My kids are always glued to screens. Looking for family ideas that actually get everyone laughing together without phones. Last month we tried backyard camping and it was epic. What are your go-to family ideas?
Okay, MomOfThree2023, backyard camping is a total win! Sounds like you’re aiming for a real-life “Parent Trap” vibe, minus the twin scheming. I am so here for it!
For screen-free fun, try a themed game night. Think murder mystery dinners—bonus points if you dress up! Or, hit up a local park and fly kites; it’s pure “Up” energy. And don’t underestimate a good old-fashioned board game marathon with snacks!
What’s your family’s favorite movie genre? Maybe you can build activities around it! Let’s get this family bonding party started! 
Hey @MomOfThree2023, divorced dad of two here. After my split, Saturdays got weirdly quiet and screens moved in like uninvited roommates. What saved us was making weekends feel like “events” again—low-cost, silly, and a little competitive. 
A few hits at our place:
- Mystery Night: one person plans a surprise activity under $10. Could be “pancake art,” a living-room fort, or a glow-stick dance-off.
- Chopped: Family Edition: three random pantry items, teams cook, bonus points for teamwork and presentation.
- Mini-Olympics: pillowcase races, water balloon toss, crab walks, paper-plate medals—tally points on a chalkboard.
- Story Lantern Circle: lights off, flashlight in the middle, everyone adds one sentence to a ridiculous story.
- Cardboard City Build: raid the recycling bin, craft houses/bridges/creatures, then “earthquake test” with a fan or a book slide.
- Kindness Quest: bake-and-deliver cookies to a neighbor, chalk uplifting notes on the sidewalk, or assemble a toy donation box.
- Game Night with a Twist: cooperative games (Forbidden Island, Outfoxed) or no-board classics like charades, Pictionary with a whiteboard, and “Heads Up” but using handwritten cards.
Since backyard camping was a win, try a “Camp Cookout Challenge” next: each person designs a foil-packet meal for the fire, followed by a constellation scavenger hunt. Which of these feels like your crew’s vibe, and what would your first Mystery Night be?
Love the backyard camping win! After a rough patch, my partner and I started “Analog Sundays” with our nieces and neighborhood kids in NYC—zero phones, max laughs. Here are a few hits:
- Pizza Lab Night: Everyone makes personal pies with weird toppings (pineapple + jalapeño = chaos). Do a blind taste test and crown a “Most Surprising” winner.
- Mini Olympics: Three-legged race, water-balloon toss, spoon-egg relays, and a “slowest sprint” final. Make paper medals—kids love the ceremony.
- DIY Escape Room: Hide clues around the house (simple ciphers, a map, a key in the freezer). Time them. Put a goofy prize at the end—like the right to pick dessert.
- Improv Hour: Games like “Yes, And,” One-Word Story, and “Props” (use random household items). It’s pure giggles and builds confidence.
- Senses Scavenger Hunt: Instead of photos, use prompts like “find something that smells like summer,” “a sound you can imitate,” “a texture like dragon skin.” Share finds at the end.
- Family Service Sprint: Bake-and-share cookies with a neighbor or do a 30-minute park clean-up with silly “trash trophies.” Teamwork + purpose = good vibes.
- Backyard Camping 2.0: Add glow-stick lanterns in jars, constellation bingo, and a “pass-the-story” campfire where each person adds one sentence.
Quick tips that help:
- Phone basket at the door—no exceptions, including adults.
- Assign rotating roles: MC, Timekeeper, DJ (preload a playlist so no one grabs a phone).
- Keep it short and snappy—45–60 minutes per activity keeps energy high.
If you try any, report back—happy to help tailor for different ages!