October Family Fun: 32 Activities to do With Your Kids

family fun, kids activities, October, online kids activities, parenting -

October Family Fun: 32 Activities to do With Your Kids

There’s so much to celebrate in October!

It’s National Go On a Field Trip Month. While the 2020 quarantine has closed most traditional field trip destinations, it has opened up the opportunity to go places we’ve never had access to before—virtually. 

Check out some virtual trips your family will love

Every single day in October, there’s something to celebrate and make fun. Be creative and let me know how you spend your special days. 

 Homemade Cookie Day

What’s your favorite? It’s a great day to bake!

 Name Your Car Day

Does your car have a name? How did you come up with it? Talk to your kids about how you chose their names, too. 

 Frugal Fun Day

Today’s the day to enjoy life’s simple pleasures and do something fun on the cheap. What’s your favorite free family activity?

National Taco Day

Guess what’s for dinner tonight? Debate the merits of your favorite—and your not-so-favorite—taco toppings. Beef, chicken, or fish? Cilantro: yea or nay? 

National Get Funky Day

Play some favorite tunes from when you were a kid, and jam out to together. Bonus points if you share your signature dance move (or any dance move from ‘back in the day’).

National Mad Hatter Day

Bring out your craziest hats and have a fun, silly photo shoot. Celebrate with a tea party and a chapter or two of Through the Looking Glass: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

National Fluffernutter Day 

Enjoy the sweet, sticky goodness of this nostalgic sandwich made of peanut butter and marshmallow fluff*.

American Touch Tag Day

Time to run around and have some fun. Tag, you’re it!

National Chess Day

Enjoy this classic game of strategy that’s been in play since the 5th century. 

National Cake Decorating Day

Get creative! Here’s how to make a Jack-O’-Lantern cake—no special skills required. 

jack o lantern cake

It’s My Party Day

Not your birthday? No problem! Today is everybody’s day to have a party. Check out the fun party themes on Jen’s Virtual Parties.

National Farmers Day

Today’s the day to honor those early-rising, hard-working people who grow the food on our tables. Visit a farmers market or start a garden of your own today, and be sure to thank a farmer.

National Train Your Brain Day

Expand that big, beautiful brain of yours by using it for something different today. Puzzles, riddles, or games that veer from your normal activities or routine help exercise your brain and use more of its untapped potential.

National Take Your Teddy Bear to Work / School Day

Who doesn’t love a soft, cuddly stuffed animal*? Enjoy yours all day long, wherever you go. Be sure to post some pictures of Teddy helping you throughout the day. 

Global Hand Washing Day

We’ve all had lots of practice with hand washing in 2020! Try this experiment to see if you’re washing effectively: 

  • Wear gloves* and coat your hands with ink or paint*.
  • Wash your hands the way you normally do.
  • How much ink is left? Did you get between your fingers? Are your palms clean? 

 National Dictionary Day

Pick a random word from a random page and learn the definition with your kids. Test yourselves throughout the day by asking for a sentence using it.

National Wear Something Gaudy Day

Gaud-y: adjective Extravagantly bright or showy, typically so as to be tasteless (Oxford Languages). Super tacky = super silly fun! This one calls for photos!

National Chocolate Cupcake Day

Yum!

National New Friends Day

Challenge yourselves to get to know someone better today. Ask an acquaintance for three fun facts about him or herself. You may find that you have something in common. (This one’s a great online activity. Be sure to supervise your kids & keep it safe!) 

World Statistics Day

Celebrate the power of ‘knowing the numbers’ by taking a poll. Call or Zoom friends & family, and ask their gender, age, and favorite dessert (cookies, cake, pie, or other). The more people you ask, the better. Plot their responses on some fun graphs and answer the questions: Which gender likes pie best? If you’re inviting 20-30 year olds to a party, what type of dessert should you serve? 

Count Your Buttons Day

Count the buttons on all the clothes in your closet or dresser. Imagine what the world would be like without buttons. Take some time to show gratitude for small commonplace things. 

Bonus: Combine Button Day with what you learned yesterday on Statistics Day. Keep track of the number of buttons, type of clothing (shirts, pants, sweaters, etc.), and color of buttons as you count them. Draw some conclusions based on the data. 

INTERNATIONAL CAPS LOCK DAY

TODAY’S THE DAY TO GET LOUD, EVEN WHEN YOU DON’T SPEAK A WORD. TURN YOUR CAPS LOCK ON AND LEAVE IT ON ALL DAY—JUST FOR SOME SILLY FUN. 

Want some extra silliness? Talk in your caps lock voice with your kids today. Sounds like an episode of Seinfeld to me!

TV Talk Show Host Day

Turn on your best talk show voice and interview friends & family on Zoom. Mix in some jokes and silly stunts, and be sure to record it all on video! 

Make a Difference Day

Teach your kids about kindness, generosity, and service to others by doing something that makes a difference in someone else’s life today.

Greasy Foods Day

Just for today, enjoy the yummy, greasy goodness of donuts, french fries, onion rings, hamburgers, pizza, or anything deep fried. Might be a good time to talk about doing things in moderation! 

Worldwide Howl at the Moon Night

Bring out your inner wolf, tilt your head back, and howl away--just for fun!

Black Cat Appreciation Day

Let’s show these victims of poor public opinion a little love today! Find some images online if you don’t know a black cat personally. Talk about superstitions and learn about their origins. 

International Animation Day

Watch your favorite cartoons or anime today. Check YouTube and find some fun animation from when you were young to share with your kids. 

International Internet Day

Talk to your kids about the power and the dangers of the internet today. Just for fun, go on an internet scavenger hunt 

National Bandana Day

Wear a bandana* on your head in support of people affected by cancer. How many things can you do with a bandana? 

Halloween

It’s fun to dress up in costumes and pretend you’re someone (or something) else for one night. Trick or treating not happening this year? Check out Jen’s Virtual Halloween Playdate for tons of fun with friends, online. 


Enjoy your celebrations together all month long this October.

 

 

*As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. 

 


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