While some moms prefer a quiet, relaxing day to themselves on Mother’s Day, others want to celebrate with the whole family. If the Mom in your life is craving a nap or some solo time, encourage it! But if you’re looking for Mother’s Day activities that bring everyone together, check out this list of 15 creative ideas.
Some of the Mother’s Day activities on this list involve the outdoors (like gardening), others take place inside the house (such as looking through old photo albums), and a few might require a little trip around town. But the one thing they all have in common? They’re about making memories as a family and celebrating mom with quality time together.
1. Take an At-Home Trip
Even if you can’t hop on a flight to Paris for the weekend, Mom can still enjoy a little taste of France (or any other destination that intrigues her). Start by buying some French croissants for breakfast. Then pack a picnic lunch of French bread, cheese, and fruit—or order a meal from your favorite deli or restaurant (quiche, anyone?).
For an added touch, adorn your kitchen or dining room table with a red-and-white-checkered tablecloth and fresh flowers, put on some French music, and teach the kids a few basic words in French, such as “bonjour” (good morning) and “merci” (thank you). Even better? Have your waitstaff do all the food prep and cleaning!
2. Share Old Memories
One sentimental way to share family memories is by looking through old photographs or home movies. If you live near Grandma or Grandpa, ask them to pull out old mementos of Mom as a child, and take a trip together down memory lane.
The kids will get a kick out of the styles of clothes their mom wore—not to mention the fact that there may be visible proof that Mom was once a baby, toddler, and teen. And who knows? The clothes Mom rocked in the past just may very well be back in style again!
Make a Mother’s Day Scrapbook
Turn those old photo and memories into something Mom can treasure. Print out a handful of favorite family pictures—or draw your own versions if you’re feeling creative—and add handwritten notes, captions, or little stories about each one.
3. Create a Family Comic Strip
Start a new tradition this year by creating a family comic strip. Take a long sheet of paper, and draw three or four large squares next to one another, like a newspaper comic strip.
Then, think of an event, celebration, or something funny that happened this past year, and illustrate it with markers, crayons, or paints. Be sure to include dialogue, a date, and a title, such as “Life with the Smiths.”
Older children can help with the drawing and writing, while younger kids can dictate their thoughts or help color. Save your comic strip, and create another one next year and others in years to come.
When you’re ready to compile all of your strips into a book, stack the pages and thread them together with sturdy yarn. Or, go digital and upload them to your favorite photo-sharing website and order a memory book to enjoy together.
4. Host a Lip-Sync Contest
Nothing brightens a family celebration quite like music. But if you want to really turn up the fun, stage your own “lip-sync” contest. To begin, each family member will choose a favorite song. Then turn on the music, and have each person lip-sync the words to the song, doing their best to mimic the performer.
Other family members can rate the performance from 1 (not at all like the performer) to 5 (exactly like the performer), and write down their score on a card. The person with the highest score wins the contest.
5. Recreate the Spa at Home
At some point on Mother’s Day, moms usually want a little rest and relaxation. Make sure they get what they need—and deserve—by creating a list of “spa services” they can choose from. The list could include:
- An hour alone so they can call a friend or soak in the tub
- The opportunity to take a nap
- A massage from their partner or children
- A manicure at their favorite nail salon
The kids can make up coupons with each of these services, and encourage Mom to redeem them throughout Mother’s Day.
6. Go on a “Bug Safari”
Now that spring’s in the air, why not gather up your family for a good old-fashioned bug safari? To begin, you’ll need an insect field guide (to identify the creepy, crawly creatures), a magnifying glass (to inspect them closely), and a field to explore (this could be your own backyard or a local park).
Get kids in the spirit by telling them some fun facts about bugs. For instance, grasshoppers can leap 20 times the length of their body, which would be like a human jumping halfway across a football field. After the safari, kids can run around and pick wildflowers to present Mom with a homemade bouquet.
