We’ve all found ourselves in a slump when it comes to thinking of easy family friendly activities to try. Whether it’s due to a rainy day, being tired, or having a long to-do list at home. Making another decision about what to do for fun can feel overwhelming.

That’s why I’ve created this ultimate list to refer to when you’re needing some inspiration. This list will take the thinking out of planning fun family activities. You can literally close your eyes and point to one!

Spending time together as a family doesn’t need to be complicated. In fact, sometimes the simple activities are the ones everyone enjoys the most!

In this post, you will find a list of 27 family activities that you must try!

Family Activities

Family Activities To Do At Home

These activities are great to do in the comfort of your own home! Planning family activities doesn’t need to be daunting, expensive or require you to leave home!

In our current season of life with 3 under 5, we spend a lot of time at home to accommodate different schedules and needs. This has lead to being more creative about what we can do at home versus what we can’t do because we are home.

Check out these ideas for fun family activities to do at home!

Backyard Activities

• Play barefoot in the backyard. There is something about going barefoot that immediately grounds you and brings out your inner child. Pick a game (soccer, hide and go seek, simon says) and play it barefoot.

• Have a backyard movie night. A backyard movie night doesn’t need to be expensive or extravagant (or even happen late at night). You can prepare snacks, lay down blankets, load up a laptop and press play. Easy peesy!

• Run through the sprinkler. Or just simply have the kids take turns with the hose! There is something about getting splashed with water that brings out all kinds of glee!

• Read by the trees. Have everyone pick a story (or 5) and find a favourite tree to read them by.

• Carve your names in a tree. This is so fun to do in the backyard and special to revisit time and time again!

• Make cloud stories. I love how imaginative kids are. You could tell them you see a cloud that looks like a bunny sleeping in a hammock and they would tell you they see a cloud with a dinosaur eating hamburgers. It is so fun to let everyone’s imagination run wild.

Creative Activities

• Plant seedlings. You can plant seeds inside or outside. This is such a fun family activity because everyone plays a part in tending to it and watching it grow.

• Write a postcard. Think of a special family member or friend to write a postcard to. Kids love imagining something they have created being opened and enjoyed!

• Take silly photos. Who doesn’t love crinkling up their face in all sorts of funny ways!? You could make a fun art project out of all of your silly photos as a memory!

• Create a playlist to dance to. Think of a great playlist name, add your favourite tunes and dance it out! Some of my favourite moments with my kids involve dancing together in the kitchen!

• Have a technology-free day. Pretend to wind back time and spend a day doing all the fun technology-free things!

• Paint a canvas. Have everyone paint their own canvas. Follow a youtube tutorial or let your imagination flow! Have a gallery walk with a charcuterie board and sparkling juice when everyone is all done their masterpiece.

Family Outings

Everyone looks forward to special outings! Whether you are doing an outing every day, once a week, or every blue moon – here are some simple ideas of things you can do as a family!

• Drive with the windows down. There is something about taking a drive with the windows down that is an instant gratifying activity. Turn the music up and unwind!

• Play mini golf. This is a great way to get out of the house, let loose and work on your golf swing!

• Go puddle jumping. After a rainstorm, go find the best puddles to jump in!

• Take a road trip. To the pond, to the beach, to the mountains, to a park. The options are endless!

• Go on a thrifting treasure hunt. Hit up local garage sale, thrift store and/or market to find special items like home decor, toys, books – you name it!

• Skip stones at the pond. Look up all of the ponds near you and try skipping rocks at as many of those ponds as you can! Ah, nostalgia.

Family Food Activities

Does anyone else look forward to doing anything having to do with food? Food activities are some of my favourite things to do as a family!

Try some of these easy family food activities!

• Make naan bread pizzas. Making naan bread pizza is so easy and fun! Choose all different types of toppings (butter chicken is so good!). You can even cut your naan bread into different shapes to bring it up a notch!

• Rate the best fries. The mission is simple: rate 3 or more types of fries to find the ultimate best fry! You can hop from restaurant to restaurant or simply grab different types at the grocery store. Don’t forget the dipping sauce!

