Quick confession: There’s no parenting award for “Most Magical Childhood,” and that’s probably for the best. Most of us are already flat out keeping the house upright, the kids functioning, and the odd houseplant alive.
But even the busiest parents can create family memories that stick—yes, even on a Wednesday when you’re reheating last night’s pasta and everyone’s socks have vanished.
Here are 25 easy ways to make meaningful, giggle-filled, and—dare I say it?—Instagrammable memories with your little (or not-so-little) ones.
1. Breakfast for Dinner
Kids love a little rebellion, and nothing flips the script like pancakes at 6pm. Stack ‘em high, dust with icing sugar, and maybe toss in a banana if you’re feeling responsible.
Breakfast food has a mysterious tendency to cause spontaneous dance parties in the kitchen.
2. Record Your Own Audiobook
No one expects you to sound like David Attenborough, but reading a favourite bedtime story into your phone’s voice recorder and adding your own silly sound effects? Pure gold.
Listen back together during car rides or quiet afternoons, and appreciate just how many times your child interrupts to ask, “Wait, what’s a platypus again?”
3. Family Movie Night With a Twist
Movie night is practically a requirement, but add a “cinema” twist—design tickets, serve popcorn in paper bags, and let the kids announce the coming attractions. Bonus points for pyjama-only entry.
Yes, you can veto the 25th rewatch of Frozen, but only if you’ve got snacks to soften the blow.
4. Go on a Sound Safari
Grab your coats, step outside, and try to identify every sound you hear in 15 minutes: dogs barking, leaves rustling, neighbourhood children howling over who gets the last swing.
It’s like mindfulness, but with more giggles and less chance anyone falls asleep.
5. Invent a Secret Family Handshake
No one’s suggesting you need to be The Royal Family, but a handshake that’s just yours? Instant cool factor.
Keep it elaborate or simple—just don’t be surprised when your child whips it out for their teacher at parent-teacher night.
6. Bake Something You’ve Never Tried
Baking with kids isn’t about Michelin stars; it’s about licking the spoon. Pick a recipe none of you has attempted (hello, croissants—or maybe just cupcakes with blue icing), and let the mess happen.
If your biscuits come out looking like modern art, all the better.
7. Have a Backwards Day
Wear pyjamas all day. Eat dessert before dinner. Walk backwards for two minutes. The more upside-down, the better.
Kids love a good plot twist, and you might be surprised by how much everyone laughs at the absurdity.
8. Build a Fort (and Don’t Tidy It Up Right Away)
Pillows, blankets, pegs, and chairs—the classic ingredients for indoor architecture. Let the kids sleep inside if they want. Who says the lounge isn’t meant to be a castle for one night?
9. Create a Family Playlist
Spotify, Apple Music, or even an old-school CD—compile everyone’s favourite songs into one glorious, occasionally questionable playlist.
Crank it up and have an impromptu dance-off, or just let it play during car rides for a soundtrack to your shared adventures.
10. Take Silly Photos and Make a Slideshow
No need for professional lighting or matching outfits. Pull funny faces, wear hats, or use the dog as a prop (if they’ll tolerate it).
Later, gather everyone to watch the slideshow—laughter guaranteed, and you might even get a new screensaver.
11. Storytelling One Sentence at a Time
Start a story with a single sentence, and take turns adding to it. The narrative will go off the rails in hilarious ways.
Dragons in the supermarket? Time-travelling teddy bears? It’s your family’s epic saga.
12. Try a Tiny Art Challenge
Set out crayons, scrap paper, odds and ends from the recycling bin, and give everyone five minutes to create their “masterpiece.” Display the results proudly on the fridge, and crown a “Silliest Sculpture” winner.
13. Hold a Micro-Talent Show
No need for stage fright here—just a quick showcase of whatever quirky skills your family has up their sleeves.
Can someone whistle like a bird? Recite all the names of dinosaurs? Perform a somersault? No skill too small.
14. Have a Picnic Indoors
Rain, snow, or just a general unwillingness to leave the house—spread a blanket on the floor, break out the cheese and crackers, and call it a picnic. The ants won’t mind.
15. Take a ‘Yes’ Hour
Set a timer for one hour and say “yes” (within reason and safety) to every request. Can we wear hats in the bath? Can we build a Lego city on the stairs? For sixty glorious minutes, you are the Genie.
16. Plant Something Together
Even if you’re not blessed with green thumbs, a pot of cress or a packet of sunflower seeds can spark months of checking, watering, and cheering on those brave new shoots.
Gardening with kids has been shown to boost mood and patience, according to various studies on gardening’s positive effects.
17. Write a Letter to Future Selves
Get out the pens and paper, and craft a note to your future selves—plans, dreams, or just a recap of what you had for lunch. Stash the letters somewhere safe, and agree to open them in a year.
Kids are often surprised at how much they change (and how funny their old favourite foods sound).
18. Build a Time Capsule
Pick a few small objects—a drawing, a toy, a supermarket receipt—and tuck them in a box labeled with the year. Hide it somewhere in the house and set a date to open it together. Hidden treasures for the win!
19. Go Stargazing in the Backyard
Grab a blanket and watch the night sky. Count stars, make up new constellations, or spot satellites drifting by. For extra magic, download a stargazing app that labels the planets and constellations (try Star Walk).
No need to stay up until midnight; the stars aren’t going anywhere.
20. Cook a Family Recipe (Or Make One Up)
Pass down a recipe from your grandparents, or create something entirely new (spaghetti tacos, anyone?). The aim isn’t gourmet cuisine; it’s telling the story behind the dish and laughing when the “famous” family sauce ends up all over the table.
21. Create a Memory Jar
Leave an empty jar and a stack of slips of paper on the counter. Whenever something funny, heartwarming, or just plain bizarre happens, jot it down and pop it in.
Whenever you fancy a walk down memory lane, pick out a few and reminisce.
22. Go on a Nature Treasure Hunt
Draw up a quick list—find something round, something red, something that smells nice—and go exploring, even if it’s just around your block. Prizes for the weirdest finds are highly encouraged.
23. Teach Each Other Something New
Kids love being the expert for once. Have your child show you a game, a song, or a TikTok dance (brace yourself). Then teach them something you loved as a child—knitting, whistling, or how to make a paper plane that actually flies.
24. Take a ‘Screen-Free Hour’ Challenge
Phones, tablets, TV—off they go, just for sixty minutes. Watch how quickly imaginations kick into gear when there’s nothing glowing nearby.
Board games, charades, or even a bit of old-fashioned cloud watching fill the space in ways you might not expect.
25. Make a Family Motto or Banner
Get everyone involved in brainstorming a family motto (“We try our best and eat cake” is perfectly acceptable). Paint or draw it, hang it in the living room, and remind each other of your “family rules” every so often when things get a bit wild.
The Days Are Long—But the Years?
Time is always in short supply, and the pressure to be “perfect” can sneak in when least needed. But memories aren’t built on elaborate outings or expensive gadgets—they’re made in the spaces between the busy moments, often when you least expect it.
A pancake dinner, a silly handshake, a night under the stars—these are the bits your kids will remember. And if nothing else, you’ll have a few new stories to embarrass them with at their 18th birthday.
Here’s to the moments—big and small—that make family life unforgettable (socks optional).
