Family Time

Some of the best childhood memories aren’t made on vacations or at big events — they’re made on an ordinary Tuesday evening, sprawled on the living room floor, laughing so hard you can barely breathe. That’s the magic of family games. You don’t need fancy equipment, a big budget, or hours of free time. All you need is a little creativity, a willing group of players, and maybe a blanket or two for building the world’s greatest pillow fort.

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 says: “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” This not only commands us to be intentional about teaching our children but also highlights the importance of making family time a natural, daily rhythm.

Our family put this into practice by making time to connect through one-on-one time with our daughters, family time, outdoor time, and devotional time. We had to get creative to make time for intentional family time. This blog presents some of the things we did to spend quality time with our daughters.

This collection is a mix of games passed down through generations — the ones your parents and grandparents probably played — alongside a few silly inventions that emerged from bored kids looking for something to do. Some are quiet and thoughtful, like guessing games and storytelling. Others are loud, chaotic, and guaranteed to get everyone moving, like Sleeping Bear or a rousing round of Going on a Bear Hunt. There are games for outdoors and indoors, for toddlers and teenagers, for two players or twenty.

And it’s not just games — you’ll also find crafts to get your hands messy, simple science experiments to spark curiosity, and ideas for turning story time into real conversation.

Whether you’re looking to fill a lazy Sunday afternoon, entertain a house full of cousins, or create a reason to put the screens down for an hour, there’s something here for you. So gather the family, pick a game, and get ready to make some noise (and some memories).

• Sleeping bear
  • Rules
    • The bear lies down on the ground with its eyes closed, with honey in its paws.
    • The other players try to steal honey from the bear.
    • If the bear wakes, it chases other players. If the player is caught, they are out. If they reach a “goal,” something like a couch, they are safe.
    • The remaining person becomes the bear.
  • Comment
    • This was one of my kids’ favorites when they were little, especially when Daddy was the bear.
• Going on a bear hunt
  • Here is the call-and-response routine:
    • Leader: We’re going on a bear hunt.
    • Group: We’re going on a bear hunt.
    • Leader: I’ve got my big binoculars!
    • Group: I’ve got my big binoculars!
    • Leader: I’m not scared.
    • Group: I’m not scared.
    • Leader: Oh no! It’s some long, wavy grass.
    • Group: Oh no! It’s some long, wavy grass.
    • Leader: Can’t go over it.
    • Group: Can’t go over it.
    • Leader: Can’t go under it.
    • Group: Can’t go under it.
    • Leader: Must go through it.
    • Group: Must go through it.
    • Leader: Oh no! We’ve got to go through it!
    • Group: Oh no! We’ve got to go through it!
    • Continue with obstacles until the cave
    • Leader: Oh no! It’s dark cave.
    • Group: Oh no! It’s dark cave.
    • Leader: Can’t go over it.
    • Group: Can’t go over it.
    • Leader: Can’t go under it.
    • Group: Can’t go under it.
    • Leader: Must go inside.
    • Group: Must go inside.
    • Leader: Sure is dark in here.
    • Group: Sure is dark in here.
    • Leader: I feel something furry.
    • Leader: It feels like a bear.
    • Leader: Rowr! It is a bear.
    • Go through every obstacle backward.
    • Leader: Slam the door
    • Leader: Whew.
  • The Obstacles
    • For each obstacle, repeat the “Can’t go over it…” verses, but change the action and sound effect while you “go through” it:
    • Long wavy grass: Swish, swish, swish (Move hands/hips side-to-side)
    • A deep, cold river: Splash, splash, splash (Slap hands on legs)
    • Muck and thick mud: Squelch, squelch, squelch (Stomp your feet)
    • A big, dark forest: Stumble, trip, stumble (Clumsy, heavy stomping)
    • A mountain rock: Grunt! (My climbing motions)
    • A narrow, dark cave: Step, step, step (Tiptoe quietly)
• Silly story
  • The leader begins a story with a few sentences.
  • Each playing adds a few sentences to the story.
  • After a predetermined set of rounds, the leader ends the story.

• Hide the object behind the back
  • The leader hides an object.
  • Players guess what they have
  • Do it like 20 questions with yes/no answers.
• What is missing?
  • Spread various objects in a line on the floor
  • Cover objects with blanket.
  • Remove one.
  • Players figure out what’s missing.

• Sorting game
  • Choose objects that can be categorized, like coins, and separate them into chosen categories.
• Bucket ball toss
  • Line up 5 or 6 buckets with various prizes in each bucket.
  • Toss a ball into each, starting with the closest.
• Sink the foil boat with coins
  • Make a boat from foil.
  • Put one coin in each boat until they sink.
  • Last boat to sink is the winning boat.
• Family nature walk
  • Go for a walk around the neighborhood, or a park or trail.
  • Purposely notice animals, bugs and plants.
• Alphabet Games
  • Going to the zoo and going to see a …
  • Going on a camping trip and taking a…
• Read one sentence from a story and guess the story.
  • Helps to have a series of stories you read multiple times.
• Treasure hunt
  • Hide various riddle clues around the house.
  • The answer to each riddle is the next hidding place.
  • The last hiding place has a treasure (often a sweet treat).
• “The Floor is Lava.”
  • Toss pillows around the floor.
  • Avoid steping on the floor by stepping on the pillows.
• Make an indoor obstacle course.
• Build a giant fort out of blankets, chairs and pillows.

