14 Ideas for Family Night

*This post was originally published on 10/12/15.  Enjoy!

 We love having a family night.  Friday nights in our family consist of homemade pizza, stove popped popcorn, and a movie.  Our selections range from Disney to old sports movies to horse movies with an occasional nature movie tossed in. 

But every once in awhile, family night needs a little shake up.  We need something new.  So here are 14 Brainstormed, Super Fun, Fantastic Ideas for Family Night:

1. Movie Night--Of course, this if our favorite.  Our usually consists of pizza and popcorn.  But maybe your tradition includes a bowl of ice cream.  Or fresh cookies.  Whatever it is, make it special.

2. Dance session--Crank up the music and dance till you fall on the floor.  Then listen to some great music together.  Mix up the genres and expose your kids to new styles.  Then catch your breath and dance some more.  Giggle and laugh and break loose.

3. Ice Cream and cookies--Maybe it's cookies and ice cream around the table or picnic style on the floor.  Or a buffet of flavors and toppings.  Talk about your week.  Sweets create a bonding experience and open up conversation.

4. Serve others--Search out opportunities to serve together.  Sort clothes at a pregnancy center, serve meals at a homeless shelter, or hand out coffee.  Make sure you debrief with your kids afterwards.  This will open up your kids to so many life lessons.

5. Board Game night--Who doesn't love a night of Monopoly and Scrabble?  There are so many games to accommodate a variety of ages and interests.  This is a great idea for laughing together with your kids.

6. Bike Rides--This is a great time of year for getting outside in the evenings and taking a walk, or better yet a bike ride.  We're finally getting to the age where the kids can all ride and we're having a great time together.

7. Rollerskating--While I have yet to get my husband on skates, the kids and I have had a blast rollerskating together.  It's a fun way to be active together and there's nothing like rollerskates to keep you from taking yourself too seriously. 

8. Camp fire with s'mores--Get a fire pit in the backyard.  Doesn't have to be anything too fancy.  Stock up on graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallows.  Nothing says family time like a s'more.

9. Campout in the living room-- Whether you pitch a tent or just pull out the sleeping bags, be sure to make shadow puppets with the flashlights, snuggle in together, and tell ghost stories. 

10. Host a potluck--Why not host a potluck night with a couple of other families?  Invite some families for dinner or dessert.  Family night can be laughing with other moms and dads.

11. Extended family dinner--On that note, invite the grandparents, aunts, uncles, the whole lot.. sometimes you just need to interact with the larger family.  And an extended family dinner is a great invitation for your kids to serve and learn from other generations.

12. Play restaurant--My kids have a play kitchen that they love.  But even a few little kitchen items like these felt foods can provide hours of entertainment.  Let them serve you for a change.  You'll be surprised how much they remember from their own eating out experiences.  Have fun with it.  Make a poster for the restaurant, change up the decor, and assign jobs.  This one's sure to provide hours of fun.

13. Picnic dinner--With the cooler season, it's the perfect time to enjoy a meal on the patio.  Just the change of scenery can open up a whole new set of ideas and questions and conversation.  Plus it's a great way to get some fresh air and open moves the fun to playing outside after dinner.

14. Funny pictures/video--Our computer has Photo Booth and my kids love to make funny pictures and movies on it.  It has some great filters and ways to change and distort images.  But they really love it when mom and dad get involved.  Not only is it fun to play with all the settings, but it's even funnier to flip through the photos afterwards.

What about you?

What are your favorite ideas for Family Night?

What I Read and Our Homeschool Read Aloud ll February 2026

 What I Read:

Tea with Elephants by Robin Jones Gunns

Fern and Lily have known each other for 20 years.  After spending a summer together on a mission trip to Costa Rica, the girls became fast friends and dreamed of traveling the world together.  But life took them in a different direction.  Through marriage and babies, career changes and across the miles, the two have stayed in touch, drifting further and further from their plans of travel and changing the world.  So when an unexpected trip to Africa pops up, they can hardly believe their luck.  But things aren't always as they appear.  Underneath the surface, both women are facing challenges and shifts in their personal lives.  Will they be able to reconnect and support each other through the ups and downs?  And will they find strength to surrender to God's plans for their futures?  It's a sweet story of friendship and adventure ... reconnecting friendships and working through life's challenges... this is a cozy winter read without too much drama or heartache.  It did read a bit unrealistic as the issues presented in Fern and Lily's lives were too easily resolved.  Still it made for a nice light read and escape from reality.

