Family Day is a nice break in the middle of winter. Depending on your situation, you may choose to spend some time with your family, or it may be a perfect opportunity to take a breath, reduce stress, and improve your mood.
Luckily, there are more than a few ways to accomplish all these goals. And you can do them all from the comfort of your home if you're looking for a low-key, inexpensive (and warm!) way to celebrate.
1. Random acts of virtual kindness
Take a few minutes today to show some support and love to your favourite local businesses! Many people don't realize the power of Google and online reviews, especially for small businesses.
Family Day is the perfect day to show your love to some of your favourite local shops, restaurants and more by leaving some awesome google reviews!
2. Family paint night
YouTube is chock-full of awesome tutorials and step-by-step guides to create your very own masterpiece. Setting the family up for an afternoon of creative fun will always be a Family Day winner.
You could even go with an absolute classic and follow along with Bob Ross because all 31 seasons (403 episodes) are available for free on YouTube!
3. Learn a new hobby
Family Day is the perfect opportunity to start learning a new hobby and it can be even more fun and fulfilling if you do it with someone else.
Try a new craft with the family, learn a new language with your friend, or maximize your Instagram potential with some online photography tutorials.
4. Play games over Zoom
If your friends and family are far away, there are tons of games that you can play over zoom or the internet.
A game of trivia is super easy thanks to this Random Trivia Generator or you can play Pictionary with this Pictionary Generator. There are also over 1500 board games available on Tabletopia.
5. Baking contest
One way to add a little extra fun to cooking is to turn it into a light-hearted competition. Find a relatively simple recipe or design and have everyone in the house ) attempt to recreate it.
Afterward, everyone votes on who did the best job and that person gets to eat all the leftovers. (Just kidding ... the winner will get bragging rights though!)
6. Play some board games
If you and your family are overly competitive, busting out Monopoly, Uno or Risk may not be the best way to bond. Especially if it’s the tables getting flipped instead of the cards or dice.
Good thing there are lots of cooperative board games that will pit the family against a common problem instead of one another. For example, Pandemic and Castle Panic.
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7. Play Among Us
You might have heard a new word enter your family’s vocabulary recently: “sus”. Short for “suspect”, this comes from a game that has taken the world by storm called Among Us.
If someone in your house can’t get enough of the game, joining them for a few matches might just make their day. The good news is that not only is it a lot of fun but it’s also a relatively simple game to learn with easy controls and gameplay. It’s also free to play on your phone!
8. Family spa day
Lately, we all need to take a load off and what could be better than turning Family Day into a Zen-filled day of relaxation.
Dim the light, throw on your favourite moody music, and be sure to dress comfortably! Face masks, nail painting, and massages are all on the table!
9. Create a scavenger hunt
Whether you want to do it inside or outside, there are a ton of different ways to create a scavenger hunt at home that are easy and fun. The easiest way is to look up a ready-made list of clues online that point kids in the direction of everyday objects like clocks, desks, and chairs.
Another way is to make your own list of objects to find. You can even turn it into a photo scavenger hunt by having everyone take pictures of the objects as proof that they found them!
10. Have a movie marathon
If you’re like us, you probably still have a long list of films in your backlog. If (somehow) you’re all caught up, you could always pick some of your favourites to re-watch while you enjoy your favourite snacks and curl up on the couch for a movie marathon.
You can always cheat slightly and stream a series too!
11. Karaoke night
Take your talents from the shower to the living room and let out your inner superstar with a night of karaoke. Whether you're a good singer or not (it's so much more fun if you aren't), a karaoke night is always a blast.
If you don't have a karaoke machine, don't fret! Stingray Karaoke YouTube channel has hundreds of hours of all the best karaoke classics available for free.
12. Build a fort
Sometimes, the simplest activities bring the most joy. Grab some blankets, pillows, and chairs, and transform your living room into a cozy fort. Whether you go for a classic blanket-and-chair structure or get creative with fairy lights and cushions, the process is just as fun as the final result.
Once it’s built, you can turn it into a cozy movie den, a quiet reading nook, or even a secret hideout for storytelling and games. Bring in some snacks, grab your favorite books or board games, and enjoy a relaxing Family Day tucked away in your homemade sanctuary. If you have kids, let them take the lead on designing the fort—it’ll make the experience even more special!
13. Try an escape room at home
If you love puzzles and challenges, why not bring the excitement of an escape room into your own home? You can find printable escape room kits online that include puzzles, riddles, and challenges to solve, or you can create your own custom version.
Hide clues around different rooms, come up with a fun storyline (like a treasure hunt or a secret mission), and set a timer to increase the suspense. Work together as a family or split into teams for some friendly competition. This activity is a great way to encourage teamwork, problem-solving, and creativity—plus, it adds a sense of adventure to your Family Day without having to leave the house!
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