7. Plant Some Flowers
If you have some extra space in your garden, you can create a live Mother’s Day canvas. First, buy various packets of flower seeds that grow fast and well in your region. Then, have your kids draw a picture or write a short message (like “We love Mom”) in the garden dirt with a stick.
Drop the flower seeds into the dirt lines; then cover them up, and water every few days. Before long, your picture (or message) will be blooming, and you’ll have a Mother’s Day gift that keeps on growing.
8. Make Sentimental Artwork
On a warm day, go outside and have your children (and anyone else who’s game) place their hands and feet into a shallow tub of colorful, nontoxic paint. Spread out a roll of butcher paper, and encourage everyone to press their hands and feet onto it, leaving their prints behind.
Label each handprint and footprint with the person’s name, the date, and a special message to Mom, and allow your collective masterpiece to dry. Try this activity again next year, and see how much bigger some hands and feet have become!
9. Read a Good Book
For a family story time, take a blanket outside and leaf through a children’s book that’s just right for the day, such as The Mother’s Day Mice by Eve Bunting, No Time for Mother’s Day by Laurie Halse Anderson, Clifford’s Happy Mother’s Day by Norman Bridwell, or Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman. Mom could also select a childhood favorite, and read it with the kids.
Or, have a family silent book club where each family member selects a book to read on their own. Encourage Mom to take some time with a good book after setting the stage with a comfy blanket, refreshing beverage, and sunglasses to make the perfect reading spot outdoors.
10. Volunteer Together
Celebrate Mom by doing something meaningful as a family. Whether it’s sorting donations at a food bank, walking dogs at a shelter, or planting flowers in a community garden, volunteering together creates shared memories—and teaches kids that kindness is one of the best gifts of all.
If you’re unsure where to start, check out VolunteerMatch.org or your local library or community center for family-friendly opportunities.
11 . Have a Dance Party
Clear the furniture, cue up a playlist with all of Mom’s favorite hits (and a few silly, kid-friendly jams), and let loose. Let each family member take a turn as DJ so everyone gets a chance to play their favorite songs.
Make it extra fun by adding costumes, disco lights (even a flashlight works!), or follow a choreography video on YouTube.
12 . Make a Family Recipe
Choose a meaningful recipe to cook together—maybe it’s grandma’s cookies or a signature breakfast dish. Get the kids involved in prepping ingredients, setting the table, or designing a fun menu card. If you’re looking for inspiration, try kid-friendly recipes like baked French toast, banana bread, or homemade pizza with everyone’s favorite toppings.
Be sure to end with a toast to Mom—sparkling water, lemonade, or a mimosa if she’s feeling festive.
13. Have a Family Movie Marathon
Set up a cozy viewing space with pillow, blankets, and Mom-approved snacks. Pick a theme—movies with great moms (like Brave, Freaky Friday, or The Incredibles), animated family movies (Encanto, Paddington, Luca), or even a Harry Potter marathon if that’s more her speed.
Let Mom have the final say on the lineup, and pause between movies to chat, snack, or take a stretch break.
14. Play a Board Game
Dust off your favorite board game or pick up a new one that’s great for all ages. Try Ticket to Ride, Qwirkle, Uno, Apples to Apples, or Guess Who? for a mix of strategy, silliness, and nostalgia.
Let Mom choose the first game—and maybe offer her an automatic “skip a turn” card or a special game-night snack to keep things festive.
15. Schedule Time for Hugs
Finally, what would Mother’s Day be like without hugs and kisses all around? One way to work them into your day is by setting up a silly “hugs and kisses” schedule and posting it on the refrigerator or other visible spot. For instance, you could write, “10:30 a.m.: Everyone runs around the couch and gives Mom a hug and kiss.” or “2:15 p.m.: Everyone hops around the oak tree on one foot and assembles for a group hug.”
Make up your own directions and silly things to do—but be sure to include lots of hugs, kisses, and laughter on Mom’s special day.
And when in doubt about what Mother’s Day activities are best, don’t be afraid to simply ask. Every mom has something special that they will enjoy on their big day, so make it special in a way that’s just for them.
