Family Activities Archives - The Motherly Heap https://themotherlyheap.com/tag/family-activities/ On Motherhood and Extras Mon, 23 Jan 2023 18:57:00 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://i0.wp.com/themotherlyheap.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cropped-TMH-Logo.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Family Activities Archives - The Motherly Heap https://themotherlyheap.com/tag/family-activities/ 32 32 190800540 Halloween Family Ideas For Fun At Home https://themotherlyheap.com/halloween-family-ideas/ https://themotherlyheap.com/halloween-family-ideas/#respond Tue, 01 Nov 2022 04:07:46 +0000 https://themotherlyheap.com/?p=8304 Spooky time is here! Are you out of ideas to try this Halloween? Check out the list of simple yet fun-filled ideas for Halloween family activities at home. No need to leave your house, if you prefer to stay in. Fun right at your home and yards (front/back). You can check out this post if you want well-rounded fall family traditions. That includes pumpkin patches, hiking, feasts, Halloween, etc. Whatever your family decides to do this year, there are endless options for making this one day a year of spooky, fun, and happy Halloween. So whether you are planning to go all out with the Halloween feast or create Halloween moments with stuff already in the house – let everyone pitch in on the fun. 13 Halloween Fun Ideas at Home with family! Poke the pumpkin game. You use cups and place candy or stuff inside each cup. Cover with wrapping paper for easy poking. Some cups will be empty—two tries per person. Build your scary popcorn. Heat popcorn per instructions. Prepare toppings and drizzles on the side. Decorate as you like.  Wrap the body. You’re going to use a roll of toilet paper per team. The first team to mummy wrap the person in the group wins. You’ve got 3 minutes to complete the challenge! Eyeballs Hunt. Get as many eyeballs as possible and hide inside the house. Then, the Eyeball Scavenger hunt begins. You can exchange as many eyeballs for a prize or treat. Guess the spiders. Print out the picture. Have the person guess how many spiders are in a jar in 5 seconds. The closest number to the total count gets a prize. Download and print this game! Spooky Movies. Gather the whole family and pick a Halloween movie to watch. Set up movie treats and enjoy. Here’s a spectacular list of movies for you to watch! Draw Scary Pumpkin. Get a box of big chalks. Go out in the concrete front or backyard, and time to let lose the Halloween pumpkin creativity. The scariest pumpkin wins.  Related Posts: Halloween Costumes for The Whole Family Fall Family Traditions to Start This Year Camp out in the dark. Prepare the tent ahead of time. Set it up in the afternoon and get lanterns inside the tent. Turn off all outside lights. Go inside and do hand shadows or read a spooky book. Tell a spooky make-up story. Gather round a firepit. You can roast some marshmallows for smores if you want. Share a spooky story, made-up or real. Let everyone take a turn. Make fun treats. What a fun way to create Halloween memories than baking or making fun treats for everyone. Grab your favorite cookie or cupcake recipes and go all out on decorations. Pin the witch’s broom. Draw a witch on a piece of paper or cardboard. Then draw a witch’s broom and cut it. Finally, have each person pin the broom to the witch while blindfolded. Prizes await. Download Small Template. Chocolate Blind Test. Get 4 or 6 pieces of different chocolates to taste. Unwrap each one of them and place them on a plate. The person who can guess most chocolates will receive a treat/prize. Cute face painting. Keep hypoallergenic face paint on hand. Prepare a table and two chairs. The person can choose what animals they want. For another twist: Write down a Halloween character or superhero on a piece of paper. Roll the paper and place it in a bowl. Each person will pull a piece of paper and have the character drawn on their face. What are your Halloween Family Ideas To Do at Home? There are many Halloween ideas you can try out this year. However, these are only a few of several activities you can do with the family without leaving home. I hope you try one or more of the fun ideas. Happy Halloween! 

