How to Have More Family Fun this Weekend

Weekends are meant for fun. However, it's easy to fall into a weekend rut. This is especially the case if you work all week and use the weekends to catch up on household chores and errands. And if your budget is tight then weekend fun may seem impossible. Here are a few tips, ideas, and strategies to have more fun this weekend.

Images Courtesy of Amazon

#1 Get Outside

Getting out into the fresh air almost automatically puts a smile on everyone's face. And guess what - nature is free. If you are having a winter like our winter...it's probably a bit wonky! Sometimes it is warm and sometimes it is cold. That's the best of both worlds actually.

Warm Weather Fun (for winter anyway)

• Walk to the park and play a game of Frisbee, football, or baseball.  
• Take a nature hike or explore a new outdoor area in your community. 
• Pack a picnic lunch and make a day of it. (Picnic in the car for warmth and then hit the swings.)

Cold Weather Fun

• Go cold weather bird-watching or animal watching. What types of animals are out and about in the winter?
• Sledding or Snowboarding
• Fort Building (if you have snow that is)

#2 Make a List

Make a list of the things that you want to do and can do on the weekends. This way, when you're stumped for ideas you can simply turn to your list and make a choice.

#3 Put It on the Calendar

Many museums, zoos, and other community facilities offer discount days, free days, and special events. Make a list of these and put them on your calendar. Then when you're trying to decide what to do this weekend you can see all of the possibilities and take advantage of local events.

#4 Fairs and Festivals

Most fairs and festivals are free to attend and they can be a lot of fun. Add them to your calendar and choose one or two to attend. Set a budget in advance and pack your lunch so you stay on budget. It's easy to spend a fortune on food and snacks.

#5 Take Advantage of Short-Term Travel Packages

One of the best ways to see the world on a budget is to have an open schedule and open-minded approach to where you go. If you want to get away for a long weekend, visit the discount travel broker websites and review the last-minute packages. You can often save more than 50% on a trip and the spontaneity is fun.

#6 Imaginative Projects

What do your children love to do? DO they enjoy building things? Do they like putting on shows? Let their imaginations run free and spend a weekend with a creative project. Put on a play in the back yard and film it. Build a playhouse and paint it. If your children love volcanoes then have a science fair. If they love to cook then stage your very own Cupcake Wars in your kitchen.

#7 Try Something New

Have each family member make a list of something they want to learn or do this summer. Give them a few examples so they don't write down things like "Go to Paris"or "Ride a camel". (Unless you really want to find ways to do those sorts of things. ) Children can get carried away.

Take a look at their list and then create a plan to address one item on each person's list. You may find that you're rock climbing one weekend and shopping for vintage clothing the next.

All work and no play makes weekends dull and the work week even harder. Teach your children to take time to have fun. And enjoy your family time together, it's precious.

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Have a great weekend! This weekend and every weekend.

Mrs. Bauer

Starting New Traditions

Each year as my children's birthdays approach I wonder about our family traditions. Did we start any traditions by accident last year? Are any of the traditions getting tired and worn out? Maybe they need a  fresh new start. I haven't come to any grand conclusions yet.

 

photo credit: thisreidwrites

As much as we grumble about the routine stuff...get tired of doing the same thing over and over...why do we do this...and so on, it really is the simple things that we do which make warm memories.  And besides, children like routine and they thrive in it.

I believe it's because of routine we can devote the energy to new pursuits, learnings and undertakings.  Bedlam doesn't provide a supportive environment. If you are too busy worrying about what comes next, when will we eat, and why can't I find anything...well, there isn't much brain power left over to enjoy the task of tackling something new.

Routine often stems around daily living. Traditions often branch out of holiday celebrations or special situations. Why is that?

Think about your own childhood memories. How many start with 'We always...'? Here are two of my own.

We always took a summer road trip vacation. My mom always had what we named 'the kitchenette' on the floor of the front seat. It contained drinks and snacks and sandwhiches. There were no gas station snack stops and very few fast food stops (if there even were drive-thrus, I'm not even sure.)

We always went to my grandparents on Christmas Day. I don't remember missing, ever.

photo credit: normanack

Traditions don't always have to be about family fun, although often they are. Maybe you have a tradition of working together. My mom and I have a tradition of freezing sweet corn together in the summer.

Husbands sometimes don't get on board with the tradition idea, but often they just go along with it. That's ok. You don't have to announce that every first day of spring you're going to have a tulip themed decorated dinner. Just do it and the kids will love it and eventually he'll catch on.

 

photo credit: thecocoacakery

However, you may encounter that your husband has something that he feels very strongly about. In that case, get enthusiastic and go for it. Even if you have to do some blending from both your family and your husbands family.

Join Marty's Musings as she talks about her blessing jar tradition.

I hope you've enjoyed this little glimpse into my love of mason jars and our family tradition of the Blessing Jar. I hope you'll try this in your own family and be blessed.

Also today, I read Mama Gab and she made me sad that I didn't have any new baby traditions.

We have just a few baby traditions that we've created in our family over the past few years.

As for my kids, we have some summer traditions. We always have water balloons. We go back to the pool for the last hour of swimming on nice nights. We go to the local amusement park on the 4th of July. I always to go parents day of swimming lessons. We always join the summer reading program at the library.

What summer traditions do you have or want to start?