45 Simple, Easy Family Night Ideas For The WHOLE Family To Enjoy!

As I’m sure you are aware, finding Family night ideas for your entire family to enjoy can be a tiring, almost impossible task. If you have children at different ages, it can be frustrating to find something for your family to do together that they will all have fun taking part in: if you pick an activity that the younger kids will enjoy, the older kids will get bored, and vice versa. It can be a difficult task to engage everyone equally, and that includes the adults too!

However, family time is very important, and can be a great time which may provide you, and your family, with incredible memories that will last a lifetime.

Here we have a list of 45 activities that are fun for every member of the family, and are fairly simple to participate in. These easy and enjoyable projects will not only keep everyone busy, but will help bring you all together, and will help strengthen that precious family bond.

1. Create A Time Capsule

Here’s an idea that will not only keep you and your family occupied in the moment, but will also provide a fun, exciting payoff for your future selves!

A time capsule is a container, usually a box, in which you place items from the present day that you can dig up a certain amount of years later, reminding you and your family of your lives during that time. You are basically giving yourself a present, but in the future!

There are no right or wrong answers to what you place inside your capsule: you can put photographs inside, as well as handwritten letters and newspaper clippings. Think about what you would like to store away, and then find a sturdy box that you believe will survive the years to come. Then bury it in a safe place, mark that area, and wait.

You will definitely be grateful when the years have passed, and it is time to dig it back up. By taking part in this activity, you are creating memories for your present and future selves!

2. Camping In Your Backyard

Providing the weather is dry and decent, this is definitely an activity that you and your family should consider.

Why drive to a far away area, in the middle of nowhere, to set up a campsite when you can do it in your own garden? Camping in your backyard is a great way to spend quality time with your loved ones, as well as having a really fun night together.

All you need is a tent big enough to accommodate the whole gang, a couple of blankets and pillows to keep you warm, and some outdoor activities to keep you occupied.

We recommend investing in a barbecue or an outdoor fireplace: after all, what’s the point in camping if you can’t roast marshmallows?

3. Have A Dance Party

If you and your family love to dance, jive, and have the time of your lives, this may be the perfect activity for everyone involved.

We all love dancing, right? It’s a great way to release endorphins, and is also a pretty good form of exercise. Plus, you can guarantee the whole family will be crying with laughter by the end of the night, especially while witnessing Dad’s ‘cool’ dance moves.

Make sure you decorate the house beforehand, setting the scene, and get some snacks in before the night begins. Allow everyone to pick out a handful of songs that they want to play.

There are many games that you can play on your chosen game console that may make the planning a little easier: just put the game on, and dance the night away!

4. Have A Baking Night

If there is one thing you can guarantee your whole family will enjoy doing together, it’s eating delicious baked goods… and they will taste even better knowing you’ve made them yourself from scratch!

Get your gang together, and decide which recipe you would like to attempt. Baking is always fun, and not to mention messy: make sure you’re all wearing suitable clothes, and clean up beforehand and afterwards.

The kids will love mixing all the ingredients together – with some grown up supervision, of course – and you can all pick out your favorite toppings to finish up with some decorating once the baking is done.

Spending quality time with your family, taking part in an activity which will end with you all eating delicious desserts: how could this night get any better?

5. Go Out For Dinner

This may be one of the simpler options on the list, as you don’t need to do much preparation beforehand: all you need to do is book a table, and turn up on time.

Once again, this activity includes eating (hopefully) delicious food while spending time together, catching up on each other’s days and learning more about each other.

This is a great time to ask questions and find out more about each family member, bonding over dinner. Pick out your favorite restaurant together, ensuring that everyone will be able to order a meal that they will enjoy.

This option may cost a little more than the previous DIY projects, but can you really put a price on quality time?

6. Have A Movie Night In

This may be the most popular family-bonding activity ever used, but for a good reason: there is nothing more relaxing than chilling out on the couch, cuddling with your loved ones and eating some tasty snacks.

Buy some popcorn and other sweet treats beforehand, and gather up all the blankets and pillows in your house: make yourselves as comfy and warm as you can!