Christian Heroes: Norman Grubb

by Janet & Geoff Benge

Another well-written biography as part of the Christian Heroes series, Norman Grubb is a man with a heart for Africa.  He and his wife dream of assisting her father, C.T. Stubb, on the mission field.  But over the years, they find themselves back home, helping to stabilize and reimagine the mission organization.  As an essential part of Worldwide Evangelistic Crusade, InterVarsity Fellowship, and the Christian Literature Crusade, among other organizations, Grubb plays a key role in world missions.  Truly inspiring story about how the Lord used one man's "YES" in the most unexpected ways.

Don't Stop Praying by Matthew West

See my full review here.

Anne of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery

Book Six in the Anne of Green Gables series, Anne of Ingelside follows Anne and Gilbert as they parent their lot of children.  This book is made up of all the little stories that go into parenthood and living in a small town.  The children behave as young children do, and Anne often steps in with her wisdom and occasionally the imaginative life that she lived as a child herself.

The Sound of Gravel by Ruth Wariner

Ruthie doesn't remember her father.  The prophet of the LeBaron Colony in Mexico, he was killed by his brother in a power grab for control.  Her mother has since remarried and become a 2nd wife.  She grows up, splitting her time between the States where her mother can receive assistance, and Mexico where the family lives in near squalor.  Lane, Ruth's stepfather, also presents a threat when he's around.  This book is a look into the sad reality that many in this religion face: poor living conditions, low self-esteem, lack of resources and time, financial and physical abuse (among other abuses).  It's also the story of one woman who saw through her upbringing and determined to save herself.  Emotional, heartbreaking, and revealing... if you're ready for a deeper look into polygamy and its effect on children, this is one to read.

Our Homeschool Read Aloud:

Magnitude by Jennifer A. Nielsen

See my full review here.

What Are You Reading?

Magnitude {Review}

 

April 18th, 1906...

As Cora heads to the San Francisco docks to meet her father, she assumes that the worst trouble she can run into is the two boys she owes money to...

She's horribly wrong!

When the earth begins to shake and open up, Cora finds herself trapped underground with Chi, the daughter of Chinese immigrants.  The two must work together to keep from being buried alive... and that's just the start of their day.  Once they return to the surface, the girls find a city in chaos.  Separated from their families by crumbling buildings, a raging fire, and moving refugee camps, Cora and Chai team up with Oliver, Cora's lifelong friend, in an attempt to survive the natural disaster and find their loved ones.  This book about courage and friendship plays on actual events to create a thrilling historical read.

We've long been fan's of Jennifer A. Nielsen's work for awhile.  Her historical fiction brings real events to life.  The opening of Magnitude is incredibly gripping with Cora and Chi finding themselves trapped and working together to get free.  We found ourselves urging them on from chapter one.  Nielsen further introduces a variety of characters that kept us guessing as to their true intentions. But the trio of friends left us with no doubts about their bravery, friendship, or determination.  A delightful historical fiction marketed to middle grades, but to be enjoyed by all.

*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.  All opinions are my own.

March Holidays and Homeschool Ideas

 Looking for ways to add some fun to your homeschool?  Here are just a few of the holidays and fun days you can celebrate this month:

March 1st-- Peanut Lover's Day
*Treat yourself to some Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Cheesecake Pops
*Serve up some African Chicken and Peanut Soup
*Make a craftivity project to celebrate George Washington Carver

March 2nd--Dr. Suess' Birthday
*Try some Red Fish, Blue Fish Sensory Science
*Make an opposite foot trail
*Use Dr. Suess in your literary analysis

March 6th--Oreo Cookie Day
*"Bake" some Oreo Truffles

March 12th--Plant a Flower Day
*Learn the parts of a flower
*Purchase some flowers to plant in the garden

March 14th--PI Day

*Craft a PI bracelet

*Color a PI Day picture

*Bake your favorite pie

March 17th--St. Patrick's Day
*Make corned beef and cabbage salad
*Bake a shamrock shaped pizza

March 21st--Poetry Day
*Memorize a new poem
*Start a poetry teatime
*Write an "I Am" poem

March 30th--Take A Walk In The Park Day
*Explore a new park
*Hike in your local state park

What days are you celebrating this month?

Weekend Links ll February 20, 2026

 

9 Bible Verses About Family Love

Preschool Seeds Unit Study

Free Science Fair Project Pack

28+ Spring Crafts for Preschoolers

10 Hands-On Ways to Learn About Electricity at Home