30 Fun (and Frugal) Family Activites

Having fun with your family doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg!  Although there are many family activities that cost more than an arm and a leg, like going to a movie for instance, there are lots of ways to have fun with your family without breaking the bank.  Try some of these..........

• Ride bicycles together.
• Take your children with you to work for the day.
• Collect aluminum cans and recycle them.
• Things to do on a rainy day...splash in a puddle, sing in the rain, read the story of Noah and the Ark, color a rainbow.
• Climb a tree.
• Choose a picture from a magazine or newspaper and write a one-page story about it.
• Play miniature golf.
• Read Psalm 119 and illustrate it.
• Tell stories of famous brothers and sisters in the Bible (Miriam, Aaron, Moses or Martha, Mary, Lazarus).  Share a story about brothers and sisters in your family.
• Play marbles outside.
• Fold paper planes and see whose plane goes the farthest.
• Find socks around the house that don't have a match.  Make sock puppets and create a funny story.
• Visit a local museum.
• Make a "stick family".  Each person in your family decorates a craft stick with markers, yarn, or paper so that it resembles him.  Glue the sticks to poster board and display it.
• Share the story of the resurrection of Jesus with your family.
• Go to the playground.  Join your children on the swings and down the slide.
• Visit the library with your children.  Get a library card for them if they don't already have one.
• Play with your pet (s).  If your family doesn't have one, visit a pet store.
• Devise an obstacle course.  Hold a race to see who can walk around the obstacles to the finish line the fastest.
• Color Easter eggs.
• Share riddles and knock-knock jokes around the dinner table.
• Draw a picture of your favorite bird.  Add beads, fabric, or feathers to the picture.
• Make a pretend banjo with a box and strings.  Sing "Oh Susanna".
• Volunteer as a family at a local homeless shelter, library, or your church.
• Use a shoebox to make an Easter scene.  Choose items such as a cross, a stone, and a folded cloth to represent different facts about Easter.
• Plant flowers around the house.
• Pick up trash at a park.
• Write a newspaper.  Include photos and articles about recent family activities.  Make copies and send to relatives.
• Go through your closets.  Choose at least five items from each closet to give away. 
• Sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" and talk about its history.  Illustrate the song.
• Prepare a care package for someone in the military.  Thank them for their service.