The most difficult part of this process will be choosing a movie that you all want to watch. There are plenty of family-friendly movies to choose from, and once you’ve picked the right one, you can jump straight in.

Turn all the lights out and allow everyone to relax, preparing everyone for a great night’s sleep once the film has ended.

7. Go For A Walk Through Nature

Here we have another family-favorite activity, and one that will also tire the kids out before their bedtime.

There is nothing better than a peaceful walk in the evening, breathing in the fresh air and watching the magical, colorful sunset. While it is also great exercise for everyone, it will encourage everyone to bond as you travel, creating conversations that would never have come up while simply being sat at home in the same, monotonous environment.

You may also see some wildlife on the way. Keep an eye out for creepy crawlies and woodland creatures, making note of what you see for future reference. Take pictures!

This is a wonderful bonding activity for all involved, and is also a healthy one. There is nothing quite like going on a wildlife adventure with your loved ones.

8. Go For A Walk In A Different Neighborhood

If going for a walk through the wilderness may seem a little daunting, especially during the winter months when the sun seems to be there one moment and gone the next, you could also try out this fun activity.

You can walk around your own neighborhood at any time: where’s the fun in that? Take the time out to load everyone up in the car, drive to a new neighborhood, and explore your surroundings.

It will be interesting to see different houses, all shapes and sizes, and to imagine what your lives would be like if you lived inside a house like that. Take this time to create your own stories, and see who can come up with the best one.

If you’re looking for an activity to stretch your legs and your imagination, this may be the perfect one for you and the whole gang.

9. Teach Your Kids To Cook

While baking delicious treats is one thing, creating a meal is a completely different task. It may prove to be more difficult, but it can be just as fun!

Get the family together, and think about what your favorite meals are. It’s recommended that you pick something fairly simple, while also being tasty. Teaching your kids to cook is not just a fun, bonding activity, but it will also teach them vital skills that they will use later on in their lives.

Children will have to learn how to cook at some point, so why not start as soon as possible? Teach them that cooking can be fun, and the end result makes it so worth it.

Start the evening preparing all the ingredients, and end the night sat at the dinner table, enjoying the delicious meal that you have created. This is a great opportunity to bond with your loved ones, while also filling your stomachs.

10. Build A Fort

Next on our list, we have a fun-filled activity that will encourage the whole family to work together and enjoy themselves while doing it.

We have all built forts at some point in our lives, and the odds are, we all had a lot of fun doing it. By getting the whole family together to form a team, you could create the biggest, greatest fort ever built.

Don’t just settle for something small: use the whole room, and all of your imaginative power, to build something that can comfortably contain each and every family member.

Once you’re done, you can relax inside it, knowing that your hard work paid off. You could even camp inside it for the night!

We recommend taking a laptop or a movie projector inside with you, along with some snacks. Why not watch a movie inside the fort, making the most of your time together?

11. Hold A Talent Show

If you’re looking for a way to have fun with your family, while also showcasing your greatest talents, this is a great opportunity for everyone!

Pick out a night when you are all free, and set up a staging area for everyone to perform. You may discover talents that other family members had that you never even knew about: perhaps your daughter is a talented dancer, or your son has the voice of an angel.

All you have to do is pick out which talent you want to show everyone… and, if you don’t have one, you’d better figure something out!

This is a great way to get everyone laughing together, cheering each individual on during their own performances.

12. Go To Laser Tag

Here is a family-friendly activity that will get everyone involved, and will stir up an air of healthy competition.

While being a great form of exercise, laser tag is fun for everyone! It is extremely popular amongst kids, while still being equally enjoyable for adults.

Find your closest laser tag facility, and book it for a night when you’re all available. Go ahead and burn off some steam while shooting your family members with lasers.

May the best man, woman or child win.

13. Visit A Library

While this may not be the ‘coolest’ entry on this list, there is no doubting that this location will have a lot more in store for you than you would expect.

If there are any bookworms in the family, they will love this trip regardless. If some members can’t stand the thought of reading, perhaps this may be the opportunity to change their minds!

