Fun Family Night Ideas That Are Better Together

Shila said:  Pitch a tent in your backyard on any warm night - or inside your home! Bring along a sleeping bag, flashlights, a favorite campfire recipe, a couple comic books, and maybe a deck of cards to play a few card games. On a clear night too, you'll catch amazing stargazing opportunities!

Kelly R. said:  Create your own Olympic games for family night, and see who claims the glory (and the homemade Olympic medals)! Everyone can choose a different country to represent, and the family can fuel up for the event by enjoying some dishes inspired by each one. Coming up with cool ideas for the games is part of the fun, so let the kids get involved in that. You could try NERF archery, long jump, and rhythmic gymnastics...you know you want to see dad's floor routine!

Kristy Pepping said:  Just because the sun goes down doesn't mean the fun has to stop! On one weekend where the kids can stay up a bit later, head outdoors and explore the night sky together. You can blow up balloons that glow, wear glow bracelets and catch and release lighting bugs. Or lay down on a blanket and stargaze if it's a clear night. And this can always be done inside a dark room if you have younger kids that can't make it until it's dark outside. It creates a fun dance party when everyone is glowing!

Alexandra F. said:  If your kids love a good mystery story, bring the story to life by hosting your very own mystery dinner theatre for an epic family theme night. You can purchase a mystery game template that is ready to use, find free ones online, or even make up your own if you really want to go all out. Create characters, outline the basic plot, write out clues and give everyone a role, and see who can solve the mystery first!

Kelly R. said:  Roll out an extra large paper across the dining room table and set out a bunch of art supplies. Everyone can sit around the table and spend a fun family night in working together to create a big mural. Come up with a theme (like under the sea or favorite storybooks) and everyone can draw and color their own piece of the big picture. We like doing art projects like this while listening to a family audiobook or playlist.

Shila said:  Everybody dresses up as a favorite Disney character. Get creative! Your outfit does not have to be elaborate - just have fun and make each other laugh. Think about using paper crowns, leis, Mickey ears, pirate hats, mermaid tails, etc. Finish off the fun family night by popping in one of your favorite Disney movies and watching together.

Alexandra F. said:  We love karaoke nights at our house, and whether we’re singing Moana’s greatest hits, groovin’ to Taylor Swift, or belting out our favorite show tunes, everyone including toddler, teen, mom and dad loves taking their turn with the microphone. Though it’s definitely a splurge we are big fans of our Singtrix system, which doesn’t require any special song tracks and syncs with any smart device to allow you to browse YouTube or anywhere online to find your perfect song. It's a great family gift idea!

Kristy Pepping said:  Who doesn't love to dance and move? So why not get the entire family involved for a night of dancing? You could even choose to don your favorite formalwear, plan a special dinner and then let each family member play their favorite songs. Plus, the kids might enjoy a few of your favorite throwback tunes!

Kelly R. said:  Did you know that filmed versions of some live Broadway shows are available for streaming? Enjoy a fancy dinner at home, then pop some popcorn, pull out the opera glasses (binoculars?) and check out a real Broadway show from your couch for a fraction of the price of a night out on the town. For kid-friendly picks, you can find Shrek the Musical on Netflix and Newsies the Broadway Musical on Disney+.

Alexandra F. said:  These popular problem-solving game rooms are popping up all over the country, but they can be an equally fun way to spend a family night at home! There are escape room games available for purchase, or you can check out any of the free virtual escape rooms for kids that have been created by local libraries (and others!) around the country, including popular themed ones like Harry Potter, The Mandalorian, or Avengers. This is an especially fun family night idea to enjoy with older kids, tweens and teens!

Kelly R. said:  Have fun taste testing a bunch of different brands or flavors of a certain type of food! Each family member can try them all and rate each one from 1-10. Remove everything from its original container for a blind taste test. Pick a fun food that the parents and kids will enjoy to make this family night fun for everyone. You could try different brands of salsas, pickles or jelly beans, or different flavors of Doritos.