We try to be an active family, doing rather than sitting, and so the kids are involved in all aspects of family life, from cooking and cleaning, to helping us build new raised bed gardens and install a new patio in the backyard.

We make our activities fun, so that they’re about coming together, rather than a chore. We also want to be sure to take time to just be, whether it’s a family game night or a bike ride together to the local ice cream shop.

Here are a few ideas of family activities that will get you together and enjoying the weekend.

1. We love family bike rides. There is a lake with a walking path and a bike path a few blocks from our house, as well as the state fair grounds, which are a ghost town this time of year. We spend our weekend evenings exploring and enjoying getting some exercise together. It’s also fun to watch the changing seasons as spring turns to summer, and to notice what different animals might be out on the lake.
2. Gardening is a huge part of our family life. When we purchased our house 5 years ago it was our chance to start growing more than a container tomato plant and fresh herbs. The kids love choosing their own plants to be in charge of, and weeding, watering, and maintaining the garden is something we all get together to do.
3. Outdoor yard activities and chores are also something we enjoy as a family. Picking up sticks in the yard becomes a game, as we see who can find the most, and then challenge each other to a duel. We also try to incorporate those chores like picking up sticks from the trees, with a fun aspect like picking them up so we can play capture the flag or baseball once it’s finished.
4. We have quite a few songbirds in the neighborhood, and so each spring we try to put something out for them. We’ve made bird feeders for all different varieties of birds and butterflies. A bit of sugared water in a baby food jar with a sponge on the bottom hangs from a lilac bush. The simple pine cone with peanut butter and bird seed is another easy and fun activity to attract the birds.

These are just a few things we do as a family on the weekends to try to make the most of our time away from work and school. How do you spend your weekend time with the family?

Editor’s note: This post was written by Shaina Olmanson, author of the Food for My Family blog.