"Field trips"

[Amatullah0]

This is sorta cross posted in toddlers, but I wanted to get the opinion of homeschoolers(for their younger and older kids too)

http://www.mothering.com/community/forum/thread/1312611/what-do-you-do-on-the-weekends#post_16441073

I'm just wondering, especially if you make a point of doing something "as a family" every weekend, what types of things do you do? What about when it's rainy or cold?

[AAK]

Well my kids are older and involved in a lot of things.  It would be very challenging to make a point of doing a "family activity" unless you count stuff like soccer games, etc.  

But, when we just had a toddler. . . and this depends on the toddler we did:

craft projects together (sometimes at home, sometimes as a playgroup, and sometimes at a place to paint pottery)

to the park

on walks around the neighborhood, often dd would 'bike' while we walked

visit the pet store or a gardening store 

library visits

we would walk the mall when the weather was really bad -- dd would walk too

any "free" event for the community

egg hunts aren't just for Easter

create a little "obstacle course"

Outdoor time was important and we wouldn't let a bit of rain keep us in.  However, really cold or windy weather would keep us in.  :)

Amy

[Callimom]

We have in the past. Right now due to a few life changes it hasn't been happening as much but in the past our list has included:

local festivals and fairs

museums

art galleries/scuplture parks/art walks

open houses/tours of all types

nature programs/guided hikes

music performances/concerts/plays/dance performances

botanical gardens

volunteering opportunities

hikes/letterboxing/geocaching/biking

historical sites/living history/reenactments/historical walks

Most weekends we couldn't possibly fit all the available community activities in to our schedule so we just make whatever adjustments are necessary for the weather.  

hth

Karen

[Amatullah0]

Originally Posted by AAK 

Well my kids are older and involved in a lot of things.  It would be very challenging to make a point of doing a "family activity" unless you count stuff like soccer games, etc.  

But, when we just had a toddler. . . and this depends on the toddler we did:

craft projects together (sometimes at home, sometimes as a playgroup, and sometimes at a place to paint pottery)

to the park

on walks around the neighborhood, often dd would 'bike' while we walked

visit the pet store or a gardening store 

library visits

we would walk the mall when the weather was really bad -- dd would walk too

any "free" event for the community

egg hunts aren't just for Easter

create a little "obstacle course"

Outdoor time was important and we wouldn't let a bit of rain keep us in.  However, really cold or windy weather would keep us in.  :)

Amy

rain where we live tends to be cold, and no fun. It also doesn't rain all that often. I know that if we didn't schedule time, or designate a family time day, it won't happen. We usually spend our "family time" miserable and feeling lazy at home(not in the happy kind of lazy dayz way). 

Originally Posted by Karenwith4 

We have in the past. Right now due to a few life changes it hasn't been happening as much but in the past our list has included:

local festivals and fairs

museums

art galleries/scuplture parks/art walks

open houses/tours of all types

nature programs/guided hikes

music performances/concerts/plays/dance performances

botanical gardens

volunteering opportunities

hikes/letterboxing/geocaching/biking

historical sites/living history/reenactments/historical walks

Most weekends we couldn't possibly fit all the available community activities in to our schedule so we just make whatever adjustments are necessary for the weather.  

hth

Karen

And thanks to both of you for your lists :) I've got a long list going now, which is good, because DH's pickiness is part of the reason we don't get out. *sigh*

[Nicoleandco]

In addition to all the other things mentioned:

Coffee shops

Picnics

Family Art Night (usually every Friday...sometimes we turn the lights off and do it by candlelight)

Game night

Family bible study 

Tours of the fire station, recycling center, police department.  All scheduled in advance. 

Camping, sometimes in the backyard if we are unsure of the weather

Day trips to other towns

[AAK]

Originally Posted by Amatullah0 

rain where we live tends to be cold, and no fun. It also doesn't rain all that often. I know that if we didn't schedule time, or designate a family time day, it won't happen. We usually spend our "family time" miserable and feeling lazy at home(not in the happy kind of lazy dayz way). 

And thanks to both of you for your lists :) I've got a long list going now, which is good, because DH's pickiness is part of the reason we don't get out. *sigh*

Perhaps you and dh could agree to take turns with the choosing.  Oh, depending on the kid you might be able to attend some shows at a local children't theater.  My girls have always been around that sort of thing and would sit well through well-chosen performances.  However, I do realize that not all toddlers are ready/willing to do this.  And, I wouldn't want the performance arts to get a bad vibe in a young person's heart simply because he/she was taken too early. :)

What does your dh like to do.  Family time can involve his interests as well.  I also forgot to mention that my dh loves to play with RC vehicles.  The nice ones.  A lof of times "family time" involved going to a track to play with his cars.  We got a more sturdy one that the kids can drive and he would adjust the speed control so that they couldn't ruin things.  It was fun.

Amy

[sarahtar]

We have Family Night every week. (Though, actually, right now, we have family night 2 times a month, with the other 2 weeks being Mommy/DS and Daddy/DD night and then Mommy/DD and Daddy/DS night, so we each get a full evening one on one with one of the kids.) We do this in the evening, not a weekend, but we do plenty of family stuff on weekends. We specifically have as a goal for our family to NOT get involved in so many activities that it makes family time difficult.

Through the winter, we do board games, sometimes we play on the Wii, we've done crafts, we've done science experiments, etc. When it's nicer out, sometimes we just play in the backyard, get in our pool, go for a walk to a park, go for a picnic somewhere, go geocaching, play baseball, etc.