Weekend fun for the whole family! Running out of ideas to keep the kids entertained over the weekend is a common problem many parents face. With no school, children tend to have excess energy and can get restless if not kept occupied. Fortunately, we’ve got some fantastic and creative activities up our sleeves that will ensure everyone has a blast. From artsy pursuits to engaging games, these ideas will help strengthen family bonds while keeping your little ones busy and happy.
Picnic
With the COVID-19 pandemic now under control, it’s the perfect time to get the kids outside and enjoy a fun-filled family picnic. Whether you set up a cozy blanket in your backyard or head to a nearby park, this is an opportunity to create lifelong memories with your little ones. To build excitement, involve them in the planning process by letting them help pack their favorite snacks into a basket.
As you arrive at the picnic spot, take some time to relax and enjoy a hearty meal together, followed by some friendly games and quality time spent laughing and having a blast. With this special day, you’ll be creating a treasured experience for your family that will surely leave a lasting impression.
Bike Ride
As the sun starts to shine brighter, it’s essential to get your kids the perfect set of wheels. Bike riding is an unparalleled summer experience that not only encourages exploration but also fosters social skills, confidence, and independence. For children who may be shy or introverted, bike riding can help them break out of their shell and make new friends. And why should adults miss out on the fun? Grab a set for yourself too and enjoy quality time with your little ones on weekends.
The thrill of cruising together will undoubtedly create lifelong memories.
Game Night
Escape into quality time with your loved ones by dedicating the weekend to a family game night. Set aside distractions and indulge in a series of activities that bring everyone together. From classic board games like Monopoly and Scrabble, to card games, party favorites like Taboo and Charades, there’s a wide range of options to suit every age and interest. Make it a habit by incorporating this tradition into your weekend routine.
Baking Cookies
Why not make baking cookies a regular family tradition, rather than just reserving it for Christmas? Start by planning to make more batches over the weekend, selecting new flavors, shapes, and icing options together with your kids. Take them shopping for ingredients and involve them in the process of baking from scratch. By doing so, you’ll be building anticipation and excitement around even the simplest tasks, making memories that will last a lifetime.
Build a Fort
Embrace your inner child by rekindling a classic childhood tradition: building an epic fort with pillows and blankets. Invite your little ones to join in on the fun, and watch as their imaginations run wild. As you work together to create the ultimate hideout, don’t forget to get cozy inside and enjoy some quality time together. Put on a favorite movie, have a family storytelling session, or simply bask in the warm glow of this special bonding experience.
Not only will these activities bring joy to your tiny tots, but they’ll also help foster important social skills and emotional intelligence.
Movie Night
Instead of building an elaborate fort, why not create a cozy movie setup? A simple combination of blankets, pillows, a great film, and some scrumptious snacks can be all it takes to have a delightful movie night with your little ones. The best part is that you can let them take the reins – let them pick their favorite movie, help with snack selection, and even assist in setting up the whole affair.
If you’re feeling extra adventurous, you could even let them stay up a bit later than usual, making it an unforgettable experience for them.
Play Dress Up
This weekend, treat your girls to an afternoon of unadulterated joy and silliness by indulging in a game of dress-up. The possibilities are endless, as you can choose from a variety of costumes to create a unique experience. To take it to the next level, break out the makeup and accessories, including colorful wigs that perfectly complement your little ones’ outfits. Trust me when I say that this activity will provide hours of entertainment for everyone involved.
Have a Tea Party
Host an authentic afternoon tea party experience for your little ones! Begin by designing custom invitations and sending them out to your tiny guests. When they arrive, set up a delightful spread featuring bite-sized sandwiches, small cakes, and an assortment of teas and cookies. To elevate the occasion, incorporate various tea varieties and sweet treats that are sure to impress even the most discerning young palates. For more creative indoor activities for kids, explore our curated selection.
Play Sports
While dedicating weekends to outdoor activities can be a fantastic way to create lasting memories with your child, it’s equally important to encourage them to develop an appreciation for sports. Consider reserving time for recreational pursuits like football, basketball, or even mini-golf, which not only fosters this habit but also provides a great workout routine for both of you.
Moreover, engaging in physical activities together can be an excellent way to strengthen your bond with your child, promoting trust and understanding. By incorporating these simple yet enjoyable activities into your weekend routine, you’ll be supporting your child’s overall development while creating cherished moments that will last a lifetime.
Museum Trip
Weekends are the perfect opportunity to create lifelong memories with your kids. Take some time to sit down together and brainstorm a list of fun and educational places you’d both love to visit. In addition to local attractions, consider adding museums that align with your children’s interests, such as an art museum, a naval museum, or even a locomotive museum. With so many options available in your state or city, there’s no shortage of exciting experiences waiting to be discovered.
