Following the chaos from the holidays, the past few weekends have been fairly quiet. We've been catching up on movies we've been meaning to watch and books we've been meaning to read. But, needless to say, each weekend we have had moments where boredom has struck. Often our family wakes on a Saturday wondering “what do we do today?” Do we hop in the car with no destination in site? Do we go to a local park? Do we sit at home and do nothing?

It made  us think how we as a family interact, how we work together, how we play together, how we connect as a family, how we spend time together as a family.

I LOVE this idea from another Macaroni Kid Publisher Mom. She has begun to create a FAMILY FUN JAR that my family will implement this New Year.

The concept is simple – we took a glass jar and wrote down 12 family friend activities; each month we will choose one activity to do – no matter what the activity is that will be what we do that day.

These are 12 super fun activities our FAMILY has to look forward to this year:

1.         Park and Panera lunch

2.         Bowling

3.         Movies and fun at New Roc City

 4.         Bronx Zoo

 5.         Buy something unique and fresh at Stew Leonard's and prepare a family meal TOGETHER

6.         Miniature Golf at Saxon Woods

 7.         Picnic Lunch in Central Park

 8.         Museum of Choice in NYC

 9.         Bike ride along the Bronx River Parkway

10.   Visit a Local Beach

11.  Books and Hot Cocoa: A trip to Barnes & Noble followed by hot chocolate at Starbucks

12.      Be Spontaneous (on the spot, think something up and do it)

Oh sure, we have more than 12 FAMILY fun days a year (and may draw a second choice on a rainy day), but this jar is meant to jump start a new kind of fun – something exciting to look forward to once a month, pulling out a surprise activity and going for it! Yes, that is our FAMILY mantra this year – to go for it; for us as parents to Stimulate, Entertain and Exhaust our kid… we know she will thank us for it!

Now go make your own FAMILY fun jar, and then comment below what activities you put in yours – share how it is that your FAMILY will be inspired to have fun this New Year!