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Any quality time you spend with your children, nieces, nephews, or grandchildren is well-spent. But sometimes, you might need a little inspiration to figure out how to make the most of it.
To help you out, we’ve pulled together 22 fun activities to do with kids, for a range of ages and interests.
Whether you’d like to get creative, enjoy a day out, or find ideas for staying connected when you’re apart, we hope you’ll find something here to try with your loved ones.
To plan your next activity or day out, you might also like to try our children’s activity planner.
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Creative activities
1. Cook a meal together
For kids who enjoy helping in the kitchen, cooking a meal could be a great way to spend quality time together. Working together on a delicious dish can be fun, but it’s also a good opportunity for kids to learn some culinary skills.
If you have a signature dish, why not teach them how to cook it? If they already look forward to your speciality when they visit for dinner, they’ll probably be just as excited to learn the recipe as you are to teach it.
For meal inspiration, why not visit our food and drink section? Here, you’ll find everything from tips on how to make the perfect pizza to recipes from around the world.
2. Take on a DIY craft project
There are many ways to get creative and crafty, but a project with lots of imagination can amuse children and adults alike.
To get inspired, check out this list of 80 great craft projects for kids from Good Housekeeping. Many of these crafts can be made with bits and bobs you’ll probably already have around the house. From recycled t-shirt bracelets to DIY bath bombs, you’re bound to find an afternoon of creative fun for just about any child to enjoy.
3. Make a time capsule
Kids of any age will likely enjoy making a time capsule. Picking out what you’d like to share with the world can be exciting for both of you, and is a chance to get them thinking about the future.
They might like to include personal items, write letters, or even add their own crafts or drawings to leave for future citizens.
However you decide to go about it, creating something to leave for someone to find many years from now can be a fun and thought-provoking way to spend time with loved ones.
For ideas on what to include in your time capsule, check out these tips from Personal Creations.
4. Play music together
If you play an instrument, why not share your love of music with any children in your life? No matter their age, chances are they’ll be fascinated with what you can do, and might even want to try it themselves.
If you have a child, niece, nephew, or grandchild who plays their own instrument or enjoys singing, it can be fun to play together, too. You could even perform for your family.
To learn more, you might like our article: How to get involved with music from home.
5. Bake and decorate gingerbread
Baking is another popular pastime that children love and never seem to tire of. Anything you decide to bake can be fun, but younger children in particular will enjoy decorating the finished product.
Gingerbread is ideal for this. It’s easy to make, a favourite for many children and adults alike, and, with lots of shapes available, children can unleash their creativity. Plus, they might even like to share their baked treats with friends.
To bake gingerbread, why not try this recipe from BBC Good Food?
Days out
6. Visit a beach
Almost anybody loves a day at the beach, and that’s especially true for kids. Whether you’d like to swim, build sandcastles, or just sit and watch the waves with some ice cream, you’re bound to have a great day out.
Trips to the beach have been a classic staple of British holidaying for centuries, which makes sense given we have so many picturesque beaches to choose from. If you’re on the lookout for one near you, you might like to read our list of 16 of the best beaches to visit in the UK.
Alternatively, why not head for a stroll while admiring the coastal views? Our article, The best coastal walks to try in the UK, may give you some ideas.
If you’re looking to travel further afield, you can browse UK staycation deals below.
7. Visit a trampoline park
For an active and exhilarating day out, you can’t do much better than a visit to a trampoline park.
Kids of all ages can enjoy bouncing around on various trampolines – an effective way to help them shake off some energy while having fun.
There are many popular trampoline park brands around the UK, so it’s worth searching online to see what’s available near you.
8. Take a trip to a museum
There’s a wide variety of intriguing museums to visit around the UK, whether you and your loved ones are interested in art, science, human history, or even dinosaurs.
Places like the National Gallery, Natural History Museum, and Science Museum in London, the National Railway Museum in York, the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh, and the Titanic Belfast are must-visits. But it’s always worth looking online to find museums in your area, as not all great museums are well-known.
For even more inspiration, you might liketo check out our list of 14 UK museums you won’t want to miss.
9. Explore a historical site
The UK is also full of excellently maintained historical sites and monuments. Many kids love visiting castles, so favourites like Warwick and Leeds in England, Edinburgh in Scotland, Caernarfon in Wales, and Carrickfergus in Northern Ireland are great choices for a fun and educational day out.
Alongside castles, places like Stonehenge, Hadrian’s Wall, and Down House (the home of Charles Darwin) are other top choices.
For more ideas on great sites to visit, check out our article: 28 of the best historical sites to visit in the UK.
10. See a show
Why not take the kids to watch a show? Whether it’s a concert, a pantomime, or a movie at the cinema, everybody loves some entertainment.
If you’re not sure what show to book, you’ll hopefully find some ideas in our article: 16 of the most popular theatre shows.
And if you fancy catching a movie with very young children, it’s worth looking out for showings specifically for kids. Some Vue locations, for example, offer ‘Mighty Mornings’, where tickets to family-friendly films cost only £2.49. Another example is Odeon Cinemas’ ODEON Kids screenings, which take place every weekend and daily during the school holidays.
11. Walk in nature
When all else fails, nature never disappoints. Even if your children aren’t natural-born ramblers, a short stroll through a beautiful setting can do wonders – fresh air, open space, and a change of scenery have a way of resetting everyone’s mood.
