At the end of the day, all we want is a good, healthy, and fun relationship with our families. We want to hang out with our loved ones, laugh over lame jokes, talk about our favorite movie characters, and go on fun vacations with them, it’s what everyone desires. 

Yet such a relationship is not easy to establish. It takes effort; it takes understanding, and last but not least communication. If you are a parent, I am sure you want that kind of relationship. You want your children to walk up to you with their problems, hang out with you like they do with their friends. In a nutshell, you want to establish an interesting, and enjoyable relationship with your children. 

But the question remains HOW. But why worry when we are here to help. The secret to a healthy family relationship is bonding. The more you bond with them, the more enjoyable your relationship will become. In other words, bonding is a great exercise to bring people closer together. So, here are some family bonding ideas you can keep in your toolkit. 

50 family bonding ideas  

1.     Have regular movie nights.

While you are at it, make sure you pick interesting movies. Perhaps you can also have your debate after watching the movie. 

2.     Pick out fun board games to play with your family.

Whether it is a game of UNO or Monopoly, don’t forget to roast each other. Go as crazy as you can. You can even mix it up now with all the different versions of UNO or Monopoly and include your pets in the pet version! 

3.     Cook together.

A family that cooks together stays together. So cook lavish dinners or bake cakes together, it will allow you some time with each other. It can also teach kids how to prepare food later, or even can be a bonding experience and memory with an elderly member of the family. I remember growing up making homemade noodles with my grandma and shaking out the dough to this day. 

4.     Solve crosswords together.

Most of us share a love for crosswords. If you all happen to be puzzle addicts, solving puzzles together is yet another great way to bond. You can challenge each other to make it more enjoyable. 

5.     Work on a scrapbook together.

If you happen to have little kids, then creating scrapbooks can be one of the most enjoyable activities for them. You can prepare a family scrapbook with all your family pictures, and decorate it with stars and mirrors to make the activity even more fun. 

6.     Go out for a drive.

When the air is fresh, and the atmosphere around screams out calling your name, why would

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you not go? Drives are the perfect opportunities to go on and enjoy the weather together. 

7.     Have a dance party.

Don’t let your age stop you. You are never too old to dance, even with your kids. Be your crazy self, show them your weird moves and let them show theirs. Dance like no one’s watching. We sometimes also do singalongs in the car because it’s fun and the kids know the song, and it’s different. 

8.     Challenge them with a book reading.

If you happen to have a family full of avid readers, books are a great medium to bond. Read a book together, and when you are done, engage in book-related conversations. 

9.     Write a funny poem together, make weird rhymes while you are at it, and laugh together. 

10.  Declutter together. 

11.  Have a family album time.

Just lie down, and reminisce about the old days. This could be flipping through your phone or a digital album now that most things are online. 

12.  Go go-karting. 

13.  Play video games together.

Need for speed, counter strike? Make your pick; video games are the best creations of humans. 

14.  Take weird pictures of each other.

Don’t forget to blackmail your family into putting it online.

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15.  Go for a long walk. 

16.  If you cannot keep the adrenaline in control, go hiking with your family. 

17.  Unleash the tickle monster inside you.

Start the battle, and make them gasp for breath. 

18.  Do random acts of kindness together, go to an old age center or orphanage, talk to people there.

Doing so will encourage your kids to be kind. 

19.  Exercise together.

Research shows that when you have an exercise partner, you are more motivated to get on track with your fitness. 

20.  Bake some muffins and cupcakes together. 

21.  Talk about business and financial markets with your family.

This is for the family with grown-ups. Turns out, the financial market is a great topic to have a conversation about. 

22.  Learn a skill together. 

23.  I bet this will be your favorite! Karaoke nights!

Just sing aloud at the top of your voice and have the time of your lives. 

24.  Go for a vacation.

After all, we all deserve a little break from our hectic, mundane lives. 

25.  Practice gratitude together.

Start a conversation about the three things you all are grateful for. 

26.  Go shopping together.

This has to be one of your favorites on the list. 

27.  Organize treasure hunts for the whole family.

28.  Help each other in their work. 

29.  Create a budget together. 

30.  Create a family bucket list!

You must have done it with your friends, try your family for a change.

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31.  Have a bonfire night. 

32.  Become each others’ stylists for a day. 

33.  Enjoy a sport together.

Basketball, Football, or baseball? Playing YOUR FAVORITE sport with your family is a great opportunity to bond, and burn some extra calories together. 

34.  Paint rooms together. Does your room require much-needed paint?

Perfect, you all can paint rooms together, and while you are at it, perhaps paint each other as well. 

35.  Have a pillow fight.

Pillow fights are just FUN! So let the battle begin

36.  Have all the meals together.

Forget having dinners in your separate rooms. Have a rule that mealtime is bonding time. 

37.  Clean together.

You must dread this chore, yet when you do it together you might be able to enjoy it, and bond with your family in the process. 

38.  Have a musical weekend.

Sitting together with a drink in your hand, and listening to songs together as a family? How does that sound? Well, one word, peaceful. 

39.  Plan surprise birthday parties.

Birthdays are special days; use this opportunity to make your family members feel loved.

40.  Indulge in teaching sessions with your kids.

Bond over mathematics, or science; be your kid’s teacher at home. 

41.  Go for car test drives.

Most family members share a love for cars. If yours does too, go for occasional test drives, or car museums for the matter. 

42.  Talk about feelings.

Your relationship with kids would be the strongest if you all talk about feelings with zero hesitation. 

43.  Tell them your stories.

Remember how I met your Mother? Kids love to hear stories from back to the days when you were young. 

44.  Leave notes.

It’s a great idea to take some time out to pamper your family members with cute notes. 

45.  Decorate the house together. 

46.  Go out on adventures.

Whether it is a simple boat ride, or paragliding itself, going out for adventures is the most thrilling. 

47.  Cuddle them with hugs, and make them feel loved. 

48.  Play the imitation game.

As the name suggests, imitate each other, and laugh together. 

49.  Do crafts together. 

50.  Mention each other’s qualities and annoying habits. 

 

I will say, many of these items on this list are regulars in our house. Especially dance parties, selfie time, looking at digital albums, cuddling, crafting, and working out together. We also enjoy putting in sweat equity together which helps us all feel invested into the project and allows Steve and I to share things we learned growing up with Leila and Finlee. Every moment is a teachable moment as well as a memory and chance to bond. Don’t think because it’s not on this list, it doesn’t count! You may have your own way of bonding as a family completely different from mine! 

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