Family Day is coming up this month and there are plenty of excellent events, programs and activities coming soon to rec centres, arenas, galleries and libraries in cities across the region. But if your family is looking forward to hunkering down at home, wearing jammies all day and spending some quality time together, here are five fun ways you can share some laughs and enjoy the holiday right at home.
1. Chopped, the Family Day Edition! If your older kids love watching the Food Network, why not challenge them to a friendly little cooking competition? On the show Chopped, competitors have to use every item in a basket of “mystery ingredients” to create a tasty dish within thirty minutes. You could grab a few unusual items at the grocery or just use whatever you have in the house. Younger kids could pair up with Mom or Dad or you make it boys against girls – it won’t take long for everyone to get caught up in the excitement!
2. Let’s decorate! Do you have a fledging designer on your hands? If your little one has been asking to redecorate their bedroom or the playroom, a cold, winter day is a great opportunity to work together to create an exciting new space. Take some time a few days before to map out a plan and gather supplies so you are ready to go on Family Day.
3. Obstacle Course Chaos – Little kids, big kids and Mom and Dad can all get involved creating an out-of-this-world indoor obstacle course. Hang hula hoops for diving through, use masking tape to create a “tightrope” on the floor, repurpose red solo cups as pylons for crawling around – you can find a pile of creative ideas on Pinterest.
4. Get crafty – Most kids love to create, so use this special day to let your imaginations run wild. If you have woodworking tools at home, let older kids cut some simple shapes for younger children to paint or work on an easy birdhouse together – spring is only a couple months away!
5. Charades! This is a great game for younger children to practice their reading skills and you are always guaranteed lots of laughs. Have older kids come up with ideas for acting out or check online for printable cards.