Mother’s Day Activities That the Whole Family Will Love

Let’s be honest: when it comes to planning family time, Mom does most of it. So while it can be intimidating to take the reins, she has earned a break. This Mother’s Day, step things up a notch from the old standby flowers and a card. What that ‘step up’ looks like for your Mom will of course be unique to your family. Feeling stumped? Keep reading to get some great ideas for Mother’s Day activities that the whole family will love.

Get Crafty 

If the mom in question loves to craft, this one’s for her. A classic Mother’s Day project is making or decorating photo frames. Print out a few pix of the fam ahead of time, or snap some that day while you’re crafting and put them in your spanking-new frames for a memorable gift. Other ideas include beading, painting ceramics, papier-mâché, marbling, pressed flower bookmarks, and potato-printed tea towels. Or why not make candles, soap, or paper from scratch? These are just a few of the myriad crafting options out there. Whatever you choose to do, the family has a fun time together, and Mom gets a lovely keepsake to remember the special day.

Fresh Air Fest

Mother’s Day falls at the perfect time of the year for getting outside. Plan a trip to one of her favorite local parks, or, alternatively, pick one she’s never been to before. If she’s into biking, you could plot a scenic route for the gang to ride. If you’ve got more time to play with, turn the outing into a day trip and go visit a special arboretum, garden, or other nature site that’s a little further from home. Fresh air and family are a fantastic way to spend a day together.

Gardening Extravaganza

Continuing on the fresh air theme, for the mom who loves all things green, gardening is a great way to celebrate the day. For a good section of the US, Mother’s Day falls at the right time to start a garden. Take her to a garden center to pick out some fun things to grow. Choose flowers, veggies, herbs, or all three! Then pour her a tall glass of lemonade to enjoy while the fam does the heavy lifting prepping and planting a garden that she’ll appreciate and enjoy for much longer than a single day. If Mom lives in an apartment, condo, or care home, you can still use this idea. Just scale it down to a container garden or window box. You can even find tabletop grow boxes with built-in lights so she can keep it by her bedside. If Mom is housebound but was once an avid gardener, she’ll appreciate this thoughtful gift even more. 

Scavenger Hunt

A scavenger hunt is fun for everyone. You only need one person to prep it, or you can get the whole family in on the fun. It’s easy to set up and it’ll make Mom feel very special. Prepare clues ahead of time that will take her around to find treats in various locations. If the kids are old enough to help, have them come up with some of the gift ideas and hints. Bonus points for turning the clues into poetry. The hunt can stay local to your house, yard, or neighborhood, or you can send her further afield, such as to a salon or spa for a pedicure or massage. Have each family member create a special message to go along with the hint and/or goodie, telling how much they love and appreciate her.

Game Time

Games are another fun way to spend the day. Board games like The Game of Life or CandyLand are always a hit, and so are the classics like charades or Would You Rather that require no equipment other than yourselves. Then there’s always the hilarious What’s In Mom’s Purse? game. Or maybe you might enjoy playing Who Is Mom? and learn more about her life before she became a mother. These can be a great option for those who are traveling and don’t need to add anything else to their luggage. Bingo is perfect for a crowd, and so are Mad Libs. If it’s just the two of your, perhaps you might want to play a video games together — unless you’re afraid Mom’ll crush you at Grand Theft Auto. Or maybe she’d rather belt out her favorite tunes on the karaoke machine. It’s not exactly a game, but it’s still tons of fun. Whatever’s her jam, playing together is a blast for everyone.

Learn Together

Yet another terrific way to make this Mother’s Day memorable is to learn something completely new together. You can take on an experience she’s always wanted to try, such as paddleboarding, or surprise her and go totally unexpected, like indoor skydiving or Japanese drumming. Flower arranging, wine tasting, ethnic cooking, or starting to learn a new language are a few other ideas. With so many options available both online and live, you can definitely find something that will keep everyone engaged.

There you have it, plenty of suggestions to get those creative juices flowing. By the way, showing appreciation on Mother’s Day isn’t limited to just your mother. Grandmas, aunts, wives, partners, and anyone who plays a mom role can and should be included. And while you can’t go wrong with the oldie but goodie breakfast in bed, this year, do a little bit more. Mom will love it that you went the extra mile!

Author’s Bio:

Sue Seabury is a writer, researcher, blogger, and above all, a mom. She is a regular contributor to The Pearl Source blog.