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]]> https://themotherlyheap.com/halloween-family-ideas/feed/ 0 8304 Halloween Costumes for The Whole Family https://themotherlyheap.com/halloween-costumes-for-family/ https://themotherlyheap.com/halloween-costumes-for-family/#respond Thu, 21 Oct 2021 20:50:22 +0000 https://themotherlyheap.com/?p=7108 Are you getting ready for the coming Halloween? Do you and the whole family dress up with Halloween costumes? Are the kids’ excitement building up in anticipation of trick or treating this year? If you’re still looking for a last-minute buying guide for Halloween festivities, I’ve rounded up some spooky, fun, or both costume categories. There’s plenty to choose from in this unique Halloween outfit guide for mom, dad, brother, sister, and even the baby! My family had been enjoying our Halloween Costumes Tradition. We pick a theme and prepare our costumes for a quick photo shoot; good thing my husband has a photography hobby. When Halloween comes around, we put on our costumes and go around the neighborhood trick or treating. We started this family tradition when I was pregnant with our son. This post may contain affiliate links; if you purchase from any of the links provided – I may earn a commission at no cost to you. Please read the complete disclosure here. Family Halloween Costumes you can check out this year! For Mom and Dad: Star Wars Fan Dad It is suited for any dad who loves being the Villain during Halloween. CHECK HERE Last Jedi: Rey Costume for Mom This costume is a full-on outfit and accessories for Mom to enjoy and have fun while trick or treating with the kids. CHECK HERE Pirate Costume for Dad Dad can play the pirate for the night and makes sure the treasure is guarded. CHECK HERE Western Costumes for Mom Mom has to purchase a western hat to complete the get-up and put on some heels! CHECK HERE For Brother and Sister: Red Ninja Costume Big brother can become the great Red Ninja of all time! Have him pick his Ninja sword, and his outfit will be Ninja ready. CHECK HERE Witch Costume Big sister can be the meanest witch in town as she circles the Halloween night in the neighborhood. CHECK HERE Related Posts: Halloween Family Ideas For Fun At Home Fall Family Traditions to Start This Year PJ Mask CATBOY The little boy can be chasing Romeo away with his superpower. CHECK HERE PJ Mask Owlette She and Catboy will defeat the night ninjas and Luna Girl together. They’ll be a super team! CHECK HERE Teen Zombie Your teen will be ready to have some fun with the family or attend a friends’ party with this scary outfit. It will be another spooky night to remember! CHECK HERE Miss Reaper for your Teen Your teenage girl can spook out some of her friends and schoolmates with this scary set. CHECK HERE For the Baby: Baby Dear Costume This costume ranges from infant to 18 months. Your adorable baby will look cute in this outfit on their First Halloween. CHECK HERE Baby Lamb for Baby Your darling baby girl will look adorable in this soft, cuddly baby lamb outfit. Take some Halloween pictures to remember. CHECK HERE Disney Baby Snow White When your baby is too young to go around trick or treating, you can still have them dress up for the Halloween family pictures. CHECK HERE A Peacock for a Baby What a cute outfit for your infant. Soft and warm enough to keep them from a cold Halloween Night Stroll. CHECK HERE Before purchasing any clothing items, please check the materials if your kids have allergies to fabrics and accessories. In addition, some things in the costumes may pose a choking hazard, so checking before putting them on is good. Finally, please be cautious when placing your infant in a costume. RELATED POST: Fall Family Traditions to Start This Year Your family can enjoy the Halloween Festivities with these costumes! Make it a family tradition to take a yearly family photo with Halloween costumes on! You can coordinate to do a themed Halloween outfit or be any random costumes that make each of you happy. What else is there not to love about dressing up for fun and strolling down the neighborhood with your Halloween bags full of treats! If you love to make your costumes for this year, you can check out these DIY Halloween Costumes for Kids. You can also visit some amusement parks offering Halloween programs or family activities like the local zoo or children’s museum. Check out your community on what’s happening around town. So, what are you waiting for? Before the clock strikes midnight on All Hallow’s Eve, make sure everyone’s ready for some Halloween fun! Share this article with your families and friends! Also, pin for later. Thank you.

