Activities for Families, Adults, and Kids

In-A-Day Activities

Our Activities offer creative ideas that you can do with your family or modify for a unique date idea. When you add a little imagination to activities you create memories that last a lifetime.

A new In-a-day are posted a few times a year. Check back or enjoy browsing our extensive archives for other great ideas.

Like us on the Twitter link above so you don't miss a post!
Ready for vacation ideas? Check out our fun travel ideas.

Check out our Travel Ideas

Bus Date Idea

7/17/2015

2 Comments

If you do not live in one of the few of the places that have great public transportation (Like the New York Subway, or the California Bart), taking public transportation on a date night may not occur to you. It may seem odd to think about a date being romantic when scrunched between people you do not know, but it can add to the humor of your date. As long as the transportation in your area is safe at night, taking a public bus to a bar or amusement area can become part of your date with a bit of people-watching as well as not having to worry about driving after a few cocktails. Depending on how far away the bus stop is from your house, you can make the stroll to the bus stop with a game of 20 questions.

Make sure that you check the bus schedule and that it will be running when you are planning to leave your destination. I understand that the distance to your closest bus stop may not make this activity possible for some, but you never know what fun activities might be on your bus route if it is in your walking distance.

2 Comments

Give your time to Charity

6/18/2015

2 Comments

Working together as a family or even as a couple can be a great bonding experience and can also give the opportunity to help out a charity in need. The difficulty, sometimes, of volunteering with a busy schedule is that it is hard to be somewhere at a specific day or time weekly and can make us hold back so we don't over commit. Well, the good news is that there are several organizations that are actually online and you can sign up for days that you have available as well as give yourself the chance to help out at a lot of well-deserved charities. How it works on many of these sites is you sign up and take a brief, but informative, orientation. Some have small fees just to help cover the website expense and are, of course, a donation. Then, you browse what charities are looking for help on days you have available. In some cases, you can provide them with special skills you have in the event there is a need in that area. I have done an event where I read to homeless children, served in a food kitchen, boxed food and medical supplies, played a sporting game with at risk teens, and provided park clean up. The list and need is endless. You can take turns, as a family, picking out causes that are close to your heart.

http://www.volunteermatch.org/ all over projects
www.onlinevolunteering.org helping online projects.
www.makeadifference.org is in the Greater Phoenix area.

2 Comments

Host a Murder Mystery Party

5/18/2015

1 Comment

Murder Mystery Parties are an interactive social event that can cure a potentially humdrum get-together. Murder Mysteries can be quickly thrown together by purchasing a pre-made game where the players are not set specifically to your group and you invite the number of people recommended on the box. Another option is to have a murder mystery written specifically for your group. There are a few online in which you provide them with the information including age and gender of the guest and they make one up that will work with your group.

For this type of party, you can really go all-out in both costume and food. Make sure each player has a brief description of their character they will be playing and have them arrive in full persona mode both in costume and attitude. I can go into detail about the type of food you can serve but, to be honest, the Night of Mystery really does a fantastic job on telling you how to set the stage with backdrops and foods that fit your theme.

http://www.nightofmystery.com/
http://www.mymysteryparty.com/

1 Comment

Hire a Museum Guide

4/8/2015

0 Comments

Look at art from a professional standpoint, in your own city. If you visit a local museum a few times a year, you may think you have seen it all, but when you take a guided tour with an art expert you can learn a lot more about the back-story of the paintings. You may even learn to appreciate pieces that previously had not been your taste.

Some of the more well-known museums have guides ready at the entrance since most tourists would not dream of going to a place like the Louvre without one. When you visit a smaller local place, it can feel like the process of hiring a guide is an added expense and that a visit can be done without an expert. What we end up doing is missing some of the most important aspects of the art. Just make sure that you call in advance to set one up. Even at the little local museums there is always someone available and often times the price is not unreasonable.

0 Comments

Cocoon to Butterfly

3/28/2015

0 Comments

If you are looking for something creative to do with the kids that also involves studying nature, growing a pupae to a butterfly just might be a great answer to combine both an activity and a science lesson. There are a few companies online that sell kits and offer direction to help your through the stages.