You might already have a favourite spot in your local area, but if you’re looking for somewhere new, check out our list of 10 of the best National Trust places to visit.
And to add a dash of adventure to your walks, why not try geocaching for some treasure-hunting fun?
Activities to do at home
12. Build a blanket fort
If you have young children in your life, building a blanket fort can be the perfect way to spend a day indoors. They’ll love having an adventure at home, and the finished product makes a great space to let their imaginations run wild.
You can build a blanket fort with just about anything you have around the house – and figuring out how to do it can be a big part of the fun. But you can also buy kits to help you construct a solid frame, and take your fort to the next level.
Once the fort is built, why not encourage the kids to decorate it? For example, fairy lights can be a nice way to illuminate the interior while adding a touch of magic.
13. Explore the world of books
While younger children will often enjoy a good bedtime story, reading is important for kids of all ages (and adults). So why not read your loved one a favourite book from your childhood, or one you’ve picked out especially?
Another great way to get kids reading is to visit your local library. Many libraries have dedicated quiet sections for children to read in peace and find books to take home.
14. Try birdwatching
If you’d like to get outside with the kids and explore the natural world, birdwatching could be a good way to spend quality time together.
Whether you’re looking to find a pleasant local spot to watch for birds, or just fancy setting up in your garden and see who comes along, it’s best to have binoculars and a guide to help with identifying the birds you spot.
Before getting started, you might like to check out our beginner’s guide to birdwatching.
15. Play a board game
Board games are always a reliable family activity, especially on a rainy day, whether you’re a fan of firm favourites like Monopoly and Cluedo, or children’s classics like Snakes and Ladders.
They’ve made a resurgence in recent years, with more complex (but not too difficult) games like Carcassonne and Catan now popular with players of all ages.
As part of this board game renaissance, board game cafés are also booming. So, if you fancy trying out new games or playing old favourites alongside some food and drink, why not search for a board game café near you?
While most board game cafés are child-friendly, some are adult-only, so it’s worth checking before you visit.
16. Complete a puzzle
Another perfect activity for a rainy day, and one that’s also commonly found on board game café shelves, is the classic jigsaw puzzle.
You can find all sorts of puzzles online and in shops, but for something new, why not try solving a 3D puzzle?
Just remember to consider their age when picking your puzzle, as various difficulties are available.
17. Share your favourite music
Depending on their ages, sharing your favourite tracks and tunes could be a great bonding activity for you and the kids.
Chances are that your favourite genres and artists will differ, and learning about new music is always fun and insightful – especially when it’s a loved one’s favourite. So why not grab the CDs or load up your favourite playlist and make an evening of taking turns playing tracks you’d like each other to enjoy?
A good streaming service can make this a lot easier. Spotify and Amazon Music are great choices. However, if you’re a fan of classical and jazz music, you might be more interested in Vialma.
18. Look through photo albums and watch home videos
Older kids will especially appreciate this, but digging out old photo albums and home videos can be fun for the whole family.
Showing them what they were like when they were younger while taking the time to reminisce about your own life can be a fulfilling experience – and you’ll likely end up whiling away many hours exploring your family history together.
You could even trace your family tree. We have plenty of tips in our article here to help you get started.
19. Have a movie night
While going to the cinema can be fun, a movie night at home can be just as enjoyable. You could pick out a fun family film, grab some popcorn or other classic movie snacks, and settle on the couch with a cosy blanket.
Movie nights are a great choice for a regularly scheduled activity, too – and you could take turns picking the film.
For inspiration, check out this list of the best family films from TimeOut.
20. Start a series
Alternatively, why not watch a TV or film series together? Diving into an enthralling series can be a great way to spend time together, whether in person or not. Getting stuck into a series can encourage you to schedule future evenings together to watch the next episodes.
If you’re looking for ideas for what to watch, check out this list of the top family TV shows from IMDb.
When you can’t be together in person
21. Play games online
Casual online games have become much more accessible. If you’re on a video call with your family, it’s easy to set up and play games that don’t need a physical board or parts, or for you to be together.
For example, to play a game like Pictionary, all you need is a pen and paper, and this Pictionary word generator – and you’re all set for a long-distance game night.
Alternatively, web browser games are a great way to have fun with your family, as long as you’re on a PC. One popular favourite is Gartic Phone, where players have to draw and guess each other’s prompts, leading to hilarious results of miscommunication.
22. Exchange letters and care packages
For a more long-term activity with your loved ones when you can’t be together, you could try exchanging letters and/or care packages now and again.
Digital communication can become overwhelming or even boring. So why not exchange regular handwritten letters? Letter writing can be a fun, creative activity for you and the kids, and receiving them can be something you both look forward to.
Another option is to send occasional care packages. These can be as simple or as extravagant as you like, but favourite snacks, small toys, and fun or practical items are always great gift choices.
Final thoughts…
We hope one or more of our ideas inspires a fun day of quality time with the child or children in your life. But, regardless of what you decide to do, time spent with loved ones is always well spent.
For more ideas and inspiration, head over to our hobbies and activities and relationships sections.
Do you have any additional ideas for fun activities to do with kids? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.
* Links with an * by them are affiliate links which help Rest Less stay free to use as they can result in a payment or benefit to us. You can read more on how we make money here.
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