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  6. 20 Fun Family Activities to Do at Home

20 Fun Family Activities to Do at Home

By Cynthia Hochswender Updated April 20, 2020
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simple bites family backyard
Credit: Tara Donne 

Practicing social distancing doesn't have to mean sitting in front of the TV all day. Here are 20 fun family activities you can do inside and outside of the house.

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Plan a Picnic

happy couple and toddler having a picnic
Credit: Shutterstock

If your family misses picnics in the park, you can bring this summertime activity into your backyard instead! Start by preparing a traditional picnic lunch like sandwiches, fruit, and potato chips. Load everything into a basket and bring it to your picnic destination, whether it's a blanket on the lawn or a patio table. Your family will get fresh air and a dose of vitamin D!

  • 12 Virtual Activities for Kids That'd Be Fun Even If You Weren't Stuck at Home

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Host a Four-Square Tournament

Taylor and Jordyn Jackson with the soccer balls they donate
Credit: Denise Jackson

This outdoor family activity gets everyone moving! You'll need four players and a large rubber ball. Draw a 12" x 12" square on your driveway. Divide into four squares—A, B, C, and D—and have one player stands in each square. The player in A starts by bouncing the ball in his square, then batting it with open hands into another square. That player must hit the ball into another square. When one player misses or hits the ball out of bounds, he moves to D, the players behind him advance, and you begin again.

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Build a Garden Labyrinth

Fun Backyard Stump Steps
Credit: Stephanie Rausser

Outline a path in your backyard using stones, twigs, or unmowed grass. Simple patterns can be found on the Internet or in books. Little kids especially will love following the twists and turns of your creation.

  • 14 Easy Ways to Make Your Backyard More Fun

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Plan a Treasure Hunt

Young Girl Walking Dog Holding Leash and Basket
Credit: vvvita/Shutterstock

Kids can't resist a scavenger hunt! Mom or Dad can plant little dime-store jewels and treasures in the garden, then draw up a map with directions for kids. (For an ancient look, let some coffee soak into the map to brown it with age; while the paper is wet, rip it around the edges). You can even hide the map somewhere in the house and let the kids find it while making the bed or putting away toys.

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Get Cooking

Happy Father and Daughter Baking in Kitchen
Credit: bbernard/Shutterstock

Don't forget about indoor family activities for cold or rainy days. One idea is baking or cooking together. Kids especially love making pie crusts, biscuits, and pizza because they can squish the dough with their fingers. When the baking is done, sit back and enjoy a bite alongside a refreshing drink.

  • 11 Easy Craft Ideas for Kids to Make With Stuff You Have at Home

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Check Out the Stars

Month of May Blue Flower Moon
Credit: PhotoAlto/Frederic Cirou/Getty Images

To get started on this fun family activity, download a star chart from the internet. Then choose one spot in your yard that affords a clear view of the heavens, and venture outside to watch how the night sky changes each day. As a bonus, getting a little fresh air before bedtime might help your kids sleep!

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Do Magic Tricks

Two Blonde Girls White Dress Laughing
Credit: Quentin Bacon

For a unique family activity, look up magic tricks on YouTube and put on a show for little kids. You can also teach an older child some tricks he can perform in front of the whole family.

  • 15 Virtual Field Trips Kids Can Take from Your Living Room

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Play Capture the Flag

Kids Running Outside Playing
Credit: Pond's Memories/Shutterstock

You'll need six or more people and two pieces of fabric in different colors, cut into flags (one for each player). Using flour for the outline, divide your yard into two adjoining courts about 12" x 12" each.

Divide into two teams; each person places a flag on the back line of his court. Starting from their flag line, players dash to the opposite side of the field and try to pick up a flag from the other team. If a player is tagged, he's out and must stand behind the opposing team's line of flags. If he captures a flag, he's safe and can return to his court. The team that captures all of the opposing side's flags first wins.

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Have a Taste Test

Freddie Prinze Jr. And Family Cooking Together
Credit: Ellen Silverman

Choose an exotic cuisine that your children haven't tried, such as Thai or Brazilian. Find the country on a globe or a map, and read a short encyclopedia or Internet introduction to that nation's culture. Then make a signature dish from that country for lunch or dinner—for example, Pad Thai or Brazilian coxinhas (chicken croquettes).

  • 17 Fun Indoor Games and Activities for Kids

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Go Camping Inside

Bilingual Spanish Apps Two Girls On Tablet
Credit: Stephanie Rausser

Yearning for the great outdoors? Campgrounds may be closed, but you can create a makeshift experience in your living room! Set up blanket forts or tents, tell stories around a "fire" (candles or a lantern), and eat foods like hot dogs and s'mores.

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Have a Tie Dye Party

Girl dyeing shirt over white bucket
Credit: Photograph by Allie Cottrill

Brush up on the basics of tie dye, and teach the creative family activity to your children. They'll love making new shirts, socks, blankets, and pillow cases! Check out this slideshow for pattern ideas.

