Family Activities

Start a Collection

Does your little one enjoy picking up rocks on a walk? Do they like bugs? Are they interested in Pokemon cards? Are they constantly handing you special flowers that they picked? Start a collection with your kiddo and share a common interest! As your collection grows, teach them researching and organizational skills so they can learn to categorize and document their collection.

Paper Airplane Contest

Learn how to make awesome paper airplanes with your kids and have a paper airplane contest to see whose plane reigns supreme!

Check out these links for airplane instructions:

Fold’NFly Paper Airplane Designs
How to make the World Record Paper Airplane for Flight Time (YouTube Instructional Video)
HGTV Step-by-step Guide (with photos)

Scavenger Hunts

Have a scavenger hunt with your kiddos. Here are some ideas:

Obstacle Courses

Set up an obstacle course to keep your active kids busy!

Build a Fort

Do you have fun childhood memories of building forts? Help your kiddos gather the building materials (blankets, pillows, couch cushions, chairs, etc.) and start building! A fun idea is to watch a movie from their fort!

Game Night

Have a game night with the kids! While we usually try to have healthy dinners, sometimes it is fun to have “snack dinner” for game night. Try having finger-foods with the kids while playing games together! Visit your local library to see if they have board games that you can check out!

Coloring and Drawings

Almost all of the kids I know love to color and/or draw. Grab some crayons, colored pencils, markers and paper and spend time being creative with your kiddos! Check out these Drawing Games for Kids for some fun ideas!

Write a Pen Pal

Do your kids love to receive mail? Would you like them to practice their writing skills and/or penmanship more? Find a pen pal for them! Be sure to go over ground rules and guidelines with your kiddos and review their letters before they send them out for your family’s safety. Check out these sources:

How to Find a Pen Pal for Your Child
The Best Pen Pal Programs for Kids
Kids for Peace – Peaceful Pen Pals Project
Ask your family and friends if they would like to be pen pals with your kiddo!

Magic Tricks and Shows

Learn to perform magic with your kids and design a magic show!

Visit a State Park

Virginia is home to several state parks and Virginia Beach has two (First Landing State Park and False Cape State Park!

These state parks have hiking trails, beachfront areas, educational activities and natural habitats along with camping and other recreational activities!

Attend a Community Concert or Show

Virginia Beach has an Events website that provides information on local concerts and other events.

Check with your community association, local civic league or apartment complex’s office for activities near your home!

Check out your Local Library

There are 11 public libraries in Virginia Beach. Find your nearest library here!

Local Libraries have tons of fun activities for both children and adults such as reading clubs, storytimes, story walks, computer access, coding education, gaming opportunities, career fairs and so much more! With a library card, you can check out books, games, videos and other items depending on your local library’s capabilities.

Some fun ideas could include:

Family Quiet/Reading time – A fun activity is to check out several books from your local library and establish a family quiet/reading time. Teach your kiddos the love of reading by example!
Family Series – Read a book series as a family! When I was little, I loved the Little House on the Prairie series and my mom and I read a chapter together before bedtime. To this day, it is a cherished memory of time we spend together.
Movie Night – Check out a movie or two, pop some popcorn, and grab a seat for a family movie night! If your kids are little, help them built a fort in the living room and watch your movie from the fort!

Free or Low-cost things to do as a family in Virginia Beach:

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