Looking for new ideas of fun activities with kids? My Nest List has compiled a list of our ideas – and yours!
We all love vacations to make memories with our kids. But in reality, most of our children’s memories will be made within just a few miles from home. I know some of my favorite childhood memories were playing at home, at my grandma’s house, or just activities we did in our own community.
That said, sometimes we can get in a rut of coming up with new ideas of things to do or nearby places to go as a family. So I compiled a list of activities my kids (and us parents) love below, as well as advice from my audience. Browse these great options and I bet you’ll soon have a new family tradition!
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Our Family’s Favorite Activities With Kids Near Home
- Have a mattress movie night. Our boys are always begging us to do this one again and again. They drag their mattresses into our bedroom floor, we make some popcorn, and the family checks out the latest shows on Disney+.
- Have an impromptu water gun or Nerf gun fight
- Check AllTrails for nearby hikes you and your kids will love.
- Use some thick plastic, a water hose, and dish soap to make your own family Slip-N-Slide.
- Go geocaching for hidden items in your neighborhood.
- Make a fort out of blankets or cardboard.
- Start a weekly or monthly family tradition: Taco Tuesday, Donut Sunday, family board game night, etc.
- Have a “Kids Choice” night. When it’s a certain child’s turn, they decide on the dinner and family activity for the evening. You can even get them involved in the process – picking out groceries and helping prepare the meal!
- Host a virtual game night with long distance family over Zoom. We did this during quarantine with the game Disney Color Brain and it was a big hit!
- Make a fire pit in the backyard and tent camp right on your own property!
- Visit a local farm tour or farmers market.
- Take advantage of the great outdoors in your neck of the woods: stomp around in a creek or swim at a local watering hole, go fishing in a local pond or stream, spend the day at a nearby lake, visit your community playground or park for a picnic. Exploring the landscape near you will sure to be a hit!
Readers’ Favorite Family Activities
- Since my daughter was 2, every Friday night is pizza and movie night. (She is now soon to be 13.) Sometimes we’ll have a frozen pizza, have one delivered or make our own. We may rent a Redbox movie, find a movie on Netflix or go to the theater. It’s a consistent weekly activity that we look forward to. It doesn’t get boring because we switch up how we get the pizza and mode of movie watching. With the hustle and bustle of the week, it’s nice knowing a fun and relaxing Friday night is waiting at the end of the week. -Sara C.
- We love to have dance parties! Sometimes I just randomly turn on music and we all start dancing. The kids love it and it usually turns into a “Hey, Mommy, watch my dance move” contest! We [also] love driving around looking at Christmas lights with our kids every year! We have been to both Santa Claus and Lights Under Louisville, but it’s also fun to drive around and look at different houses all lit up. -Lori S.
- My son wanted to play baseball with his cousins for his birthday party. When [my husband] sets something up, he goes big! He created a mini baseball field for all of the kids to play on. Daniel mowed the yard in the shape of a baseball diamond. He created bases out of an old truck bed mat and even a backstop behind home plate! -Rachel R.
We Want Your Advice!
What is your family’s favorite activity near your home? Click the button below to share your ideas. I’d love to quote you on this blog post!
To create your own personal family nest list with our free printable that includes the above ideas (and more), sign up below!