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]]> https://themotherlyheap.com/halloween-costumes-for-family/feed/ 0 7108 Fall Family Traditions to Start This Year https://themotherlyheap.com/fall-family-traditions-to-start/ https://themotherlyheap.com/fall-family-traditions-to-start/#comments Wed, 13 Oct 2021 04:59:25 +0000 https://themotherlyheap.com/?p=6981 Fall is that time of the year when everyone is getting cozy and laid back. Families and friends gather around the table or outside to create memories to last. So if you’re newlywed or had your first baby this year – are you open to start your fall family traditions?  Family traditions are passed down to many generations, and creating one of your own for your new family is special to do.  Whether you’re a young family or have teenage children, family traditions create family connections that go beyond years to come. This post may contain affiliate links; if you purchase from any of the links provided – I may earn a commission at no cost to you. Please read the complete disclosure here. Here are 18 Fall Family Traditions to Start This Year Fall Family Pictures Coordinating colors, scouting for a fall outdoor backdrop, and getting everyone rounded up for smiles are great ways to spend a slow afternoon.  Taking the whole family for a great picture taken during this fall season is one memory to last you can always look at down the line. Grab some props if you’re all for the all-out photoshoot, or be there with your warm sweaters and strappy boots with your gorgeous smiles. Here are some cute fall outfits for your little ones. Pumpkin Patch  Nothing like visiting a pumpkin patch with the kids during this crisp air season can perk up your spirit.  Get into the corn maze and make it a race – the first ones to come out. Then, walking down the pumpkin patch with a camera in tow as you capture your kids’ delight. How about those pumpkin-flavored drinks to enjoy with your spouse while watching the kids play around the hay.  Don’t forget the famous hayride and cherish the downtime from the kids’ energy.  Buy some pumpkins you can all carve at home—easy stencils for pumpkin carving. Exchange Thanksgiving Homemade Fall Gifts What better way to express your gratitude to each other is to create unique Homemade Gifts to give to your extended family and close friends.  These gifts can range from fall-themed candles, fall wreaths, unique home-cooked fall recipes, or even photo collections of the families and friends throughout the year. Bake a Pie (Apple or Pumpkin) Never forget the PIES! Oh, delicious pie recipes to your heart’s content are all on the internet for grabs and try with the whole family. Pick a theme: Apple Pie or Pumpkin Pie. Then, save these recipes and store them in your favorite recipe boxes. Check out these fall-themed pies from Homemade Apple Pie With Eikorn Crust by Farmhouse on Boone, Mini Pumpkin Pies by Preppy Kitchen, Vegan Apple Pie by Ela Vegan. Fall Donation Drive Giving your gently worn or most loved things from the house to donate.  Pick a charity or shelter to drop them off.  You and your kids can also donate your time to help the organization with whatever fall festivities they have planned for this year. Extending a helping hand can also show your kids that helping others is the right thing to do. Family Camping as part of your Fall Traditions Ever tried building a tent and setting camp during fall? Well, this year may be a great one for you. Outdoor activities like fall camping can help you get out of the same routine centered around the house. When packing your bags, tent, and sleeping bags: be sure to grab your insect repellant, matches, S’mores kit, and all essentials you’ll need for a great family camping trip! Fall Hiking This activity may go hand in hand with camping; however, you can do this separately with the family. Search your local state park or even national park near your area and inquire about their open hours. Some parks may be free for entering, or there may be a small fee involved.  Plan it out. Hiking and going outdoors for the whole family are other great fall traditions to start. Teenagers may enjoy this fall activity to reconnect with you. Take this unique opportunity to forge a closer relationship with your kids. Host a Halloween Party No fall traditions without having or hosting a family Halloween party, right? Time to bust out those scary costumes or comical gear up. Pick your theme if you plan to take pictures. It’s great to have coordinated Halloween outfits for you and your kids. Be creative as well; you can create your homemade costumes to show off.  With the party comes Halloween-themed games. Check out these Halloween games you can play with the whole family and friends. Of course, there’s no party without Festive Fall appetizers by number-2 Pencil or Halloween food ideas by The Dating Divas. FAMILY POST: Halloween Costumes for the Whole Family Trick or treating with Kids This fall tradition never goes away – ANY KID would want to participate in the neighborhood’s trick or treating activity. While you’re in your Halloween costumes, grab your goody bags and go door to door around the neighborhood. Last year, our family didn’t participate in trick or treating because of Covid-19 restrictions. So instead, we did a Halloween Scavenger Hunt (pdf download) in our backyard. Fall Picnic For an easy, laid-back fall activity – grab your picnic basket and blanket, then visit your favorite park.  Prepare some simple snacks (sandwiches or fresh fruits) for the entire family and bring unexpected fall-themed drinks to enjoy. Let the kids run around and cozy up with your spouse while watching them. Capture these rare moments with your kids. FAMILY POST: How to Start a Family Game Night Tradition that Everyone can Enjoy Explore a New City with Beautiful Fall Views Your country may restrict travel to where you are right now; you can travel anywhere by plane, car, or however, you intend to travel in the US. Planning this memorable fall trip needs plenty of time and coordinating itineraries. Involve your kids in the planning and packing for this trip.  