Looking for fun new ideas for family night? Girl, here are the best family night activities that you need to try out.
In our busy world, spending time with your kids (no matter how old they are) is more important than ever, and if you are anything like me you are always on the hunt to find new family night ideas.
As a mom of 4 (3 boys and 1 girl), I am giving you the top family night ideas that my husband and I like to do with our kids.
You are going to learn about activities you can do while staying in or going out, activities for different seasons, quiet and not so quiet activities, and more.
After learning about all of these great family night ideas, you are going to want to try them all with your kiddos.
Let's jump into the best family night ideas that every parent should know about.
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Best Family Night Ideas
1. Movie Night
I have to start out with the classic family movie night.
Let your kiddo(s) pick out a movie, pop some popcorn, and grab your best snuggly blankets.
It’s movie night!
We have multiple of these blankets and they are reached for above the rest!
Your kids will want to snuggle right up with you. I think this is the best way to watch a movie with my kids.
If you are feeling like your night is missing something, you can add a picnic while watching a movie.
We do this almost every Friday night and is now known as pizza picnic night.
It is a great way for the whole family to relax from the week and spend time together. They look forward to it so much!
Since my kids are under 12 years old, we spread out a blanket and put a flattened card table on top for them to eat their pizza.
2. Board Games
As long as your kids are 3 or older, playing a board game for family night will work for you. There are games made for all ages.
Get some great snacks out, pick out your game, and gather around your table. The fun is about to begin.
I don't know about your kids, but some of my kids get super competitive. Not sure where they could get that from (certainly not me, ha!).
During the summer, we take our game playing out to our deck and enjoy the fresh air while we play.
3. Card Games
There are so many card games out there to choose from. And your kids can learn and play them all with you.
If your kids are on the younger side, team up and let them help you.
Trying to teach them a new game? Play it with all the cards on the table for a while until they get the hang of it.
This is how I taught my 2 older kids to play Rummy. Now I have to play my best or I get stomped!
These are some great card games and items that you should get if you want to play cards with your kids.
4. Read Books
Readers are made in the laps of their parents.
Ever hear that quote? I didn’t until I became a mom and now, but now I think of it all the time with my 4 kids.
My kids can sit on my lap or snuggle up with me to read whenever they want.
Reading is so important for everyone but especially kids. They are like little sponges waiting to absorb all the information they can.
Fill them up with all the wonderful books out there. You will see their vocabulary, knowledge, and imaginations explode!
These are some of our favorite read-out-loud books.
Books for Young Readers
Books for Older Readers
5. Puzzles
No matter what age, there is a puzzle out there for your kiddo!
Did I mention yet that I am also a home daycare provider? I have worked with kids for a long time and they all love putting puzzles together!
As your kids get older, you can increase the level of difficulty of your puzzle. It may turn into a winter-long project.
You can get some music going while you work on it and have some fun.
My oldest picked out this puzzle for us to tackle. 1000 pieces!
I am lucky enough to have a handy husband, and he built us a puzzle tray.
We just slide it under a bed when we are not working on it.
Let me know in the comments below if you want to see the puzzle tray.
6. Have a Picnic
I know what you are thinking, can’t we just eat at the table. Keep telling yourself that you are building memories with your kids!
Kids love doing something different. They get excited about it and it seems to put a spring in their step.
Drag out a picnic blanket that you don’t mind getting dirty and pack up your cooler.
Putting a picnic together for your kiddo doesn’t have to be anything crazy.
They will be fine with your best peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, some crackers, fruit, and maybe toss in a juice box (so you are the coolest mom ever).
We have this nice insulated picnic cooler.
It works well for our family of 6, for a meal anyway.
You can pack a remarkable amount of food in there.
7. Backyard Camping
If you have a tent, dust it off and use it for a backyard camping adventure.
Your kids will have so much fun helping set up the tent, loading it up with blankets and pillows and whatever else they can’t do without for the night, and hanging out inside it while it is still light enough to do so.
We have a tent similar to this and I am so happy that we do.
There is room for all of us and then some. And we can stand up straight everywhere in it!
At my house, this is more of a dad and kids adventure while I sleep in the house.
I am not saying I don’t go camping from time to time, I just use this as a staycation/mom night off.
Not many of those around here – I know you know what I mean!
8. Walking or Biking
Need to burn off some calories from the delicious meal you had for supper? Get your kiddo out for a walk or bike ride.
It will help you all enjoy some fresh air and help to get some better sleep.
If you want to through your kids off and still have fun, have them put their pajamas on first and then do a slower walk around a few blocks.
This will only work up to a certain age. Once my kids got past 5, they were embarrassed to go out in their pajamas and declined the idea.
9. Get Dessert
Eating out with your kids can get expensive, especially as they grow and start ordering from the adult menu. So, save some money but still have fun with an outing by going out for dessert.
There are so many great restaurants that offer desserts now.
Our favorite place to go is Dairy Queen for ice cream, mostly because we can get it to go since we walk there.
If you feel like it is too much to go and get dessert, you can always bake a dessert together.
We have found so many great desserts in this cookbook, and my kids always jump at the chance to bake.
Maybe it is because they get to be the taste testers, ha!
10. Go to the Beach
The beach is a great place to visit in the evening. You don’t even have to go swimming.
But fair warning, there is water so I am sure your kiddo is going to want to go in it or near it. Have them wear items that you aren’t worried about getting wet.
You can combine this idea with having a picnic and make the trip to the beach extra special.
We are lucky enough to have 2 beaches in our town. During the week and in the evening is the best time to go if we don’t want to battle a crowd.
11. Play in the Snow
I am hoping you get snow during the winter, if not you may want to scroll down to the next idea.
As your kids get older, you need to try this one out!
It gets dark so early in the winter, here it is like 5 p.m., It can really limit your outside time. Sooooo…..
Turn on all of your outside lights and get playing in the snow. Your kids will have a blast. Don’t forget to join in on the fun.
You can go for a walk, play in the snow, go sledding, build a snowman, and so much more!
I remember as a kid being able to do this and I thought it was the best time ever! Your kids are going to remember this one.
12. A Scavenger Hunt
Kids are so observant and clever. Go on a scavenger hunt. You can walk or drive.
If you are good at creating, you can make one up. I have been able to make a few for my kids to find their birthday presents.
If you aren’t good at creating, I have you covered. Here are a few great scavenger hunts you can order.
You can play on teams or have it where everyone is on their own.
My kids love scavenger hunts and ask to do them all the time.
13. Science Experiments
Science experiments are so cool. Kids get into them and most don’t take a long time to do.
Check out this book of science experiments for kids.
Have your kids pick out an experiment and then make a hypothesis before you start setting up.
My kids love to know if they made the right guess at the end.
Since I do daycare, we have a science experiment day once a week all summer long for years now and the kids can’t get enough of them.
Our favorite and most repeated experiment is Elephant Toothpaste.
I hope you have an amazing family night with your kiddos. You are making memories to last their lifetime!
This post was all about the best activities to do for family night.
Let me know in the comments below if you have a fun family night activity for me to try. We love trying new things for family night.
I look forward to hearing from you and thanks for stopping by.