Family Day ActivitiesIt’s not always necessary to find family fun through prolonged time together – family day activities offer all of us the chance to bond and enjoy each other’s company in just a few hours. 
One of the easiest and quickest family day activities is to read a book together.
Family reading
and the book review pages
provide a number of suggestions for great books which inspire family discussions. You can also incorporate a trip to the library into your family day activity – many libraries have summer reading programs and year-long special reading events designed for kids. You can find Colorado public libraries
here.
If your kids (or you) aren’t in the mood to leave the house, don’t forget things like craft day each week during the summer – this year we’re decorating painting aprons, making treasure boxes, and painting t-shirts, among other things (like perhaps decorating cookies). Check out Hobby Lobby or Michaels for a variety of craft ideas.
If you prefer drawing, try
family fun cartoons
for some cartoon and coloring ideas.
Another great indoor activity is music -- whether listening and moving to the melodies, or in learning to play an instrument together. Check out
True Piano Lessons
for great tips on how to learn piano (for both adults and kids).
Short activities are also a great way to explore nearby areas. We started with our neighborhood when the kids were little – they couldn’t go far, but they loved looking at the other houses on short walks. Most cities and towns have public parks, which also make for family fun. We like to take a picnic lunch – and plenty of water -- along with our ever-present sun hats and sunscreen.
Look for special features of your area (check
here
for Colorado features) when choosing your family adventures. For us, a drive up to Estes Park each summer to investigate the quaint, mountain town is a great family adventure. We’ve also driven to Vail and walked through their flower gardens (filled with Columbine varieties) and to Dillon to stroll around the lake. Shorter drives take us to Boulder and the Pearl Street mall with its tulips, pansies, and posies – along with the many street performers. If you remember to keep a journal in the car, they kids can quickly record their thoughts on the adventures they've just enjoyed.
Zoos also make great day activities. When my kids were little, we bought the annual pass and visited often. Nowadays, we don’t usually have as much time for animal family fun – but the kids always enjoy it!
Here
is a list of zoos in each state. Museums are another great activity – most places have lists of free days, though be prepared for crowds.
Family fun time can also involve photography; here is our photography page and a link to our photo gallery. Allowing kids to take their own pictures helps them to be much more observant – plus, they get a real kick out of seeing what appears on the screen (if you let them use a digital camera) or the film. If you have any favorite family day activities, we’d love to hear about them! Feel free to contact us, and we’ll add your ideas to the pool.
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