Watch the beautiful metamorphosis process with your own butterfly kit. Many sites also have classroom kits available. You can add to the fun by taking pictures of all of the developing stages to share.

*Make sure to confirm your home state allows for the transportation of the pupae into your area and that your temperatures are adequate for development.

http://www.butterflyworkx.com/

0 Comments

Father & Son Time-- Physical Activities

3/12/2015

1 Comment

So, you say you are not athletic, but you want to spend some time bonding over a physical activity. We don't all have to be triathlon-running, football -playing parents to have bonding time that includes a physical activity. Most of these are things you have heard of or have probably done before. If not, then give them a try. Sometimes we forget to get back to the basics.
Any of these activities can be mother-son, father-daughter, or mother-daughter. This particular tip was requested for a weekend father-son sport day.

Whiffle ball: Whiffle ball sets can be found in most large chain stores at a reasonable cost.This is a pretty easy game to play baseball style and and does not require as much space. Make the bases a shorter distance to fit where you want to play. Since the balls are light, as is the whiffle bat, there are no huge concern breaking windows.

Golf Lesson or putting: Take a golf lesson together. If you already enjoy golf, then why not add in a new golf buddy? There is no better time to pick up a healthy and fun hobby than when you are young. Just keep to the front nine holes, so they do not get bored. If you think nine holes is too long or having those people behind you impatiently waiting for you to hurry up is something that will add anxiety to your outing, the putting range is a great alternative.

Combine whiffle ball and golf: No time or money for a private lesson for your little guy? How about teaching them golf yourself, with a shorter iron and a whiffle ball, at a local park or in the backyard? That way you don't have to worry about balls breaking windows. Just make sure they keep a firm grip.

Bicycle together: What used to be the only cool mode of transportation for kids has taken a heavy back seat to having your parents drive you everywhere. If you don't have bikes, rent them. Take a ride in the park or even around your neighborhood. This is great to get the kids out of the house and engaged.

Mini-golf: So, you don't know how to play regular golf? That is fine! Mini-golf is just as fun, actually it can be more fun. A lot of light-hearted teasing and competition, but without the long-learned skills needed to become a master golfer or having those people behind you impatiently waiting for you to hurry up and move on.

Rock Climbing: No, not the outdoor ones, the indoor ones with trained staff members. Most are also fully air-conditioned. These are awesome for learning the ropes on how to bole your partner and work together as a team as you try, try, and try again to get up the walls. Don't fret, most have beginning areas to get your feet wet.

Bowling- I remember the neighborhood dads all going to the bowling alley one night a week, and being part of a league. The kids used to get to go during the weekend so the dads could get some practice on their game. We would play, sometimes, with the guard rails up and then, when we got better, they took them down. This is a great time to just sit and talk without being intrusive. One or two games makes a fun dinner night if you add in often bar style, bowling alley food.

Any of these activities can be mother and son, father and daughter, or mother and daughter. We always want to have occasional tips that are requested for the dads in our lives.

1 Comment

UFO Play Date or party idea. Simple, silly, fun.

2/26/2015

2 Comments

If you are looking for a fun and unique play-date activity consider having a UFO get-together. Invite the participants over and ask them to wear green or silver. Your snacks can be quick and easy with sandwiches cut in a round shape to represent flying saucers, "flying" pizza pies, moon pies, and pop-rocks for dessert.

A few other ideas to make your get-together interactive:

1). Have a UFO-themed movie like E.T or a cartoon playing on TV (Lilo and Stich), or else some background music like "The Purple People Eater' by Sheb Whooly or Will Smith's "Men in Black".
2) Search for clues to the alien ship using a list of clues to follow.
3) Make crafts out of paper plates. Have a table set up with things to decorate the outside of the plates (Pens, Glitter, glue, stickers) and then glue the plates facing each other to make a flying saucer. Make sure and use a heavy glue that binds paper quickly. They can take these items home as gifts.
4) Have the group come up with a Martian language.
5) Make a cardboard cutout with holes in it, put the point value on top of each hole, and then have the kids try and fly mini Frisbees though them.
6) Many of the dollar stores carry the bobbly antennae head bands. These would make great "welcome to the get-together" gifts and also be fun for the group pictures.

