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Family Home Evening

Activity Jar Ideas

{Activities to bring your family together}

Just Cut, fold, and place in an empty Jar- choose one each family night.
 Go on a scavenger hunt
Break up into groups and make a list of things they need to find. A good location would be
somewhere like the mall or a grocery store. They must get a photo with the item or have a worker sign
their paper saying they found it. First team done wins!

Watch a movie
Choose a family movie you can all enjoy: Disney or Pixar Movies. If you have a projector and it’s warm
outside, set it up in your backyard and bring blankets and pillows out to watch your movie.

Make cookies
Make sugar cookies that you can decorate with frosting and fun sprinkles. Let your kids decorate
them for each other for a surprise.

Play bigger and better

Split up into teams and each team gets a penny. Go door-to-door asking them to give you something
that is bigger and better than what you have. Make sure you either return their item, or they give you
something you can keep.

Go to the Family History Library/ Historical Excursion

Take a trip to the local family history center in your area. If you can, go visit old houses you or your
parents lived in to see how things have changed. Maybe visit old elementary/ high schools and tell
stories about your early years to your children.

Play games at the park

Play kickball, baseball, soccer, Frisbee, basketball, bad mitten, volleyball, tag, capture the flag, or any
other games you see fit for your family. You can also play freeze tag on the playground.

Build a snowman
If there is snow, build a family out of snowman! Use some of your clothing to dress the snowman
that represents you.
 Visit The Zoo
Visit your local zoo and help your children learn about all different animals. Have a lesson about animal
habitats beforehand.

Have A Family Slumber Party

Stay up late and make a fort for the family to sleep in. Share stories and sing songs.
Eat Junk food and have a movie marathon.

Go sing at a nursing home

Go sing songs to the elderly at the local nursing home. Play games and listen to their stories.
Visit often or write letters to them.

Make a collage out of old magazines

Cut out pictures from old magazines to make a collage representing your future, dreams, or hopes.
Hang them up as a reminder of those things on a wall in your bedroom.

Teach your kids about money and set up a lemonade stand

Teach your children about money and budgeting. Give them some money to buy supplies with, make
sure they stay within the budget, and help them set up a lemonade stand. See if they can earn back
more than what they spend getting supplies.

Make miniature boats and have a race at a local pond

Make miniature boats out of cardboard and cover them in duct tape. Take them to a pond or stream
and push them and see whose goes the farthest! You can also feed the ducks while visiting the pond.

Go for a hike
Plan out a family hike to somewhere that will be easy for your whole family to do. Take snacks, plenty
of water, and learn about nature along the way. Take pictures and enjoy the hike.
 Go on a bike Ride
Find a safe, local bike trail that your family can ride on.

Get Ice Cream and walk the temple Grounds

Share a tasty treat as you walk along the temple and discuss the importance of eternal families

Write letters to grandparents or missionaries

Write letters to a missionary serving from your family, serving from your ward, or to grandparents
that you don’t get to see often. Let them know you love and care for them.

Tell stories around a campfire

Go up the canyon to make a fire and roast some marshmallows. Tell stories- scary, and funny! Take
plenty of blankets and bug spray!

Make a family Calendar

Write down all the activities your children are doing during that month so you can keep track of each
other and plan for some family time!

Go Roller Skating
Get dressed up in your gear and go show your skills! Go somewhere that you know will be safe for your
kids to skate around like a church parking lot or school parking lot.

Paint a picture, a mural, or a room

Got a playroom that needs some paint? Buy a bunch of colors of paint and let the kids go crazy!
Make it a fun activity. If not a playroom, paint a picture.

Plant a Tree
Plant a tree in your yard and watch it grown. Learn about different kinds of leaves, trees, and what
kind of care they need.
 Go Swimming in a local lake, pond, or pool
Teach your kids the basic strokes of swimming and have a race!

Visit the big city

Learn about your Capitol City in your state. Take a day trip there if it’s far away. Visit the historical
landmarks and enjoy the best food in the city.

Go to a museum
Visit an Art or children’s museum. There are a lot of free museum’s- check out what’s free in your
town.

Start a family journal

Have your kids start writing funny things that have happened in your family. Don’t share anything
negative- try to keep it a positive book.

Take treats to neighbors or friends

Make your favorite treat and doorbell ditch it to your neighbor or friends! Don’t let them catch you!

Go fishing
Go fishing at a local pond and learn about different types of fish. If you catch any, gut it, and cook
it for dinner.

Write a silly story together

Have each child write a line in the story. After everyone has had a turn, start over with the first
person and keep going until you are done with the story.

Have a culture night

Dress up in costume for the culture you chose for the night. Eat food only from that culture. Listen
to music that is from that culture as well. (For Example: Chinese, Mexican, And French)
 Take photographs of each other
Designate a wall that you can use for photos you will take of each other. Let them dress up, be silly,
serious, or whatever they want. After pictures are taken, make them black and white, and hang
them on the wall you designated.

Learn about budgeting and saving, and save for a family trip
Decide on a place you want to visit as a family. (For example, Disneyland.) Make a HUGE jar to put
coins or dollars in to save for your family trip.

Visit an elderly person

Take your kids and visit someone you know that is elderly and can’t get out much. Take them a treat
or help them clean their house.

Pick and memorize a hymn for your family

Choose a hymn that represents your family- and memorize it. Print it out and frame it to help
remind you of it daily.

Learn about first aid

Learn about the first aid and make sure you have a kit in your home. If you don’t have a first aid
kit, go get one and teach your kids what each item is for in the kit.

Learn about etiquette

Teach your kids proper etiquette at the dinner table. Plan a dinner and invite some friends. Have your
kids serve them and set the dinner table.

Start A Family Collection

Collect seashells from family vacations, coins, rocks, or ANYTHING you want! Make it fun and keep
them in a safe place.
 Watch an old movie together
Watch an old black and white movie as a family- and talk about how far filming and technology has
come since then! Make predictions for the future.

Make a family goal chart

Make goals as a family and chart them to track your progress. Make long and short term goals.
Make personal and family goals.

Adopt a Grandma or Grandpa in the ward

Adopt a Grandma or Grandpa in the ward. Check up on them daily- invite them to dinner, treat
them as if they were really yours.

Compiled by: Gillian Mohlman

www.cfimommy101.blogspot.com
Some Ideas from about.com