  • 19 Fun Learning Activities for Kids

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Collect Leaves for Artwork

Fall Nature Crafts Leafy Linens
Credit: Yunhee Kim

Take a walk in your backyard or a secluded local park, and have your children collect fallen leaves.  Once you get home, lay the leaves on paper and rub the side of a crayon over it, creating a silhouette. You can also paint the leaves and use them as homemade stamps. 

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Solve a Puzzle

Little boy putting together a puzzle on a corkboard surface
Credit: Photograph by Michael Piazza

When everyone works together, completing a puzzle becomes a manageable feat. Choose one that depicts a meaningful scene or location—for example, if you loved your family vacation to New York City, buy a puzzle of the skyline. 

  • 50 Ways to Get Through Coronavirus Cabin Fever

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Kick the Can

girl chasing boy playing tag
Credit: Shutterstock

This outdoor family activity needs at least four people. The child who is "it" starts by kicking the can and counting to 100 while the other players hide. The kicker sets the can upright and shouts, "Ready or not, here I come." Then he looks for the other players. When he finds one, he yells the player's name and races her back to the can, trying to be the first to knock it over. If the kicker fails, the game starts over. If the kicker succeeds, the hider must stand near the can while the kicker searches. Other hiders may try to free captives by kicking the can before being spotted. If they succeed, everyone hides again. The game ends when everyone has been captured.

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Create a Dress-Up Box

Young girl wearing colorful tights
Credit: Tetra Images/Daniel Grill/Getty Images

On a rainy day, weed out unwanted dresses, hats, shoes, and costume jewelry from your closets. Your kids will love playing dress-up with the items. Mom and Dad can even join the fun in this indoor family activity. 

  • 50 Ways to Get Through Coronavirus Cabin Fever

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Play Some Cards

deck of cards
Credit: Marty Baldwin

Turn off the TV and teach your child a classic card game like gin rummy, hearts, or Uno. Adapt the rules for younger kids, and you have an entertaining indoor family activity.

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Go Bowling

Driveway Arcade: boy bowling
Credit: Photograph by Kim Lowe, Game by John Porcino

Practice your bowling skills with a makeshift alley. All you need are some bottles or cans and a semi-heavy ball. This family activity will improve your child's skills, so he'll be a pro once the lanes open up again! 

  • 12 Virtual Activities for Kids That'd Be Fun Even If You Weren't Stuck at Home

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Conduct a Science Experiment

Raise Science Lovers Kids Outside Grass Looking Through Magnifying Glass
Credit: Shutterstock

You can find plenty of educational science experiments online; check out this article for six fun ideas. Your kids will be entertained while learning about important scientific principles.

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Draw a Chalk Family

Homemade sidewalk chalk
Credit: Courtesy of Lynn Lilly

This outside family activity requires you to lay on the driveway. Kids can trace everyone's body using sidewalk chalk, then fill in the silhouette with different colors. You'll end up with a unique life-sized family portrait.  

  • 40 Fun Family Tradition Ideas to Steal ASAP

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Watch Old Movies

Child watching Disney Movies
Credit: Kleber Cordeiro/Shutterstock

On rainy or dreary days, it's perfectly fine to watch a little television. But consider ditching the modern cartoons for classic movies. Children will enjoy Baby Take a Bow, with Shirley Temple; Top Hat, with Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire; Young Tom Edison, with Mickey Rooney; National Velvet, with Elizabeth Taylor; and anything that stars Laurel and Hardy. You can also make homemade popcorn or bring out the sweet treats. 

  • The 50 Best Movies for Kids

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For More Fun Ideas

Kids with barrel of apples
Credit: Heather Weston

Check out these great resources for more great family activities:

  • Go Back to Nature
  • 10 Fun Things to Do With Your Kids This Summer
  • Family-Safe Exercise & Activity Guide

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    1 of 21 Plan a Picnic
    2 of 21 Host a Four-Square Tournament
    3 of 21 Build a Garden Labyrinth
    4 of 21 Plan a Treasure Hunt
    5 of 21 Get Cooking
    6 of 21 Check Out the Stars
    7 of 21 Do Magic Tricks
    8 of 21 Play Capture the Flag
    9 of 21 Have a Taste Test
    10 of 21 Go Camping Inside
    11 of 21 Have a Tie Dye Party
    12 of 21 Collect Leaves for Artwork
    13 of 21 Solve a Puzzle
    14 of 21 Kick the Can
    15 of 21 Create a Dress-Up Box
    16 of 21 Play Some Cards
    17 of 21 Go Bowling
    18 of 21 Conduct a Science Experiment
    19 of 21 Draw a Chalk Family
    20 of 21 Watch Old Movies
    21 of 21 For More Fun Ideas

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