You can even plan this trip out way earlier in the spring or summer that way – it’s something for the whole family to look forward to in the fall. Check out these places to see fall foliage for your family to visit this fall. Shop at a Farmer’s Market Where are my farmer’s market shoppers at? Yes! Grab your crossbody bag, get the whole family ready in minutes and visit your local farmer’s market shops. Prepare to purchase pumpkins, apples, and fall vegetables. In addition, some markets will include fall-themed decors, accessories, and even sweets. Let this activity be a yearly tradition for the family. Get your needed ingredients for those fall pies you are planning to make with your kids. Fall Movie Weekend Pick spooky, family-friendly Halloween movies for you to enjoy the whole weekend. It can be a routine family activity every weekend for the entire fall season.  Pick a movie per night and grab those cozy, fuzzy blankets. Don’t forget to prepare some delicious movie treats and drinks for the family to enjoy. Decorate the house with Fall Outside Elements If you like to decorate the house on October 1 for fall, this tradition is a must. The challenge is to use outside elements like fall leaves, pinecones, and twigs to decorate some parts of your house. Ask your kids to pitch in by helping you gather the exterior materials. It’ll be fun for them, and you’ll be surprised what they’ve gotten outside to bring in. Grab some dried pampas outside, large wheat, or even hay bale. Don’t forget fresh Mums that can add splashes of colors to any corner in your home. Read your Thank You Jar Notes Have you ever heard of Thank You Jar?  Some families will create a Thank You Jar every Thanksgiving Day.  These thank you notes are written by everyone in the family for a whole year. So you can drop in a quick note anytime you want to thank somebody in the family. At the Thanksgiving Dinner, you will open the Thank You Jar, and each one can read a note from it.  A big thanks for a whole year of love, blessings, and friendships. Create Fall Arts and Crafts Here are another fun-filled family fall traditions you can start with the little ones. Grab some paint, watercolor, sketchpad, paint canvas, and other art materials for these activities. Ask your kids to create art that reminds them of your family or a simple portrait of everyone (their version). You can also try out this unique Halloween candle-making kit with your kids or create DIY turkey crafts for everyone. After all, have been crafted, display them in your living room or the server area in your dining room. Make a Thanksgiving Wreath This fall tradition may be done once (artificial) or every year (fresh) with the whole family.  You can choose a theme of fall wreaths to make this year. Examples are below – check them out.  Modern Fall Wreath by The Festive Mommy 20 Simple Fall Wreaths by Frugal Family Times You can place the wreath in your dining area or the front door, or anywhere you think the wreath can delight anyone looking at it.  Send a Family Thank Your Card  Either homemade or ready-made cards; it’s a great way to start giving out these thank you cards each year. You can give them to a fire station, police station, library, hospital, or notable organizations that made a difference in your family or others.  A simple note of gratitude will brighten up anyone’s day and make for a great remembrance of extending kindness outside the home. Are you going to start your very own family fall traditions? Let this year be a new season in your family life to start a new family tradition.  Pick one or more to try, and who knows; you will love them and continue to do them for every fall season that comes.  Please share in the comment if your family has a particular annual fall tradition you observed. Happy Fall, y’all! 

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]]> https://themotherlyheap.com/fall-family-traditions-to-start/feed/ 10 6981 How to Start a Family Game Night Tradition that Everyone can Enjoy https://themotherlyheap.com/start-family-game-night/ https://themotherlyheap.com/start-family-game-night/#comments Sun, 12 Sep 2021 00:18:17 +0000 https://themotherlyheap.com/?p=6565 A fun-filled game night is one way to foster family connections and start building traditions. Kids and parents enjoy each other’s company in the comfort of your home. Who doesn’t want a night packed with fun, surprises, great food, and prizes?  Family time is an essential aspect of keeping the family bond strong. It helps the kids feel that they belong and that they are loved.  Focusing on making time for the whole family creates a sense of security for kids and will also help parents stay connected with kids on a different level. If you or your kids have a slight disconnect or strife, the family game night can help you reconnect and mend those cracks. It can also set the mood for the whole week ahead. For kids, it improves mental and emotional development. Lessons your kids can learn while participating in a family game night includes: Team work Problem Solving Communication Integrity Flexibility Confidence Follow Directions and Rules Social Skills This night of game activities will be personal device-free, family-focused, and entertaining. You can start a family game night tradition when kids are still young and continue to do so even in the teenage years and beyond.  Our family game night falls every Friday. It’s the day we all look forward to after a long week of school and work. So when I hear the “let’s do this again,” I know for sure that it’s a jackpot of a fun night!  There’s plenty of ideas for your family to enjoy and bond together – game night takes the top place for most families! This post may contain affiliate links; if you purchase from any of the links provided – I may earn a commission at no cost to you. Please read the complete disclosure here. How to organize a game night with the family 1. Select the best day and time for everyone.  