• Try a new ice cream flavour. Your favourite ice cream flavour will understand!

• Host a dinner. Sharing food with the ones we love makes the best memories! Keep it super simple when planning out the menu.

• Go berry picking. Or apple picking, or pumpkin picking! Whatever fruit or vegetable is in season, go pick it! And take lots of pictures!

• Have a picnic. The best thing about picnics? You can have them anywhere! On the deck, at the beach, in the back of the van!

• Make chocolate covered strawberries. There is something about this combination that instantly wins hearts!

• Find the best local tacos. Have you ever had a taco that was so good you couldn’t believe it? Go find those tacos!

• Make flavoured ice cubes. A simple way to up your water game! This makes a fun activity that the whole family can enjoy. Make a water challenge to go with it! I’m personally still working on drinking enough water every day – sign me up for the flavoured ice cubes!

Your turn!

What activity will you do first? I’m ready to rate the best fries (because yum). I would also love to do canvas painting (with a fancy gallery walk because charcuterie). Clearly any activity that involves my favourite people and food is a winning combination!

There you have it! This post was all about 27 family activities you must try!

I hope this simple list sparks your imagination when it comes to doing fun family activities of your own!

Here’s to you and your beautiful family!

The post 27 Family Activities That You Absolutely Must Try! appeared first on The Sweet Simple Home.

When I was pregnant with my first, a friend of mine scribbled down a list for me of her must-have baby items on notebook paper. I held onto that list and referred to it many times as I navigated through the (very overwhelming) amount of baby items on the market. I trusted her recommendations knowing they were her must-have items with all 3 of her own babies.

Now having 3 babies of my own, and having experienced my share of baby products over the last 5 years, I have created a list of my favourite must-have baby items that I have used and loved.

My hope is that this list is something you can refer to when looking for recommendations that will grow with your family!

This post is all about the must-have baby items for the first year (that will grow with your family)!

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you. To read the full disclosure click here.

Must-Have Baby Items

As always, please only take these products as suggestions. The products I’m sharing are ones I have used and loved for my 3 babies but there are many different brands that offer great baby items, too! Take this list as a jumping off point to do your own shopping, research and/or thrifting!

1. Crib

This goes without saying as one of the most important must-have baby products. If you are looking for permission to not buy the expensive crib – permission granted to not buy the expensive crib. There are a lot of great cribs at affordable prices (marketplace almost always has a good selection if you’re looking to thrift one).

My personal favourite? I LOVE the Ikea Sniglar crib!

2. Travel System (Car Seat and Stroller Combo)

A travel system for your car seat and stroller is a must-have (that will absolutely grow with your family). We picked the Britax B-Lively Travel System. We liked that it is middle of the road on price, is easy to transition from car seat to stroller and it collapses nicely.

There are many amazing strollers and car seats on the market. It all comes down to personal preference and budget. We do find this car seat to be heavy and the stroller can be a challenge to steer at times (aka with one hand while sipping a latte).

Overall, we have been very happy with this stroller and definitely got our money’s worth out of it!

3. Baby Carriers

Baby carriers have been one of my most beloved must-have items for baby. Having a baby carrier that you love makes all the difference for being able to attend to baby while also being hands-free.

We used the Ergo Baby Carrier and the Moby Wrap with all 3 of our babies and they held up great!

I enjoyed using the Moby Wrap when my babies were under 6-8 months. Having them wrapped snug in the Moby made naps on the go much easier and walks around the neighbourhood extra enjoyable.

The Ergo Baby Carrier is great as your babies grow because of its extra support! Being able to clip baby in as they get bigger (and more active) is a huge benefit!

4. Baby Monitor

Another must-have baby item is a baby monitor. There are many affordable baby monitors on the market. If you’re like me, an expensive baby monitor isn’t a priority. As long as I can see baby clearly, I’m happy!