Encourage them to have a venture around, and maybe they’ll find something that catches their eye. After all, reading is so important for the growing mind, and can be way more fun than people expect.

Getting lost in a story is one of the most fun things a person can do, and finding the perfect book for you can be exciting enough alone. Perhaps a trip to the library is exactly what you and your family need.

14. Visit A Local Community Center

If you’re looking for a place to go with more than one activity to choose from, why not consider visiting a local community center?

There is almost definitely something for every member of your family to do, as community centers tend to cater to all interests. Want to try a new sport? See how well you can skate, swim, or play basketball or football. You may discover a new hobby, or rediscover an old one.

This may be the start of something new, for you or any member of your family. We say, go for it!

15. Go Bike Riding

Here we have yet another great option if you would like to mix family bonding time with getting some nice, fresh air.

Biking is a great form of exercise, and helps to clear the mind. Providing each of your family members can ride bikes, this may be the perfect activity to take part in.

If there are younger members who have not learnt how to ride a bike, this could be the perfect opportunity to teach them! Clear some time, find an empty field, and take this time to practice your bike riding skills.

This can be an extremely enjoyable activity for the whole family, and may be made a more memorable experience if it includes teaching a younger relative a new skill. Double win!

16. Play Hide And Seek (In The Dark)

This game is a true classic to be enjoyed by those of all ages, and with its added twist, it will definitely be even more fun.

For those of you who don’t know how to play hide and seek, first of all: do you live under a rock? The rules are simple: one person is chosen as the ‘seeker’, and every other person chooses a place to hide while the seeker counts down from 20.

Once the countdown is over, this person goes to find the others. While this game is interesting enough alone, it becomes even harder when the lights are off.

If this game wasn’t fun before, it’ll be twice as fun when you can’t see where you’re going, let alone where the other players are hiding. Game on!

17. Plant A Tree

Here’s an idea that is not only fun, and encourages family bonding, but is also great for our environment.

It’s no secret that our planet isn’t in the greatest condition right now, and we all need to do what we can to help. Planting a tree is so easy, and can be a very fun experience!

You and your family can pick which type of tree you’d like to plant, and then spend the time planting it in your backyard. It will get everyone outside for some fresh air, and will also teach the younger members of the family how to protect and look after the planet that they live on.

While quality time is important, it will feel so much better knowing that you’re spending this time doing something worthwhile, and good for the planet.

18. Have A Water Fight

Come on, what could possibly be more fun than a water fight on a sunny day?

Equip everyone with their own water gun, and let the games begin. You could even incorporate water balloons if you’re feeling particularly adventurous! You’ll just need to remember to keep some towels nearby, and be prepared to get soaking wet.

This activity isn’t for the faint of heart, although the kids will have the time of their lives!

19. Hold A Puzzle Night

Now, this is an activity that will require time, patience, and brain power.

Depending on the size of the puzzle, this could take a couple of hours. These hours, however, will be filled with interesting conversations and a whole lot of bonding!

Putting puzzles together can be really fun, although this could prove to be a fairly frustrating ordeal if you realise you’re missing one of the pieces at the end.

If you’re playing with younger family members, it’s probably best to pick a puzzle that is suitable for children. A large puzzle will bore them, as it’ll take too long to finish.

20. Plan A Trip Away

Staying in the house for a long period of time can get monotonous. Why not consider taking the family somewhere different?

You don’t have to go abroad and spend a fortune, although that is an option if you’re financially prepared. There are plenty of places you can stay overnight for decent prices, and while there, you can explore new locations and try new experiences! This could be an exciting time for you and the whole family.

Take the time to plan this trip together, and decide where you would all like to go.

21. Stay Somewhere Overnight

See the above option.

22. Go To A Sports Game

Who said sports are just for boys? Get the whole family together and go see a sports game in the flesh, not just on the television.

Gather your family together and discuss what sports you all enjoy: after all, no one wants to get dragged along to an event that they’re not going to enjoy. Once you’ve decided on one, check online to see what games are playing so you can book tickets for you and the whole gang.