• Have a pillow fight.
• Make me laugh
  • Based on the TV game show.
  • Set a minute timer.
  • One person tells jokes or does silly things to make another player laugh.
• Puppet Show
  • Can make puppets as a craft or buy some.
  • Have fun with your own skit or find a prepared one.
  • Act out a story you’ve read with the kids.
• Acting relay
  • This wonderful theater game will have everyone laughing. As the facilitator, go through a series of pantomiming everyday tasks or experiences: going camping, eating an ice cream cone, bowling, changing a tire, changing a light bulb, listening to music on your iPod, watching a movie, being a rock musician, blowing out candles on a birthday cake, or making pancakes. The list can go on forever! Give the roles in turn to each player.

Bible Games

• Guess Biblical Character
  • The leader chooses a character from the Bible.
  • The leader gives a hint.
  • Take turn guessing.
  • Alternate hint and guessing until someone gets the right character.
• Scripture Memory
  • Choose a verse to remember.
  • Say the first word of the verse and toss a ball to another person.
  • Person with ball says the next word.
  • Keep tossing the ball and saying the next word until the whole verse is said.
• Repent
  • Have one person be Jesus
  • The others run away from him.
  • Jesus yells, “Repent!”
  • Those running turn around and run back to him.

Traditional Games

• I spy
• Tag
• Hide and Seek
  • Sardines variation where one hides, but when found the others hide with the person
  • Added tag. When the person runs to a goal. If tagged, then out.
  • Ghost in the graveyard. Normally down at night. All hide together; when the ghost is spotted, yell “A ghost!” and run from it
• Hot Potato
• Musical Chairs
• Scavenger hunt
• Balloon volley ball
• Keep balloon in the air

Crafts – Here are a few ideas to get you started.

• Shared drawing
  • Choose something to draw like a bird.
  • Set a minute timer.
  • Everyone begins to draw on their own paper.
  • When timer is done pass paper to the left.
  • Everyone adds to the drawing until eveyone has added to each of the drawings.
• Papermache
  • Base Form: Use balloons, chicken wire, or crumpled newspaper (or foil) to shape your creation.
    Paper: Standard, non-shiny newspaper torn into 1- to 2-inch strips. Tearing creates jagged edges that blend more smoothly than cut edges.
    Paste: Mix 1 part all-purpose flour to 2 parts warm water until it reaches a pancake-batter consistency. Add a pinch of salt to prevent mold. (Alternatively, use 1 part white school glue to 1 part water)
  • Prepare the Object
    • Build the underlying shape of your object. You can bunch up newspaper and secure it with masking tape, or use an inflated balloon for hollow shapes like bowls or piñatas.
  • Apply the Paper
    • Dip a strip of paper into your paste, run it between two fingers to wipe off the excess, and lay it flat over your base. Smooth the strip down with your fingers to press out any air bubbles. Overlap the strips and lay them in alternating directions (horizontal, vertical, and diagonal) to build a strong crisscross structure.
  • Let It Dry
    • Allow the wet paper mache to dry completely before applying additional layers. This typically takes about 24 hours, depending on the humidity.
    • You will need 2 to 3 layers for basic projects, or 4 to 6 layers if your final object requires extra sturdiness or needs to be cut open.
  • Decorate and Finish
    • Once your final layer is completely dry, you can use fine-grit sandpaper to smooth out any rough bumps or ragged edges. Seal the surface with a primer or a glue-and-water mixture, then decorate it with acrylic paints.
• Owl
  • Draw or print a picture of an owl
  • Use colored tissue paper torn into small pieces as feathers
  • Glue feathers using stick glue
  • Cut our round black circles for eyes, or use buttons or googly eyes.

Science experiments – here are some ideas to get you started

• Simple Acid Base
  • Marerials
    • Foil Tray
    • Plastic Cups
    • Eyedropper
    • Food coloring, primary colors only (red, blue, yellow).
    • Vinegar
    • Baking Soda
  • Step by Step Instructions
    • Scatter baking soda in piles on the foil tray.
    • Pour vinegar and food coloring into cups. One color per cup.
    • Use an eyedropper to drop the vinegar mixture onto the baking soda.
  • Example of my kids doing this experiment.
• Lava Lamp
  • Materials Needed
    • Clean clear plastic bottle or glass jar
    • Vegetable oil
    • Water
    • Food coloring
    • Alka-Seltzer tablets
    • Glitter (optional)
  • Step-by-Step Instructions
    • Pour water into your jar until it is about 1/4 to 1/3 full.
    • Add 5 to 10 drops of food coloring to the water.
    • Fill the rest of the container with vegetable oil, leaving a little space at the top. You will notice the oil floats on top of the water because it is less dense.
    • If you want an extra sparkly effect, add some glitter.
    • Break an Alka-Seltzer tablet into 2 to 4 smaller pieces. Drop one piece into the oil and watch the bubbling lava effect begin.
    • When the fizzing slows down, add another piece of the tablet to keep the reaction going.

Reading Stories – Suggestions

• Read stories aloud to the kids.
• Have the kids read the story when they are able.
• Read a chapter a night until the book is finished.
• Ask questions about the book.
  • What choices did the characters make?
  • What were the consequences of those choices?
  • What did you like about the story?
  • What didn’t you like?
  • What’s the main point the author was trying to convey?
  • Does the message agree with our values and scripture?
• See my blog on the importance of reading stories.
• For book ideas, see this blog.

It’s not the activity that matters; it’s the intentional choice to spend time together as a family that does. Choose activities that fit your family and your schedule. Make time for what matters most.