Neighbourhood Walk
Transforming mundane daily routines into unforgettable experiences is as simple as sharing them with your family. Taking a leisurely walk around the neighborhood, for instance, can be elevated to an exciting adventure when everyone pitches in. Grab your little ones’ favorite water bottles and walking shoes, and embark on a delightful journey together. This activity not only strengthens the bond between parents and children but also fosters a sense of camaraderie and shared joy.
For more ideas on developing essential skills with 1-year-olds, check out our additional resources.
Puzzles
Embarking on a fun-filled puzzle adventure with your kids is an excellent way to spend weekends together. Similar to card and board games, weekend puzzles offer a wonderful opportunity for bonding and mental stimulation. By making shopping for puzzles a regular activity, you can turn it into a special weekend tradition.
Puzzles are an incredible tool for developing young minds, helping them cultivate essential skills such as observing the bigger picture, focusing on details, and enhancing cognitive abilities. As you work through puzzles together, you’ll create lasting memories while fostering a deeper connection with your children.
Camping
Packing for a camping trip is an experience in itself, whether you’re embarking on a backyard adventure or venturing into nature. The thrill of preparing for a camping escapade with your little ones can be just as exhilarating as the actual trip itself.
As you gather around the campfire with your kids, you can spark their sense of adventure by building fires, indulging in s’mores parties and sharing tales of wonder under the stars.
Camping is an unbeatable way to forge unbreakable bonds within your family. Moreover, kids are naturally drawn to camping trips.
In fact, camping has been proven to be a highly rewarding experience for youngsters, fostering a sense of independence, teamwork, and resilience while creating lifelong memories with loved ones.
Painting
Consider sparking creativity with your little ones by incorporating painting into your weekend routine. Whether you opt for structured painting lessons or simply explore fun techniques together, this activity can foster bonding and encourage artistic expression. For those seeking a more informal approach, discover online tutorials and get creative with your kids on Saturday afternoons.
Set up a Lemonade Stand
Let’s bring back the joy of creating a Lemonade Stand! Who didn’t have a blast setting one up as a school project or just for fun? The rise of technology may have replaced these simple yet delightful activities, but it’s time to revive them. Gather your child and set up an elaborate lemonade stand together. Invite the neighbors over and enjoy the sweet taste of nostalgia.
This activity can be turned into a full-day summer adventure for your kid, from building the stand to selling the lemonade and wrapping everything up.
Create a Family Tree
Crafting a family tree offers numerous creative possibilities. You can use unconventional materials like wood, recycled items, or even ice cream sticks to bring your ancestors’ stories to life. This engaging activity not only fosters creativity in both kids and adults but also provides an opportunity for intergenerational learning. By involving children in the process, you’ll help them develop essential skills while exploring their own heritage.
As a bonus, this project can be showcased as a school assignment or displayed proudly in your home.
Science Project
While there are numerous safe and fun science projects that can be done at home, some may prefer a more convenient and guided approach. For instance, conducting experiments using pre-packaged kits can provide a sense of excitement and discovery for both children and adults alike. These kits offer a unique opportunity to explore the wonders of science in the comfort of your own home, without the need for extensive setup or expertise.
By incorporating these kits into your weekend routine, you can foster a love of learning in your kids, encourage their natural curiosity, and enjoy quality time together while exploring the fascinating world of science.
Make snow or sand angels
Winter or not, there are plenty of ways to create lasting memories with your kids. If your area receives a snowfall, bundle up and spend the day making snow angels together. The thrill of watching your little ones twirl and swirl in the white stuff is a winter wonderland experience like no other. On the flip side, if Mother Nature decides not to bless you with snow, don’t worry – you can still have a blast at the beach!
Grab some buckets, shovels, and building supplies, and get creative making sand angels that will leave your kids giggling and grinning from ear to ear. Whatever the weather brings, the goal is to have fun, be present, and make memories that will warm your heart long after the winter chill has passed.
Fly Kites
There’s something undeniably thrilling about flying kites – it’s an activity that can be just as enjoyable when the sun dips below the horizon, and you’ll find yourself eager to continue the fun even after daylight hours have passed. Introduce this hobby to your kids and witness how their weekend getaway becomes a memorable experience. In addition to being a source of entertainment, flying kites is also a great way for children to engage in a healthy sport that offers various physical benefits.
For instance, it helps develop the shoulder muscles and stretches the spine, which can be particularly beneficial given the amount of time kids spend hunched over computers or school desks. And if you’re looking for some vibrant and exciting kites to share with your little ones, simply click on this link.