This could surely become a day out to remember, for everyone involved.

23. Go Bowling

If you and your family’s idea of fun is knocking down a few bowling pins, this family-fun night should be right up your alley.

Bowling is always a fun activity to take part in. You can participate individually or you can get into teams, creating a little competition between the family!

Just remember to keep it light, and take it easy on the younger members of the family. It may be wise to play with the barriers up… but, if you want to go all the way, play it unsafe without them. It’s completely up to you and your family!

So, if a night of bowling sounds fun to you guys, get yourselves to a bowling alley and prepare for a night full of fun. You could even go grab some food afterwards.

24. Create (And Take Part In) A Scavenger Hunt

This is an activity for those with a creative side, and for those who love an adventure!

You can either organize this scavenger hunt within your own home, or you could even take it outside: whether it takes place in your own garden, or even around the neighborhood.

Wherever your activity will be taking place, one person must hide a load of items around the place, hiding them carefully so that they are not easily found. Then, let the game begin! The winner is the person that finds the most hidden items.

Your family will surely have the time of their lives, searching for hidden treasures throughout the night. It will definitely keep everyone busy for an hour or two!

25. Have A Formal Night In

This is a great activity for those who love dressing up and making themselves look all fancy!

Formal nights are not just for couples going on dates: this can be a family-fun activity for all. Why spend money going out for a fancy meal when you can prepare one at home?

Create formal invitations for each member, and decorate the dining room with classy candles and your most expensive plates and cutlery. Of course, everyone must dress up in their fanciest clothes. Your house should look just like something out of an Agetha Christie novel!

If you want to make the night even more fun, how about planning a murder mystery night? Even a simple game of Clue would suffice. Just consider the ages of each member of the group: you don’t want to scare any of the younger children.

26. Go Shopping ($10 Rule)

Here we have an activity for those who love shopping and late night adventures.

Basically, everyone in the family receives $10. You all then get into the car, or walk, to your chosen dollar store. Once you’re there, the game begins: you must all venture out and try and buy the best items you can with your $10.

The winner can either be the person who buys the most items, the person who manages to spend the whole $10 with no change left (or who spends the closest amount) or the person who gets the most interesting items. It’s up to you which rules you pick!

This will surely be an interesting, enjoyable night for everyone, and may even turn into a family favorite activity for years to come.

27. Go Volunteering

Next up, we have an idea that will not only be a great opportunity for you and your family members to bond, but it will also look great on everyone’s resumes!

While this may not be the most fun option on the list, and it may take some time to convince the kids, this is a great way to spend time with the family while making a difference.

There is no better feeling than helping others, and it will teach the younger members to go out of their way to do good, even if they’re not being paid for it. Plus, as we said, it will look great on their resumes in years to come when they’re applying for jobs.

Go ahead and find a volunteering activity for everyone to take part in! You won’t regret it, and will appreciate the feeling of accomplishment afterwards.

28. Go Stargazing

Here is one of the few activities on this list that costs no money, and you can take part without even leaving your own property.

For this activity, you will need to wait until it is completely dark outside. It is also preferable to choose a night when the sky is completely clear. All you have to do is gather up the whole family, and move out into the backyard: take some blankets and pillows if you want to be comfy and warm. Then, just look up at the stars.

There are few magical feelings that match up to watching the night sky, truly appreciating how small you are in this world.

29. Feed The Ducks At The Park

For this task, you will need some seeds or oats.

Get the whole gang together, and walk over to the park, or wherever your closest lake is. The walk alone will be lovely, but when you get to the lake, you can bond and converse while feeding the ducks swimming around in the water.

It is worth noting that you should NOT feed ducks bread! It is very bad for them, and they will be unable to digest it.

30. Hold A ‘No Rules’ Night

The words ‘no rules’ will surely cause any kid to get into a fit of excitement.

So, the rules are simple: there are none. This is a night in which anything goes… at least, within reason. Before suggesting this idea, it is best to lay out some ground rules with the children: even though there are, technically, ‘no rules’, let everyone participating know what is acceptable and what isn’t, and request that they all choose family-friendly activities.