We chose the Angelcare Baby Monitor. It comes with a movement sensor pad which was a nice feature to have in the early months with our first. We opted to remove it as she got bigger. The sensor pad is quite sensitive and I found it caused me to worry more instead of less. Complete personal preference.

5. Mamaroo

I love the 4Moms Mamaroo. It might just be one of my favourite baby “gadgets”. I have so many happy memories watching all 3 babies bobbing along in this swing. The fact that it has held up as long as it has definitely proves it to be a long-lasting must-have baby item! This would make a wonderful gift to put on your registry!

6. Bassinet

A bassinet is a must-have item for those early months when baby is sharing a room with you! There are a lot of wonderful bassinets on the market.

I used the Moses Basket with the Jolly Jumper Moses Basket Stand for each baby and I loved it! I was happy with a simple bassinet knowing we would only use it for a short period of time with each baby.

7. Pack N’ Play

The Graco Pack N’ Play is a hardworking baby item! It will get a lot of use as your family grows. Think naps on the go, a place to put your busy babe as you tidy the house, and an extra place for nieces or nephews to sleep when they visit. We have loved our Graco Pack N’ Play!

8. Booster Seat With Tray

This Bumbo Booster Seat with a tray is a great alternative to a highchair if you’re looking to save space. We also have the Ikea Highchair, but this little booster seat is perfect for baby as he/she begins eating! It also acts as a nice little chair for them to practice sitting up!

9. Sleepsacks

Sleepsacks are the best! I have tried several different brands and Halo and Nested Bean are the ones I have loved the most! The Nested Bean sleepsack is great for any baby that needs a little extra comfort (especially in the beginning as they are learning to put themselves to sleep). Halo sleepsacks are dependable, well made and all 3 of my babies have loved them! Nested Bean and Halo have various sizes to fit your baby as he/she grows!

10. Sound Machine

Pairing a sleepsack with a sound machine (and a special stuffy – see below) is the dreamy combination to help babies get great sleep! We have used Homedics for all of our babies. I personally love that there is a battery power option. If the electricity goes out, the sound machine stays on using batteries. This sound machine is a great price and has worked well for us!

11. Security Blanket (Stuffy)

One of the sweetest must-have baby items is a special stuffy for your baby. Security blankets are a comforting sleep tool to help baby get good rest. We have 2 or 3 of the same stuffy for each of child to rotate while one is in the wash (or lost behind the couch). These are some of our favourites:

12. Baby Tub

This affordable Angelcare Baby Bath Tub is sleek, modern and practical. Easy to use, easy to wipe down and not too big to store away. Highly recommend this baby tub to make bath time even more enjoyable!

13. Pampers and Wipes

Don’t take my word for it, but Pampers Diapers and Wipes are my favourite! After trying several different brands, I kept coming back to Pampers. I have always been happy with their diapers and wipes.

14. Car mirror

A simple car mirror is a must-have baby item that provides peace of mind when you’re driving in the car. There’s no particular brand I recommend more than another – the Britax Car Mirror is just the one we happened to get! I don’t think you can go wrong as long as you are able to see baby!

15. Baby Activity Centre

I love this Skip Hop Activity Center! It is designed to grow with your baby and offers a lot of fun features. Our personal favourite is the musical foot pad! This would make a wonderful registry baby item!

What Didn’t Make The Cut

Three baby items that didn’t make my must-have list are: a diaper bag, a play gym and a diaper pail.

I did not include a diaper bag because I honestly never found one I was in-love with! Oftentimes, I just used my own bags! This company became really popular and I always wondered if they were worth the hype! Check them out if you’re on the hunt.

The initial floor mat we selected didn’t hold up well. I ended up receiving a new floor mat/play gym for our 3rd baby and absolutely loved it. The only reason it didn’t make my must-have list is because I only had it for one baby! The Lovevery Play Gym would make an excellent purchase for a first baby that will grow with your family!

I tried the Diaper Genie and the Ubbi diaper pails and honestly didn’t love either! Could this simply be because of the dirty diapers? Quite likely (LOL!). I found it easier just to throw dirty diapers right into the garage garbage bin (but this is entirely personal preference!).