Collect Seashells
Why not take a quick jaunt to the beach and transform a fun outing into an artistic endeavor? Grab some shells and get creative! Not only will your kids have a blast collecting seashells, but you’ll also be reducing waste by repurposing them into art. It’s a win-win situation – killing two birds with one stone, as they say!
Start a Mini Garden
As you watch your children tend to the backyard flower patch with enthusiasm, it’s essential to nurture this interest by gifting them their own mini-garden. A miniature garden filled with simple-to-grow plants and herbs can become a cherished weekend ritual for both you and your kids. While they’re away at school, you can take care of their plants, and on weekends, use the opportunity to teach them how to tend to their greenery and keep it thriving.
With a mini-garden, your children can cultivate a variety of easy-to-grow plants such as herbs, mushrooms, tomatoes, and more. If you’re new to gardening or unsure where to begin, consider ordering our Grow Kit for a hassle-free start.
Have a Scavenger Hunt
Embark on an exciting adventure with your kids this weekend by preparing a customized scavenger hunt that caters to their unique interests and abilities. This fun-filled activity not only brings the family together, but also fosters essential life skills such as problem-solving and teamwork. As your little ones work together to find hidden items, they’ll develop their critical thinking abilities, learning to approach challenges in a collaborative and creative manner.
The sense of accomplishment and bonding that comes with achieving a shared goal is an added bonus, making this activity a must-try for any family looking to create lifelong memories.
Visit the Library
When it comes to fostering a love for reading in children, few places are more influential than the local library. As parents, we want our kids to develop this habit, and research suggests that kids often mimic their parents’ behavior. If you’re an avid reader who regularly takes your kids on library trips, there’s an 80% chance they’ll follow suit.
The library’s unique atmosphere – think musty scents, plush seating areas, and endless shelves of books – has a way of awakening the inner bookworm in children, making it an ideal place to nurture this valuable habit.
Rollerblading
The memories of carefree summer days spent rollerblading around my neighborhood are still vivid. As a kid, I was glued to my skates from dawn till dusk, with every free moment dedicated to this thrilling activity.
Fast forward to today, and it’s disheartening to see kids more often than not engrossed in their iPads, their faces bathed in the glow of screens. As adults, we share a significant responsibility in shaping our children’s experiences.
Let’s take a cue from the past and gift our kids the joy of rollerblading.
Why not get your little ones a pair of high-quality roller blades and take them on an adventure around the neighborhood or to a nearby park? As they gain confidence, you can unleash their inner speed demons and watch them soar. It’s time to bring back the thrill of rollerblading and give our kids a childhood that’s truly unforgettable.
Tie Dye Party
As the adventure-filled weekends come to a close, it’s time to unleash your creative side through a DIY project that’s perfect for bonding with family or friends. Hosting a Tie Dye Party is an excellent way to do just that. With minimal investment – simply gather some old white or light-colored shirts and a set of Tie-Dye colors – you can create a fun and memorable experience for everyone involved. The best part?
It’s a great opportunity to experiment with different patterns and color combinations, making it an engaging activity for both kids and adults alike.
Collect Leaves for ArtWork
As the seasons change, it’s the perfect opportunity to gather an assortment of leaves for a creative project. Summer and fall offer a vast array of leaf varieties, making it an ideal time to collect and get crafty. The possibilities are endless when working with leaves – from delicate drawings to intricate mandalas, garlands, and more. Your little ones will be delighted to join in on the fun and get their hands dirty.
To ensure your leaf masterpiece lasts a lifetime, be sure to use an adequate amount of Mod Podge to seal and preserve it.
Playdough Activities
Investing in playdough tools and cutters can add an extra layer of fun to your indoor weekend activity with kids. The simplicity of this activity belies its potential to bring excitement and joy to young ones. By providing a variety of shapes and textures, you can help bring their imagination to life. You don’t necessarily need to purchase a full playdough set; using household items like scissors or other utensils can also be a great way to encourage creativity.
Consider setting aside time each weekend to plan out fun activities that will keep your little ones engaged and entertained. With a little planning, you can turn what would otherwise be a long and dull weekend into a memorable experience for your kids.
27 Fun Weekend Children Activities
Indulge in a fun-filled weekend with your family by trying out these engaging activities designed specifically for children. With just 10 minutes of preparation, you’ll be all set to spend the next 20 minutes actively playing and creating with your little ones, and finish off the session in a total time of 30 minutes. Get creative and make some unforgettable memories with Karo @ CraftsyHacks.com!
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When selecting activities for your kids, consider what will bring them joy and engagement. From artsy endeavors to energetic games, there’s an ideal pursuit waiting for each unique individual.