2 Comments

Host an Open-Mic Night

2/12/2015

1 Comment

I am always surprised by the talents of people around me. I mean really impressed. Many times that shy, quiet child or even that rambunctious, loud prankster has an amazing talent. Bring it out by hosting an open-mic night. Buy or rent a microphone. Yes, I broke it down to the simplest form. Put the mic in the front of the room you will be hosting in, have some "at the show" snacks, add in fun sing-a-long music, and then invite kids, teens, and family over. Let them know that any form of entertainment is game. Jokes, songs, poetry, whatever strikes their fancy, and then sit back and enjoy the show.

If everyone is too quiet, make a game out of it. Pass the microphone around and ask a question such as "What is the first word that comes to mind when I say... Porcupine?". Then, everyone in the group individually says the first thing that came to their mind into the mic and passes it to the next person. The person responsible for asking the question rotates to the next person on their right. (or left. It's your house, your rules) At the very least, some of the answers will be humorous.

This idea works great for teens. Of course, they will be quiet at first. But leave the room, let them put on their own music, and wait for the magic.

1 Comment

Thrift Store Date

1/29/2015

2 Comments

Looking for a quick and impulsive day-date activity that won't break the bank? Head to the local thrift store armed with a very specific budget and have a hunt and find. The first part of your date is looking for something that you can use for a date.

Think outside the box, and have fun with it. Most thrift stores have toys, books, exercise equipment, and even jewelry for crafts. You name it, most of the thrift stores have it. The best part about a thrift store is that, if you pick the right one, you will also be donating to a good cause. Maybe you are both passionate about animals. Find an animal thrift store. You can see who the stores donate to right online. Be open to being goofy. Wander the store and look at all the things you might be able to do with the items. Paint brushes? Humm, maybe an art-in-the-park day. Clothing? Maybe goofy pictures day. Don't go with a preconceived idea of what you want to find. If you can't think of an idea, browse some of our past ones. We have lots of unique ideas right in our categories and archives sections (Look to the links on the right).

2 Comments

Date night activity for kids

1/15/2015

2 Comments

One of the hardest things for young kids to understand is why mom and dad have to go out for a date night. "It's no fair." Of course they want to be with you, but you also need some time alone. So, how do you get them to not only look forward to you leaving them with a babysitter on date night but to also help push you out the door without the tantrum? Make them a date night gift box! I am not talking about an expensive box. I am talking about a gift wrapped box that you put out as soon as you start getting ready that they can open with the babysitter, lets say fifteen minutes after you leave. Set a time so the minute the babysitter walks through the door they are not hounded with "Lets open this right now" and you make it out into the car and happily on your date with no tears.

So, what is in the box? It can be anything that is a craft or an activity. (Look at all our past archives for tons of ideas.). Just make sure the box is wrapped cute so that they cannot wait for the babysitter. They might even help you straighten up the house or their room to get you out the door. I know your time is busy. What time do you have to do a box before you leave? Don't! Make several boxes on a weekend you have free time and then put them away until you need them. Place them high up in the closet so the kids don't see them.

Ideas for gift boxes: (besides our own ideas)

A recipe for play-dough and the ingredients
Small box of legos to build something cool
A new movie they have been wanting to watch
A new game board they can play with the sitter
A craft project
Any hands on project. Just make sure it is not really messy so you don't have a dirty house, or anything that requires cooking or sharp tools. You are supposed to relax, not worry.

2 Comments

<<Previous

Forward>>

In-A-Day Activities

Bus Date Idea

Give your time to Charity

Host a Murder Mystery Party

Hire a Museum Guide

Cocoon to Butterfly

Father & Son Time-- Physical Activities

UFO Play Date or party idea. Simple, silly, fun.

Host an Open-Mic Night

Thrift Store Date

Date night activity for kids

Categories

Archives