How We Turned a Chaotic Sunday Into Quality Family Time (+ 30 Free Activity Ideas!)

Sundays are funny, aren’t they? You wake up thinking today will be chill, and suddenly you’re refereeing toy battles, stepping on cereal, and wondering where the day went. 😅

Lately, our family’s been trying to actually enjoy Sundays — not just survive them. So we started planning out simple activities that help us connect, laugh, and make memories without a ton of prep. Last Sunday? It worked. And I want to share it with YOU!

Plus, I’m giving you our free 30-idea Family Activity List — perfect for your own Sundays (or any day you need a little inspiration).

Our Real-Life Sunday Adventure Here’s what our day looked like — nothing fancy, but full of the good stuff:

1. Slow Start, No Rush

We kicked things off with pancakes (with way too many chocolate chips), and coloring at the kitchen table. No screens, no rush — just music and messy fingers.

2. Outside Time = Sanity

We went on a little “scavenger hunt” walk — looking for leaves, bugs, sticks shaped like letters (which turned into a surprisingly competitive game 😄).

3. Backyard Picnic + Storytime

Lunch happened outside, picnic-style. Sandwiches always taste better on a blanket.

We read two books and laughed at how our toddler “reads” her own versions.

4. DIY Obstacle Course

We pulled couch cushions, masking tape, and laundry baskets into the living room for a wild obstacle course.

5. Cozy Movie Night

After dinner, we all curled up for a movie, then did a quick “what was your favorite part of today?” chat before bed. It was simple. It felt right.

Why We Plan Our Sundays Now

I used to think spontaneity was more fun, but with kids (and honestly, for our sanity), light structure makes all the difference. Having a list of ideas ready keeps us off screens, out of the “what do we do now?” loop, and more focused on each other.

✨ Grab Your Free “Family Sunday Activity List” (30 Easy Ideas!)

Want our go-to list of 30 fun, low-prep activities for your own Sunday reset?

Indoors, outdoors, creative, calm, wild — they’re all included.

Sunday Activity List.pdf

Download PDF • 206KB

Let’s Make Sundays Count Life is busy. Weekends go fast. But just a little intention can turn ordinary Sundays into lifelong memories.

I’d love to hear how your family spends Sundays — drop a comment below or tag us @family_travel_buddies on Instagram. Here’s to more pancakes, more giggles, and fewer meltdowns (well... we can dream, right? 😉).