Fun Days!

Structure is a beautiful thing. Your children know what to expect and when to expect it. Being a very orderly person, I enjoy knowing what comes next in our routine. But what about the days that fall apart or just go in a different direction than you anticipated? Or what if you need a break from the norm? Then what??? Make it a Fun Day!

Here are some Fun Day ideas:

Pioneer Day – When the electricity goes out, pull out the “What would Laura Ingalls do?” list. Snowstorms in our rural community allowed us to have several of these unplanned days! Light candles, read books (no tech!), and play simple games. In our home, we planned a few of these days, even when we had electricity, and the girls dressed up as “Laura.”

Kingeth Jameseth Day – Have a medieval day where you add “eth” to all your words. In ten minutes or less, you’ll be rolling on the floor laughing! Some words are just hilarious with “eth” added! Thiseth willeth maketh youeth sloweth downeth howeth fasteth youeth talketh. Youeth willeth smileeth aeth loteth!

Dr. Seuss Day – This is a fun day to do on March 2^nd, Dr. Seuss’ birthday. Make up rhymes! Read Dr. Seuss books! Call each of the children by their birth order – Thing 1, Thing 2, Thing 3. Read through The Cat in the Hat and set aside some time to clean house, just like they do in the book. (Psst: You get to sneak in a little housekeeping with this fun day!) If you attended the 2018 GFI National Conference, ask your children to tell about some of their favorite memories! ?

Baking Day – Pull out the recipe books! Is there something you want to cook or bake but never seem to get around to it? This isn’t a spontaneous day because you’ll need to have the ingredients handy, but what a fun way to spend time together in the kitchen. The family that bakes together, laughs together… or something like that.

Jammies Day – This is a fun one to spring on your children when they get up! You have to watch a movie and eat popcorn on this day – it’s some sort of a “given” when you wear your jammies all day. ?

Fun with Friends Day – This can be planned or spontaneous. How can you bless a friend? Have her kiddos over so she has a couple hours at home alone! She might return the favor, too!

International Day – Does your family pray for a missionary family overseas? Eat foods common to their culture. Play a game that’s popular in their country. In our home, we had “rice day” where we ate rice and prayed for our Compassion International child. A dear friend told about a mom who used “rice day” to teach her children to be thankful for whatever was set before them. Later on, when that family wanted to go to the mission field, their children were tested in this way. The children passed with flying colors!

Anne of Green Gables Day – This is kind of like “Pioneer Day,” but with a Canadian twist. Watch the movie or read part of one of the books. Braid hair. Make one of the recipes from the Anne series of books. Instead of saying, “Okay?” at the end of your sentence, go with, “Eh?”

Narnia Day – This one is especially fun to do around C.S. Lewis’ birthday (November 29). Live in Narnia for a day. Have your children imagine what their animals are saying. Be kings and queens! By all means, fix Turkish Delights!

Redwall Day – This medieval series by Brian Jacques has animals as the main characters and an abundance of feasts. Dress up as princes and princesses and adorn your table with all sorts of treats. Several of the books are available on audio, so enjoy some popcorn while you listen!

Fun Days can be as creative as you want them to be. Having a food theme keeps everyone interested. These days can be budget-friendly too – just use props and games you already have around the house. The basic ingredient is imagination – yours and your child’s. Make some great memories by having a Fun Day!