family birthday and Christmas cards.
48. Hold a juice-making contest.
49. Family sleepover party.
50. Board games.
51. Bowling.
52. Camping.
53. Play broom-ball (a type of hockey with brooms as sticks and trash cans as goals).
54. Play Frisbee.
55. Visit the zoo or city park.
56. Visit a farm.
57. Tour the city (perhaps by bus).
58. Go for a walk together with the dog.
59. Start a family collection (stamps, stones, coins, etc.).
60. Play pin the tail on the donkey.
61. Organize a game of capture the flag.
62. Climb a tree and talk about nature.
63. Do crosswords together (whoever gets a word right gets a kiss).
67. Cook together (a cake, bread, cookies...).
68. Is it hot? Buy ice cream or make lemonade as a family.
69. Is it cold? Make hot chocolate with toast.
70. Is it raining? Find activities for the rain.
71. Tell stories around a campfire.
72. Watch the sunset and then look at the stars in the sky. Talk about the beautiful works of the Creator.
73. Dress up as a character from the scriptures and tell their story.
74. Play charades.
75. Play dress-up, wearing different clothes and imitating characters.
76. Have a career night.
77. Ask them to prepare messages based on moral and ethical values.
In short, there are many ideas to do with your children and kids. This might become their favorite time; you'll see how they look forward to these moments. Have fun!