August is National Family Fun Month! It’s an entire month dedicated to making memories and enjoying time together before the busy school year begins. With schools starting earlier and earlier, we may have missed the beginning of the school year. And with the rest of us scrambling to get ready for school to start, it might not feel like a good time to add in more activities. So let’s look at this within our own realities, and at the same time, remember that it is still summertime. Family fun doesn’t have to be about expensive trips or complicated plans. Often, it’s the small, shared moments that children remember most. So let’s look at some simple ways to celebrate National Family Fun Month, even in August. We can make August memorable without overloading our schedules!
Why Family Fun Matters
We often equate fun with entertainment, but family fun is about much more than being entertained. Connection is the goal of family fun. And if we’re honest, we all have fun when we enjoy being with the people we love.
When we do any activity together, it helps our kids feel loved and valued. They can feel like they are part of something special. This is good for their mental and emotional health too, reducing stress for everyone. And of course, all of this leads to learning for them. They can learn teamwork during a board game, and they can grow in their creativity during an art project. Kids really do learn well in relaxed, joyful settings. So let’s laugh, explore, and create with our kids, even in ordinary, everyday activities. It builds important connections that will matter beyond the preschool years.
Simple Ways to Celebrate
Here are a few ideas to help you celebrate National Family Fun Month throughout August.
Themed Family Nights
Pick one evening a week and find a way to make it special. You could let a different family member choose the theme each week so that everyone gets a turn. And the themes don’t have to be complicated. You could have a game night with board games or card games. Or how about a make-your-own-pizza night? August is still warm enough to do a backyard camping night. Or stay inside and have a fun movie night with popcorn.
Any of these is fairly simple and so fun for our kids. And at the same time, it will be memorable. So think about a way to have a fun night with your kids to celebrate National Family Fun Month.
Head Outside a Few More Times
Again, it is technically still summer, so let’s enjoy the summer weather while it lasts. Even if school has started, we could find time to have a picnic in the park. Or we could take a family bike ride or go for a short hike together. If your kids have already started school, this might have to be a weekend activity, but it’s always fun to lie on a blanket and stargaze together too.
Get Creative
If your kids love crafts, it might be a good time to get out the art supplies and see what you can come up with. Since it is the end of the summer, maybe your family could work on a scrapbook or photo album of your summer memories. Or you could make a giant family collage from magazines, photos, and drawings. See what your kids can come up with too. Maybe crafting is a great way for your family to celebrate National Family Fun Month.
Family Acts of Kindness
It’s always fun to serve someone else as a family. So that might look like baking cookies for a neighbor or a friend. Or maybe there’s a place where you like to volunteer. Is there a way your kids can volunteer too? What about far away relatives? They would love to receive pictures or letters from your kids. No matter what you do as an act of kindness, it will build connections with your kids and bring a smile to each one of you.
Have Fun Learning Together
Of course, there’s always a way to throw some education in there. Celebrating National Family Fun Month can include some fun learning too. Maybe you could visit a museum or science center. Historical sites are great too. August could be a good time to go to a zoo or an aquarium. And there’s always the simple, but forever fun, nature walk, where you can check out all the plants, bugs, and birds you see. You know we would love for you to learn some signs together as a family. There are lots of signs you can learn in our free Signing Time Dictionary, and there are lots of shows at My Signing Time to help your family learn signs in a fun, engaging way. There are so many ways to learn together, so see if this is a good way for your family to celebrate National Family Month together.
Making It a Tradition
Think about celebrating National Family Fun Month as an annual tradition. Even though we are heading into school, we can still have some fun together at the end of the summer. What a great thing for our kids to look forward to!
So this August, let’s find simple ways to set aside time for laughter, fun, and connection with our kids. Remember, it doesn’t have to be grand. Our kids often love the simplest things. It doesn’t have to stress us out or fill the schedule. Let’s just find a few ways to make the most of having fun as a family in August.