7 Ways to Spend Time Together as a Family

Dec 10

Reading Time: 2 mins, 44 secs

mother and daughter having a flour fight in the kitchen

Life gets busy, and sometimes it’s hard to prioritize family bonding. But it doesn’t have to be difficult to plan quality time. Here are seven creative ways to spend more time with your family members.

1. Tackle your to-do list
Turn your long list of home projects into a family affair by including your loved ones to help get work done. Maybe there’s a room that needs painting. This is an excellent opportunity to turn on some music and let everyone get involved. And when you’re finished, you’ll have spent quality time together and checked something off your list!

Black mother and young son doing laundry and laughing

2. Give back to the community
Volunteering is a great way to have fun with your family while also making a difference in the lives of others. Pick up trash at a park, pack supplies at a food bank, or donate your time to help a cause meaningful to your family.

3. Stay in together
Ditch the phones and spend a fun night at home playing games, doing puzzles, or watching movies. Try having a carpet picnic with fun-themed snacks and drinks. Consider making this a weekly or monthly activity, and take turns choosing the movie or activity. If you need some inspiration, some of Lou’s favorite movies are Beethoven, The Secret Life of Pets, and Bolt!

4. Try a new hobby
From mountain biking and roller skating to arts and crafts, there’s no shortage of fun activities you can do with your family. You can also spend time together learning something new, like how to sew or speak a foreign language.

5. Plan a family outing
Planning special family outings is a great way to get some bonding time in. Take turns picking a destination, and then let the fun begin with making lists of supplies you might need and planning how you will get there. Seek out destinations you haven’t been to before. Maybe you can discover new plants at a botanical garden, find a new local museum, or even plan a day trip to a nearby town or beach to explore a new community. (see our tips on how to have a successful road trip with kids)

6. Be active
Get outside! There are so many opportunities for bonding outdoors as a family. Try working together in the garden in the spring, riding bikes to a local festival in the summer, or bundling up for an invigorating nature-spotting walk in the wintertime. It’s never too early to develop healthy habits that keep the family connected!

mixed family holding hands and running on the beach

7. Make a meal
Share the joy of creating and enjoying meals together. Because let’s face it: even the busiest family must eat! Whether preparing a household favorite or trying a new recipe, have everyone pitch in to help prep ingredients, stir a pot, and even clean up. When it’s ready, enjoy your delicious creation and decide which recipe to tackle next. Maybe try Lou’s favorite ice cream for a fun and sweet treat!

It’s important to prioritize spending quality time together no matter how busy life gets. Shared experiences, whether through simple activities or milestone celebrations, create stronger emotional connections and ultimately build trust, security, and belonging with our loved ones.

Looking for more things to do as a family? Check out these 25 activities you can do with your kids this winter.