Also, it is probably best to create a time limit on the night: you don’t want to be woken up at 2am, being begged to go on a late night walk.

Once the rules – or, rather, the ‘no rules’ – have been decided, get prepared for a wild night with the family!

31. Play Charades Or Pictionary Together

Oh, come on: who doesn’t enjoy a family game night?

It’s time to get your competitive sides out, and your gaming faces on. Split the family into teams, and get to work! It doesn’t matter whether you choose to play charades or Pictionary – or, even both – because they both include little preparation beforehand.

For Pictionary, all you will need is some pieces of paper and a pencil for each team. For charades, all you need is a pair of arms!

Nothing brings the whole family together quite like a game night. Just make sure you take it easy on the younger kids, as you don’t want the game to end in tears if they lose. Keep it lighthearted!

32. Go To A Drive-In

Remember when it was popular for people to drive into parking lots and watch movies on a big screen? Well, it seems to be coming back as a trend.

Pack the whole family into the car and head to a drive-in near you. Make sure you take blankets and pillows to get fully comfortable, and take along some snacks to enjoy while watching!

This will definitely be an experience to remember as a family, providing you choose the right film: make sure you discuss with the whole family which movie you want to watch beforehand.

33. Make Your Own Slime

If there’s one thing that kids these days love to do, it’s making and playing with slime.

While this seems to be something that the younger generation have become obsessed with, this activity will be enjoyable for everyone in the family, no matter their age.

It’s fairly simple to do, too: you’ll need to gather some ingredients, such as cornstarch, food coloring and craft glue, and follow an online tutorial to create your own gooey, colorful, homemade substance.

Once you’ve made your slime, find a container to keep it at the right texture so you can play with it whenever you feel like!

34. Make Your Own Playdough Sculptures

Now we move onto another favorite that has lived through the many generations: Playdough!

Although Playdough is generally marketed towards children, there is no doubt in our minds that the grown ups will enjoy themselves just as much as the younger ones, if not even more.

This substance has the ability to keep people busy for hours, creating tiny sculptures until all the colors have mixed, and you’re left with a pile of brown dough. We’ve all been guilty of it!

If you used to love playing with this while you were growing up, you’ll definitely still enjoy it now. So will your kids! Use your imagination and create your own wacky sculptures.

35. Go Fly A Kite

Is there anything more magical than witnessing your own kite soaring through the skies above you? Probably not.

This may be one of the most perfect activities for a summer’s day or night. All you need is a kite of your own, and a little bit of wind in the air around you. It may be a little difficult to get the kite in flight mode at first, but once you’ve gotten the hang of it, it will all be completely worth it.

If you don’t already have one, take the whole family out to buy the most colorful, wackiest looking kite you can find!

Flying a kite is an enjoyable experience for the whole family… just as long as you don’t let go of it, unless you want to spend the rest of your time together running after a kite for hours.

36. Go Fruit Picking

Next up, we have yet another activity that will end with you consuming some yummy food!

Picking fruit can be an extremely fun activity, especially knowing that you can take it home with you. Find a suitable field, and admire the colors and shapes of all the different types of fruits you find.

Pick out the tastiest, ripest looking ones you find, and take them for yourself. Before you go, check online to see which fruits are growing at this time of year.

This is a great activity for those of all ages. Just make sure you’re wary of creepy crawlies!

37. Paint Your Own Kindness Rocks

Here’s a fun activity for the whole gang, but especially for those with a soft side and a creative streak!

This is a pretty straightforward concept, if you have never heard of it before: basically, you start off by collecting a load of rocks. Take them home and paint them pretty colors, and write wholesome, kind messages across them. Then you can take these rocks to remote, random areas, and leave them for others to find.

Strangers will find the rocks and receive a lovely message that will brighten their day, and they may even decide to take the rocks home with them.

This is a cute activity that will not only be fun to participate in, but will also make you feel good about yourself, as you will knowingly be spreading positivity to those who may need it.

