When the kids are with you every other weekend, Saturday morning comes with pressure. You want it to be good. But the best weekends aren't always the big ones. Kids remember the pancakes, the fort and the walk where you talked about nothing.
Here are 30 ideas. Pick two or three, not ten.
Free and at home
- Build a blanket fort and eat dinner in it.
- Have a pancake bar with every topping in the house.
- Hold a family game tournament with a homemade trophy.
- Camp in the backyard, or in the living room.
- Let the kids plan and cook one meal, start to finish.
- Have a movie marathon of one series, with tickets they make.
- Do a puzzle that takes all weekend.
- Plant something, even one pot on the porch.
- Start a family journal and add a page every weekend together.
- Have a dance party while you clean.
Out and about
- Go to the library and let each kid pick three books.
- Visit a farmers market and give each kid a few dollars to spend.
- Take a bike ride to a place you've never been.
- Try a new playground, a different one every weekend.
- Go fishing, even if nobody catches anything.
- Have a picnic at a park you have to drive to.
- Go to a high school football or basketball game.
- Visit a free museum day.
- Go bowling or roller skating.
- Watch the sunset from the highest spot in town.
Bigger plans for long weekends
- Take a day trip to a lake, a beach or a state park.
- Stay one night in a cabin or a campground.
- Visit the grandparents and let them plan the day.
- Go to a minor league baseball game.
- Ride a train, any train, just for the ride.
Seasonal
- Fall: a pumpkin patch and a corn maze.
- Winter: drive around to see the holiday lights with hot cocoa.
- Spring: fly a kite on the first windy day.
- Summer: a sprinkler, popsicles and a water balloon fight.
- Any season: a "yes day" where the kids pick the plan (with a budget).
Make the plan before Friday
The best weekends are planned a little ahead. Look at your calendar on Sunday night and see which weekends are yours this month. In KidNights, blue weekends are weekends the kids are with you, and Find dates lists the open ones.
Pick one idea for each weekend and let the kids add to the list. Planning is half the fun for them.
Let family join in
If you've shared your family link, grandparents can see your weekends too, and they can suggest a visit. Some of the best weekends are the ones where Grandpa takes the kids fishing while you get a nap. See Give grandparents their own code.
Key takeaways
- Pick two or three plans per weekend, not ten.
- Free, at-home ideas are often the ones kids remember most.
- Save bigger trips for long weekends.
- Check your weekends a month ahead and plan one idea for each.
Questions families ask
My kids just want to stay home. Is that OK?
Yes. Kids who switch homes often want a slow, normal weekend. Home time with you is the point.
How do I keep it fair between my kids and stepkids?
Let each kid pick an activity over the month, and plan the big ones on weekends when every kid is home.
How far ahead should I plan?
For most weekends, a week or two. For trips and long weekends, a month or more.