National Day of Unplugging Family Activities

Build a Fort or Tent

For some good, old-fashioned fun, hit the linen closet and construct a fort or tent with sheets and pillows. The process of creating the hideaway is only the beginning, as once they're done with the hard work, playtime can begin!

Photo: Lisa Horten

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Be a Good Neighbor

If you have an elderly or sick neighbor (or even one with a new baby at home), practice being a good samaritan and do what you can to make their day better. Whether that means shoveling a walkway, baking an unexpected batch of cookies, or offering to run their errands, we can't think of a better way to make the most of your unplugged day.

Source: Flickr user lynnmwillis

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Kids in the Kitchen

Image Source: Thinkstock / Dejan Ristovski

Tie on an apron and get busy in the kitchen with any one of these 16 fun activities and recipes for little chefs in training.

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Make Grandma and Grandpa's Day!

Image Source: Thinkstock

Nothing will make grandparents happier than receiving a package with your child's original artwork. Ship paper pieces (signed by the artist, of course) in mailing tubes. Or work that technology again and transfer a piece to a postcard, magnet, notecard, or mug. These days, the art-sharing and gift-giving possibilities are endless!

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Put on a Play

Encourage budding thespians by creating your very own cardboard theater and staging a family production!

Source: Martha Stewart

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Preserve Family Memories

Take a trip down memory lane to your last family vacation and preserve it with one of Martha Stewart's chic vacation memory jars.

Photo by Annie Schlechter. Courtesy of Martha Stewart Living

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Create a Time Capsule

Create a tech-free family time capsule to bury in your backyard. Kids and parents can both include letters to their future selves, plus a few mementos and photos.

Be sure to seal the whole thing in an airtight container (a tennis ball can or Tupperware would work well), and wait until a sunny day to bury it in the backyard. Just remember to make a note of where it is and when you want to open it!

Source: Flickr user wwworks

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Play With Sidewalk Chalk

One bucket of sidewalk chalk will lend itself to hours of entertainment and tons of learning opportunities. All you need is a concrete space, a wild imagination, possibly a warm jacket and mittens, and a hose for cleanup. Try these five ideas to start with.

Source: Flickr user dhanlian

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Start a Lemonade (or Hot Cocoa) Stand

While it may lend itself best to Summer, we think it's totally OK to get a jump-start on the lemonade market (weather permitting). Get inspired and stir up a pitcher; this activity will keep them busy all day. If it's too chilly for lemonade in your neck of the woods, consider hot cocoa and cookies instead! Give your kids brownie points if they're willing to donate their profits to charity.

Source: Etsy user nhayesdesigns

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Write a Bucket List

Teach the kids about setting goals early on by creating their very own bucket lists. It doesn't have to be anything serious — friendships, new sports, or recipes work fine — but it will be fun to check items off the list and turn to it for ideas next time you hear "Mom, I'm bored!"

Source: Flickr user Praying For Lions

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Go Camping (Inside or Out)

Here in the Northeast, it's not quite outdoor campfire time quite yet. But we'd be hard pressed to find a more fun way to "dine in" than by staging a family campsite — right in your own living room (though popping those s'mores in the oven or microwave might be a more feasible option!).

Source: Flickr user bigberto

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Take a Hike

Head outdoors with a local family hike. A scenic stroll is just the way active kids can get their energy out and explore Mother Nature. Added bonus? Mom and dad get a workout in, too!

Source: Flickr user courosa

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Revisit the Public Library

Image Source: Thinkstock

Many local libraries have a week's worth of scheduled activities for kids of all ages. From story time to book-related crafts or even just perusing the shelves for your next great read, in this day and age, it's an oft-underutilized family destination.

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Plan Your Next Family Vacation

Whether you've already got a trip in the works or are just dreaming up fun destinations for the future, getting the kids involved in planning a family vacation is a great way to spend your "unplugged" day. Get out a map, your favorite travel books, some pens and paper, and get them thinking about where they want to go, why they want to go there, how you'll get there, where you'll stay, what you'll eat, and what you'll see and do in their chosen destinations.

Source: Tom Robinson and Thinkstock

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Have a Classic Game Marathon

Put away the video-game controllers and go old-school with classic kids' games like Candy Land, Twister, Chutes and Ladders, and Operation. They might not be as high-tech as the PlayStation or Wii, but there's a reason companies have been making them for decades.

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