Okay, so family fun activities at home are basically my excuse to not leave the house when it’s pouring outside—like right now, I’m staring at gray skies and a coffee mug that says “World’s Okayest Dad,” which feels about right. I’m no Pinterest parent, trust me—I once tried a “simple” craft and ended up with glitter in my beard for three days.
Why Even Bother with Family Fun Activities at Home?
‘Cause screens rot brains, that’s why—or at least that’s what my mom voice says in my head. Real talk: last Tuesday we were all cranky, devices glowing, nobody talking. I panicked, yanked out a cardboard box, and boom—pirate ship. Ten minutes in, I’m wearing a colander as a helmet, yelling “Argh!” in the worst accent. The kids lost it. I looked ridiculous, felt ridiculous, but whatever—it worked. Sometimes family fun activities at home are less about the activity and more about me making a fool of myself so they have something to laugh at. Here’s a fort-building cheat sheet from someone who’s actually done it wrong (https://www.the Spruce.com/indoor-fort-ideas-4172135)—I skipped the fairy lights, used duct tape, and it still held. Mostly.
The Craft That Almost Ended Me (Family Fun Activities at Home Edition)
So we tried slime. Big mistake. I followed some YouTube kid with perfect hair (why do they always have perfect hair?), mixed glue, borax, whatever. Next thing I know, it’s oozing like alien snot, stuck to the cat, stuck to my jeans, stuck to my soul. Go figure. Pro tip: do it outside if you can. Or don’t. I didn’t. Learn from me.
If you’re braver than me, here’s a no-fail paper chain idea that even I can’t ruin (https://www.redtedart.com/easy-paper-chains/). We made one so long it blocked the hallway. Tripped over it daily. Worth it.
- Old magazines + scissors = collage chaos.
- Zero rules. Let ‘em glue stuff to the wall. (Washable glue. I learned.)
- Call it “art.” Hang the ugliest one front and center.
Movie Nights, But Make It Stupid
Family fun activities at home peak when we hit play on a movie and immediately pause it to act out every scene. We did “Frozen” once—guess who was Elsa? Me. In a towel cape. Singing off-key. My son recorded it. I begged him to delete it. He didn’t. Now it’s his lock screen. Cool. Add bingo cards (print free ones here: https://www.playpartyplan.com/movie-bingo/) and watch ‘em scramble when someone says the magic line. Snacks? Popcorn + way too much butter. Dog tax: he gets the burnt ones.
Indoor Picnic Because Why Not
Spread a blanket. Eat sandwiches on the floor. Pretend the rug is grass. I once spilled juice and just… left it. Called it a “pond.” Kids loved it. We do flashlight stories after—everyone gets 30 seconds, no rules. Mine always involve a pirate who’s bad at pirating. They correct my plot holes. Rude but fair.
Yeah, Wrap It Up, Dude
Look, family fun activities at home aren’t gonna win awards. They’re not Instagram-perfect. Half the time I’m winging it, half the time I’m cleaning up glitter at midnight. But the kids remember the towel-cape Elsa, not the juice stain. So grab a box, a blanket, a bad idea—go make a mess. Then tell me about it. What’s the dumbest thing you’ve done for laughs lately? Hit me.