In this post, I shared my 15 top must-have baby items for the first year (that will grow with your family!).

I enjoyed having a very simple list of must-have items that grew with our family. I hope this list is something you can take with you as you pick out your own must-have baby items.

Happy shopping and snuggling!

The post 15 Must-Have Baby Items (That You Will Use For Multiple Babies) appeared first on The Sweet Simple Home.

Summertime with young children is wonderful, exciting and joy-filled. But it can also be overwhelming.

We want everything to be fun, but sometimes trying to make everything fun just feels like a lot of pressure.

We long for there to be less of a rigid routine, but without it, we can feel a little untethered.

We desire to be the best carefree versions of ourselves, but we still need to be responsible and get things done.

This post is all about 3 easy ways to enjoy your summer with young children!

1. Enjoy Your Summer By Deciding What Is Most Important To You

The first thing is to decide what’s most important for you this summer. Is it that you want summer to feel like an actual break? Or that you want to experience a lot together as a family? Perhaps you want to spend as much time as possible by the water? Or make the best use of your backyard?

You can enjoy all of the above in your summer but what is the ONE thing that if you weren’t able to do anything else, you would still look back with a full heart? What is the MOST important thing? Right here and right now. (Our important things are allowed to change as our kids grow).

The last 5 summers what was most important to me was keeping us all of us alive (LOL). I was either pregnant or chasing around very tiny humans. Keeping things simple during those summers was life-giving for me. I look back with so much fondness at our low-key summers at home.

Now that the kids are a little older and our youngest is happy to go-with-the-flow, the most important thing for us this summer is to have more experiences out of the house.

We want to be intentional about going out and experiencing fun activities, while also considering the ages of the kids, work schedules and this project and this project we have on the go.

How about you? What is most important to you?

2. Enjoy Your Summer By Living By The Motto: For Every Busy Day, Have A Relaxed Day

So much of the beauty of having small children is that they can be happy with simple activities. Bubbles, a hose and a kiddie pool can provide enough entertainment for an afternoon. At this age, it is a joy watching them take such joy in the little things. I’m a firm believer that summer doesn’t need to be go, go, go. The days can be a little mundane AND you can still enjoy your summer!

We fear boredom because we think we’re not living up every moment to its fullest. But I actually think boredom is a gift. It’s in the slowing down that we are able to take a breath and appreciate our surroundings. It also pushes us to be creative with how to spend our time. When we’re bored, we need to use our imagination to think of something to do. The activities we come up with can be some of the most rewarding because we have to be intentional about it!

3. Enjoy Your Summer By Having Simple Meals Planned Ahead

It can be challenging to find motivation to cook in the summer. Sometimes all it takes to have things run a little smoother is a (very simple) plan for meals ahead of time. This will help keep the stress out of the kitchen so you can have more time for fun!

For breakfast and lunch, try limiting the options. Maybe breakfast is always a smoothie, toast or cereal. Perhaps lunch is always charcuterie style or sandwiches with veggies. By simplifying 2 out of the 3 meals, you will already feel less pressure!

When it comes to dinner, why not have all of the meals feel like the kind of meals you eat on vacation? Simple, yummy, crowd-pleasing? Yes please!

I have a resource for you called the Simple Supper Summer Meal Plan. It helps you plan your meals for the whole summer with minimal effort!

The best part about the plan is that it is meant to accommodate your summer! Heading away for week? The meal plan will be waiting when you return! Eat pizza on Tuesday? Swap for a different meal on Friday. The meal plan is designed to a helpful resource for YOU.

My hope is that this summer will feel much easier without having to overthink your meals!

Your Sweet Simple Summer Awaits

Tell me in the comments below what you think of these 3 easy ways to enjoy your summer with little ones! Here’s to the summer sun and your cutie pies running wild and free!

The post 3 Easy Ways To Enjoy Your Summer (With Young Children) appeared first on The Sweet Simple Home.