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20 Ideas for a Family Fun Night

A friend of mine has a fun family tradition. Every year, he designates one night to spend with his children without any rules. I repeat—for one night, there are no rules. This night is crazy! Each No Rules Night is different from the last. The kids can do whatever they want (within reason) and it’s created so many memories for his family. His kids talk about it all year and constantly ask when the next one will be. It’s definitely their favorite family fun night. Nights like these are what kids remember about their childhoods.

Do you ever find yourself running out of ideas or doing the same things over and over again? Whether you want to cozy up at home or get the whole family outside, there are plenty of ideas that will help you grow closer and not break the bank. Here’s how to do a No Rules Night and 19 other ideas for a great family fun night.

1. No Rules Night

This family fun night idea is pretty self-explanatory. However, there really are two rules: The activities need to be safe and you do need to consider other people. If your kids want to play outside at 3 a.m, they can do it, but they need to do it silently so they don’t disturb the neighbors. Here are more details about a No Rules Night and its hidden benefits.

2. Guest of Honor Night

Focus this night on one person in your family. Treat this person like a king or queen. Wait on him. Call him sir. Give him the head of the table and a special treat. The guest of honor gets to pick the activity, too.

3. Home Video Night

All kids love to see themselves when they were younger. Break out videos of their younger days or create a slideshow using pictures of them growing up. Kids are also fascinated by their parents’ wedding videos. Just make sure to fast forward if your video is six hours long. We might like to see 10 minutes of ourselves getting our makeup done, but it’s a snoozer for the kids.

4. Volunteer Night

Volunteering as a family might not scream “fun,” but I promise, you’ll all feel great on your way home. Specifying your volunteer work to something your child is interested in is a great way to start. If your child loves animals, volunteer at the Humane Society. For other ideas, here’s how to teach your kids to help others.

5. Individual Dinner Night

Having a family with multiple children often makes it hard to spend one-on-one time with each of them. Pick nights for you and your husband to take just one child out and let the others stay home with a sitter. It doesn’t have to be expensive. Order a pizza for the kids at home and go out for fast food with the child you are showering with attention. If you want to make it a mom and kid night, try one of these 8 date ideas for mom and kids.

6. Backyard Campout Night

You don’t have to head to the woods to go camping. Popping the tent up in the back yard will feel like a convenient vacation. Remember to include all the things you normally would at a campsite, like s’mores, flashlights, and sleeping bags. And be sure to play some fun camping games, too!

7. International Night

Pick a country as a theme for the night and go all out. Make or order that country’s food, listen to traditional music from that region, have the kids research some facts, and then watch a movie or play a game that originated there. We started this tradition with Italy night and made lasagna and cannoli, listened to Pavarotti, and played bocce ball after dinner. The kids loved sharing the facts they learned about Pompei and the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

8. Museum Night

You may laugh at the thought of your kids in a museum, but hear us out! Having a scavenger hunt in the museum is a great way for kids to interact with the exhibits. Another activity in an art museum could include talking about each person’s favorite piece. With some modern art, your family could try to guess what the artists were thinking when they created their work. A bonus is that museum admission is usually pretty inexpensive.

9. Home Restaurant Night

Let your kids create a restaurant, complete with a sign, a host stand, and menus. Make sure they include the actual dinner plan on the menus, but then let them act as servers. Be sure to check to see if you need a reservation!

10. Concert Night

Taking your kids to a concert exposes them to music in a new way. Outdoor concerts in the summer are great because they are more relaxed. In the winter, take your kids to a symphony. Sometimes orchestras customize their concerts to put a twist on some songs your kids might know.

11. Dessert Out Night

Surprise your kids by eating dinner at home and announcing that you’re taking them out for dessert! This is a great way to feel like you’ve gone out to eat but for a much lower price.

12. $5 Dollar Shopping Night

Take your kids to a store like Target, Walmart, or Dollar Tree and give them each $5. Make it a contest to see who can buy the best item for the family just using that amount.

13. Costume Night

Go to a consignment shop or Goodwill and have each kid pick out a funny outfit. Then, go for a picnic in the park as a group of random personalities. Make sure to take pictures of this family fun night!

14. History Night

This night has a lot of possibilities: Invite grandparents over to tell stories of their lives when they were young or tell your kids stories about you and your siblings when you were growing up. You can even set up a family history interview with these questions. Another option is to invite a friend over who is a war veteran to share his or her experiences with your kids.

15. Formal Nighttable manners

Have your kids dress in their best and get out the good china! Take this opportunity to teach your kids some lessons at the table. Tell them to study this 10 Table Manners printable. This will also be a great time of laughing while your kids try to act grown up. Talking in British accents and pretending you’re having afternoon tea is fun too.

16. Twisted Bowling/Miniature Golf Night

Sometimes bowling and mini golf can feel stale, so add a little twist. Have specific instructions for each hole or frame. For example, “At this hole, you have to swing the putter behind your back.” Or, “During this frame, try to only knock down two pins.”

17. Picture Night

Your home is where your family spends the most time and makes the most memories. Why not do a family photo shoot there so your kids can always remember the house they grew up in? Have a fun photo shoot with your kids by inviting a friend over who does photography as a hobby. Don’t just stick to classic poses and matching outfits. Make sure you allow your kids’ goofy personalities to shine through.

Your home is where your family spends the most time and makes the most memories. Why not do a family photo shoot there so your kids can always remember the house they grew up in? Click To Tweet

18. Scavenger Hunt Night

Split your family up or compete against another family who wants to have a family night. Print one of our scavenger hunts or create your own list of things to look for around the mall or park, like a wacky hairstyle (can you say mullet?) or a member of the group climbing a tree.

19. Interactive Movie Night

Watch a movie together as a family. You can keep this family-friendly and interactive by hanging a sheet on a wall outside of your house and having your own drive-in movie or watching a water-themed movie while floating in the pool.

20. A How-To Night

Learn something together! Some ideas could be how to cook a certain kind of food, change a tire or the oil in a car, plant a garden (the kids can pick out the seeds), start a campfire, or play a sport.

What is your favorite family fun night activity?

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