The Best Ways to Have Fun With Your Kids During the School Year

Want to have fun with your kids during the school year? Here are some activities to try on school nights and weekends when everyone’s free.

How to Have Fun with Your Kids During the School Year

As summer draws to an official close and school nights roll in, finding time to spend with your kids can be difficult. Between running from practices to recitals, making sure homework is done, grades are stellar, and classroom participation is happening, your days are packed!

It’s important to make family time a priority, especially during the school year, so that you can be an active part of your kid’s lives.

Here are some of the best ways to spend your not-so-busy weeknights and weekends together as a family:

Get active! Exploring is a great activity, especially during the end of summer and beginning of fall. Hiking is a fun way to be active and enjoy the outdoors with the whole family. Exploring new hiking trails, taking in the beauty of nature, and bonding together are just some of the benefits!

When you do head outdoors for a day on the trails, be sure to pack plenty of water and some snacks to munch on throughout the day to keep energy levels up. I love to bring along either granola bars or Honey Stinger Waffles since they’re easy to transport and eat. 

Another great outdoor activity is riding bikes together. Find a trail in your community where it’s safe to ride and don’t forget your helmets!

Rainy or chilly day? Have a dance party inside! Dancing, even if you don’t know how, is a great way to be active. 

Get crafty! Decide on a craft that the whole family can take part in, whether it’s building a tree house or building a model car. Completing a craft together as a family encourages the idea of working together in a creative and positive setting.

When you’re done, you can proudly display your masterpiece and admire it for years to come together.

Need craft supplies or tutorials? Check out KiwiCo Crates! 

Get competitive! Participating in a sport and playing against each other as a family really gets the competition going. For instance, golfing is a great sport for families to participate in because it teaches patience and determination. Many golf resorts across the United States have a variety of courses that you and the family can hone your skills on.

If your family is a bit younger, an alternative to the professional course is mini-golf. Kids love to play mini-golf and it doesn’t take as long as traditional golf. 

We personally like shooting some hoops or even playing a board game with each other. No matter what type of ‘sport’ your family enjoys, gather up the kids and start up a game!

Get spirited! If playing sports isn’t your forte, attend a local sporting event instead! Take the kids to a minor league baseball game, or gather everyone and head to a professional football game with two of your favorite teams.

If your family isn’t into the sports scene at all, watch a movie together instead. Plan a movie night, whether it’s out at the theater or at home in front of the wide-screen. Candy and popcorn make this family activity a fun celebration!

Get musical! Do you and your kids play musical instruments? Try to play some tunes together as a group. 

Not musically inclined? No worries! Create a family playlist to listen to together. You can sing along, have a karaoke night, or just relax and listen. 

Get bookish. Reading together is such a great activity for families. Not only does it help with language development, it also encourages imagination and adventure. 

You as parents can read a book or story to the family, or you can each take turns reading. Into different genres? Set aside a time when you all sit together in the same space and read your favorite books. 

Back-to-school means focusing on good grades and homework, but that doesn’t mean family time should be pushed aside. Make the most of your free time and let your kids know how much you love them with these family-fun activities!

Have Other Ideas? 

How do you find ways to bond with your kids during the school year?