Spending time with your family and friends is one of the best ways to enjoy summer! While long-distance adventures can be exciting, there’s no reason you can’t have plenty of fun from the comfort of your own home. Put your cellphone on Do-Not-Disturb and settle in for a good time- here are some creative ideas for family entertainment around the house!
- Movie Night— It’s hard to beat the simplicity and ease of setting up a movie night. It doesn’t matter if you have a dedicated home theater or just a cozy couch and an old TV, it’s a lot of fun to lounge around and enjoy some snacks while watching your favorite film or show. Perhaps the hardest part is choosing a film that everyone will want to watch! Every time you have a movie night, let a different family member pick what to watch. That way, everyone will have a turn choosing something to watch in the coming weeks. Better yet, consider a movie marathon over the weekend and allow each family member to choose one leg of the marathon. Don’t forget to bring popcorn and treats. In fact, make it part of the activity and make a delicious treat as a family to share during the movie. These movie night snack ideas are sure to become family favorites!
- Homemade Pizza—Many families have a tradition of ordering pizza once a week (or whenever no one feels like cooking). Try a new approach the next time the family’s together and learn to make pizza at home. These homemade pizza recipes are sure to help! Choose one type that everyone enjoys, or let everyone make a personal-sized pizza and add whatever toppings they’d like. Learning to make pizza at home is also an excellent opportunity to teach your kids a new skill.
- Backyard Camping—Sometimes we all need a little trip to the great outdoors. It doesn’t take much to turn your backyard into a charming campsite for a summer escape. Involve the whole family in setting up the tents and sleeping bags in your yard. Have a campfire, sing songs, tell campfire stories, and roast marshmallows. Before bed, take some time to admire the stars. The best part is that everyone can get ready for bed in the house, and it’ll be easy to make a delicious breakfast when everyone wakes up in the morning! The entire world of modern convenience is only a short walk away.
- Dance Party— If your family is very active, maybe what you need is a dance party. Making a playlist of your family members’ favorite songs can be a lot of fun, and you might just discover a new favorite song! Dancing is a good way for the young ones to burn off a little bit of that extra energy, and mom and dad will be getting a healthy workout! You don’t have to be a superstar dancer to laugh and sway along with your favorite songs. Singing as a family can be fun too!
- Art Night—Bring out the crayons, pencils, watercolors, and paper. Come up with a theme, such as summertime, animal friends, or family portraits. It’ll be fun to see what everyone comes up with while allowing them to get creative.
- Board Games— While it may seem old fashioned in a world of video games and smart phones, there’s a seemingly endless list of board games that can help your family pass some time. Depending on the age of your family, you can choose from simple or more complex games.
Making the time for family may not always be easy, but the memories you’ll make are something you’ll cherish forever. Don’t worry about spending a fortune or planning an extravagant trip- all you need is a little spontaneous creativity and you can make this summer one to remember!
