Fun Freetime: 5 Fun Family Ideas for Moms & Kids

 

Photo by Greta Hoffman from Pexels

Meaningful family moments can occur anywhere and at any time. However, spontaneity can only take you so far. The best mom-and-me moments are carefully planned, with some room for exploration. 

While the pandemic has given working moms more opportunities to connect with their children at home, social distancing protocols are finally coming to an end, allowing for more explorative bonding opportunities. 

If you’re looking to kick off the upcoming year with unforgettable family moments, here are a few activities you can consider. 

Arts & Crafts

Whether you live down the street from a local craft store or want to try your hand at a pottery class, there are many ways for mothers and their children to tap into their creative minds. With a handful of clay, colored pencils, paints, scissors, and other art supplies, the possibilities for creation are endless. 

Together, you can make anything from pop-up cards to mason jar vases or hanging floral arrangements. Some craft stores even offer one-on-one art classes with the best local professionals.

A Camping Excursion

Nothing says socially distanced like an exciting camping excursion! If your child is old enough to brave the great outdoors, it may be time to gift them with their very first rod and spinning reel! 

There are hundreds of youth-friendly fishing destinations in America. It’s all about finding the right one and working with a mentor who can help them differentiate between rods, lures, bait, and more. 

If you’re going on an overnight camping trip, make sure to take all the necessary safety precautions.

Cooking Classes

Are you part of a family of foodies? If so, maybe the best way into your child’s heart is a cooking—or baking—class! However, if you prefer to go the DIY route, you’ll be surprised to find how many recipes are available on Pinterest. 

Alternatively, you can make up your own recipe as you go—you never know when you’ll unlock a new family “heirloom.”

Gardening

Contrary to popular belief, gardening isn’t the seemingly mundane task that it is. Instead, it’s an excellent way for children to learn how to respect their surroundings and get to meet some fascinating urban creatures!

Not to mention, gardening provides opportunities to learn about sustainability and how to nurture others with dedication, effort, and attention. 

You and your child can grow a vegetable garden, herb garden, or an even more ambitious butterfly garden or bug hotel. 

Volunteering

Nowadays, one of the best ways to nurture your relationship with your child is to give back. Not only does it provide them with a sense of achievement, but it reinforces perspective, compassion, and gratitude. By learning more about the differences between your family and others, your child will become more comfortable handling complex emotions.

You can run a donation drive, visit a soup kitchen, teach art classes to children in need, or even give back to the environment. 

The Bottom Line

There are so many ways for mothers to develop their relationships with their children creatively. Whether you prefer to stay at home or brave an adventure outdoors, the options for bonding opportunities and unforgettable moments are limitless.