3 Days of Family Fun: Easy At-Home Activities for All Ages

When the kids are out of school, keeping them entertained can feel like a challenge—but it doesn’t have to be! With a little creativity, you can turn simple household items into hours of fun for kids of all ages. Here’s a three-day plan packed with games and activities that require little to no preparation but will create lasting family memories.

Day 1: Indoor Game Day

Ages 5-8: DIY Obstacle Course

Transform your living room into a fun obstacle course! Use pillows to jump over, chairs to crawl under, and masking tape to create a hopscotch path on the floor. Add a stopwatch for extra excitement as they race through!

Ages 10-13: Balloon Tennis

All you need are balloons and paper plates (or fly swatters). Tape craft sticks or rulers to the plates to create paddles and use a balloon as the tennis ball. Set up a “net” using a piece of string and play a fun match indoors without breaking anything!

Ages 14+: Minute-to-Win-It Challenges

Challenge teens with fast-paced games using household items. Some fun ideas include:

• Stack Attack – Stack 36 plastic cups into a pyramid and take them down in under a minute.

• Spoon & Ping Pong Ball Race – Carry a ping pong ball on a spoon across the room without dropping it.

• Cookie Face – Place a cookie on your forehead and try to get it to your mouth using only your face muscles!

Day 2: DIY Creativity Day

Ages 5-8: Cardboard Castle Building

Gather empty boxes, paper towel rolls, and tape to build a castle. Let kids decorate with markers, stickers, or anything else they can find. Once finished, they can use action figures or dolls to bring their castle to life!

Ages 10-13: Sock Puppet Theater

Turn old socks into fun puppets by gluing on buttons for eyes and yarn for hair. Once everyone has a puppet, put on a family puppet show with a fun storyline!

Ages 14+: Homemade Escape Room

Create a mini escape room by setting up riddles and clues around the house. Lock a “treasure” (like a favorite snack or small prize) in a box and make them solve puzzles to unlock it! Some easy ideas include:

• A math problem where the answer is the lock combination

• A mirror-written clue they have to read backward

• A scavenger hunt leading to the final key

Day 3: Kitchen Fun & Science Experiments

Ages 5-8: Edible Rainbow Painting

Mix yogurt or whipped cream with food coloring to create edible “paint.” Let kids use it to decorate graham crackers or toast before enjoying their masterpiece!

Ages 10-13: DIY Lava Lamp

Fill a clear bottle halfway with vegetable oil, then add water until it’s about ¾ full. Drop in a few drops of food coloring and then add a broken-up Alka-Seltzer tablet to make it bubble like a real lava lamp!

Ages 14+: Mystery Ingredient Cook-Off

Challenge teens to a mini cooking competition using only ingredients you have at home. Set a timer and give them a mystery ingredient (like peanut butter or cinnamon) that they must incorporate into their dish. The best dish wins bragging rights!

These activities are simple, fun, and designed for all ages, making family time more exciting without needing to buy anything extra. Try them out and enjoy three days of laughter, creativity, and connection!

What’s your favorite at-home activity to do with the family? Let us know in the comments!