38. Make Your Own Sock Puppets

Here’s a fun, wacky activity that will bring your creativity to a whole new level.

Find some old socks, preferably ones that are a light color, and find some paints and pens, or even googly eyes. Spend a couple of hours with your family, creating your very own sock puppets. This will surely get everyone laughing and talking, bonding over cut up socks.

If the puppets turn out well, you could even put on a show together!

39. Go Tubing Or Snowshoeing

Has snow fallen in your hometown, and you refuse to be stuck inside your house with the whole family?

Well, why don’t you all go outside instead? Make sure you’re all wrapped up warmly, wearing hats and scarves, and venture out into the snow to enjoy some tubing or snowshoeing, or any other snow activity. It’s fun for the whole family, and you will create memories that will last forever.

Don’t waste perfectly good snow, or quality time with your family. Go enjoy yourself!

40. Build With Lego

It really doesn’t matter how old you are: building with Lego will never stop being fun.

Gather your loved ones around, grab the Lego, and start creating your own masterpieces! This activity has been around for a long time, and if you are an adult reading this, it is highly likely that you played with these toys when you were a kid.

Perhaps you haven’t played with them since. That will make this activity all the more fun: not just being able to play with your old favorite toys, but being able to build in the company of your own children.

Whether you decide to build something together, or you decide to each build your own structures, this is an activity that will bring joy to every member of the family, no matter their age.

41. Dress Up For A Photoshoot

Cameras, make up, and fancy dresses: the perfect accessories for a fun night in.

This isn’t just an option for the ladies, gentlemen! Don’t be afraid to dress up and make yourself look as fancy as possible, looking your best for the ultimate photoshoot.

This will get everyone laughing, and the photographs will be great to look back on in years to come, especially when the younger kids have grown up and will be so embarrassed by them. This is an opportunity you don’t want to miss out on.

Why not combine this idea with the previous idea, the formal night in?

42. Hold An Arts And Crafts Night

With endless limits of what you could create, there is no reason for anyone not to enjoy an arts and crafts activity.

Lay out a load of newspaper or old sheets over a table, or even across the floor, to ensure that you keep the mess to a minimum… and, believe us, there will be a mess. Gather up all the paints, pencils, crayons, and anything else you have around the house, and get to work! Create pieces of art that you will treasure forever while bonding with your loved ones.

This is an activity that will almost definitely guarantee a fun time for everyone involved.

This is a great opportunity to encourage the kids to create pieces of art that you can frame, or keep safely for the rest of your lives. You will appreciate these creations when you, and your children, are older.

43. Create Structures Out Of Popsicle Sticks

Here we have yet another creative activity to keep you and your loved ones busy for the night.

You will need some glue, paint, and, of course, several popsicle sticks. Cover the table, or the floor, with newspaper or old sheets to reduce the amount of mess that will be created. Once the preparation is complete, it’s time to get messy! See who can create the tallest, most impressive buildings out of the sticks.

Just make sure you’re careful around everyone else’s structures: you don’t want the night to end in tears when you accidentally knock someone else’s creation over.

44. Hold A Hula-Hoop Contest

Are you looking for an activity that will make everyone cry from laughter, as well as something to tire the kids out before bed? Well, look no further.

Hula-hoops will never not be fun. While some take to the sport faster than others, it is a skill that anyone can acquire… and, in fact, it’s a lot funnier when you can’t do it properly. Everyone will look ridiculous, and it will be hysterical to both witness and participate in.

What are you waiting for? Grab your hula-hoops, and get those hips moving!

45. Make (Or Watch) Some Family Videos

Only a couple of generations ago, the only way we could capture precious moments on film were by carrying a heavy camcorder around with us, wherever we went.

Nowadays, we are much luckier: almost everyone has a device that can capture videos, meaning that no moment goes unnoticed and forgotten! Choose a night when the whole family is free, and gather everyone together in the living room to revisit these memories.

There will be laughter, there will be tears… but, more importantly, there will be good, old-fashioned family bonding. What more could you want?