Everyone takes part in the family game night. So it’s best to check and ask when each member of the family is available. Be sure that you can commit to these activities as consistently as possible. You can set this game night weekly, every first and 3rd Friday of the month, or add to any special events (birthdays/holidays). You know which schedule works best for everyone, so start with that. 2. Choose 2-3 games to play.  Getting every member to pick a game in which everyone can play. If the whole family agrees to play a specific game or add it to the list of games for the next round, that’s great!  Not all the time; everyone can decide which game to play, so make sure everyone has a say on what to include in family game night. It will be helpful when there are already lists of games to be played each time (listed below). Then, all you’ve got to do is vote- the majority wins. 3. Create a family game night prize basket.  Another way to spark up the spirit of game night is to have a basket full of prizes and goodies for everyone. Having fun while competing in a friendly manner will boost confidence for everyone.  There will be prizes as well for participating in the games. Everyone gets something out from the game night basket! Young kids tend to get excited when prizes are handed around. You can include toys, books, and other coveted items based on your family members’ interests. 4. Start a game night feasts for the family.  As the name implies, prepare some great food for the big family game night. Have kids choose the menu and let them help prepare the food for the family night festivities.  5. Let children lead the activities.  You may want to take the reins when planning game nights for the family; however, it’s great when the kids can have a turn of planning everything down to the last activity of the night.  Then, have them plan and let them surprise you. What’s not to love about this, you’ll get to sit and relax.  RECOMMENDED READ: 12 Fun Ways to Celebrate Dad 6. Setting game rules.  For young members of the family, it can become a bit complicated. So make space to readjust some game rules when planning which games to play for the night.  Also, if kids are all in the school-age range, game rules can be strict. 7. Be spontaneous or plan ahead.  Planning builds up anticipation for the game night that your family has chosen. It’s a way to look forward to each week.  Here’s the thing, you can also make a surprise quick game night any time of the week as well.  The kids won’t expect it, and it’ll boost their spirit, especially if it’s been a tough week in school. But, of course, you’ve got to be flexible to squeeze in spontaneous game nights once in a while.  8. Model good sportsmanship.  Win or loss, everyone gets to have fun, right? This activity can also be a teaching moment for the youngest members of the family. You can give some gentle reminders, especially for kids who don’t understand the concept of winning and losing, to others. Don’t forget to praise each other for playing a good and honest game. Thank each other for a great family game night! 9. Make it a family tradition.  It becomes part of your family calendar. Reconnecting with your kids is a great way to treasure togetherness. It helps boost family strength and promotes deep connections through fun-filled activities.  Traditions can be passed down to the future generations and something to look back to when kids are grown and have families of their own and game night traditions. 10. Enjoy the conversations and, yes, laughs. As you enjoy these family activities, you also get to learn from each other. How you interact with one another also lessens stress from overwhelmed parents and school-tired kids.  Your teenager may also open up and share something you didn’t expect to hear.  It can be a chance to reconnect with your spouse while watching the kids play with each other in one of the games. You both can look back on these moments when time moves quickly, and the kids leave the nest. 11. Extras and more fun.  Do you want to invite cousins and other close friends to one of your family game nights? The more, the merrier for these nighttime fun-filled activities.  Make it a family team versus a family team or kids versus parents – it’ll be an excellent way to reconnect with everyone. RECOMMENDED READ: 32 Exciting Ways to Celebrate Mom at Home The Best Games for a family game night.  You can add board games, card games, PlayStation games, Wii games, or other creative games your family enjoys. The objective is to have a line-up of fun activities to play on a particular weeknight/weekend night.  Games aren’t made equal; there are more challenging games out there. So work together to achieve a goal when it’s a coop game.  Here are some family game favorites you can try! Monopoly Battleship Simon Game Buildzi by Tenzi Jenga Dominos Uno Connect Four Scrabble Pictionary Operation Twister Watch Ya’ Mouth Checkers Snakes and Ladder Pie Face Game 5 Second Rule Clue Game Sequence Hedbanz Chess Yahtzee Boggle Any games on PlayStation (cooperative or competitive): Sackboy: A Big Adventure Sonic All-Star Racing Lego Marvel Super Heroes Minecraft PS3 Sports Champions Just Dance Some more Games for Families with Younger Kids: Don’t Spill the Beans Memory Card Games Pictures Charades Don’t Make Me Laugh You can also take these game nights outside the backyard or patio. It doesn’t have to be just played indoors.  You can consider the season at the moment, with crisp fall air or just as the sun sets during summer. Or on a spring or winter night to appreciate. It can be an excellent ambiance to enjoy while playing these games with the family.  What do you think of the idea of starting a family game night?  Grab this chance to build a stronger relationship with your kids and for your kids to feel connected with you. Choose the best games that everyone can participate in and have fun with. When you start a family game night not only lets you restore connections, but it’s also a great way to continue that bonding experience as everyone enjoys the whole family activity. Do you have a game night tradition? How do you set it up for your family?

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