1.) Walk or ride bikes to and from school ... while you still can!
2.) Go apple-picking together at a local farm or orchard.
3.) Register for an upcoming race, run, or ride. Many of these types of events are very family-friendly with shorter routes as an option, discounted (or free) registration for children, and fun after-parties. As a bonus, some of these types of events are fundraisers as well.
4.) Rake leaves together. Jump in the pile, then rake them up again.
5.)Take a hike. Enjoy exploring state parks, attending educational activities, and trying your hand at geocaching. There are still some Free Entrance Days at a National Parks yet this year and if you've got a fourth grader, you can enjoy free entrance all year thanks to the Every Kid in a Park program.
6.) Make a playlist of Halloween-themed songs and have a dance party in your living room. Some of our favorites:
- "This is Halloween" by Danny Elfman from The Nightmare Before Christmas soundtrack
- "Monster Mash" by Bobby Pickett
- "Thriller" by Michael Jackson
- "Some Kind of Monster" by Neon Trees
- "Season of the Witch" by Donovan
- "Bark at the Moon" by Ozzy Osbourne
- "My Beloved Monster" by Eels from the Shrek soundtrack
- "The Time Warp" from the Rocky Horror Picture Show soundtrack
- "The Monster" by Eminem (feat. Rihanna)
- "Somebody's Watching Me" by Rockwell
- "The Devil's Chasing Me" by Reverend Horton Heat
7.) Gather all the kids in the neighborhood on a weekend afternoon for a backyard competition. Play Cornhole, Ladderball, or try some classic outdoor games that you loved as a kid.
8.) Get lost ... in a corn maze, that is!
9.) Try a 30-day fitness challenge. Check out the monthly "More More" column in Macaroni Kid Family Fitness and Wellness for the "Our Family Moves" challenge for the month.
10.) Take a family walk around the neighborhood before or after dinner. It's a great way to connect while enjoying the changing scenery.
