• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Moments A Day

Personal growth for kids and adults

  • Home
  • About
    • About the Blog
    • About Chelsea
  • Shop
  • Classes + Events
  • Blog
    • Parenting Inspiration
    • Activities for Kids
    • Acts of Kindness
    • Resources + Reviews
  • Contact
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Google+
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

50 Ways to Connect with Sons (Through Activities Mama Enjoys, Too)

Share this:
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Google+
  • Twitter
  • email

A list of 50 activities that sons and their mothers can enjoy together

It’s been a while since I wrote this post about ways to embrace being a mother of only boys.  In fact, I even have a daughter now.

However point #2 from that post about the importance of finding activities to do with my sons that we both enjoy is still very pertinent to my life.  Because throwing paper planes and having make-believe lightsaber fights are big in my house at the moment… but don’t really interest me, to be honest.

I can actually sense my brain turning off and myself feeling quite disconnected after a morning, a day, a week, or a month full of conversations and activities that aren’t very interesting to me.  (I do my best to engage with topics like “the most dangerous sea creatures” for as long as I can, I really do…)

I know it may seem trivial but some days it does feel really hard.  Especially when I am tired.  And I don’t think it’s going to get easier any time soon!

So I’ve decided to make a list of things I know my boys (currently ages 3 and 6) would enjoy doing that I also feel excited about.  I hope it will help get me out of the rut that I’ve been in lately, feeling like there are very few interests we have in common.  I know that isn’t true at all, but we’ve just gotten into the pattern of doing the same things and discussing the same topics over and over… and those things/subjects aren’t necessarily ones I personally like.  Hence the paper planes and lightsaber comment above.  (No offence to my darling sons for loving these things enough to do them all day, every day… but I can only take so much!)

Below is my list of 50 ways to connect with sons through activities I will enjoy, too.  I’m looking forward to checking them off one by one – starting tomorrow!

And just a note – I know many girls would enjoy these activities as well and that some boys may not enjoy all of them, either.  This is just a list of perhaps stereotypical “boy” activities… or at least activities I personally know my sons would enjoy. 

  1. Play a board game.
  2. Go on a neighbourhood walk and make a field journal of plants.
  3. Make some slime monsters.
  4. Jump rope.
  5. Find a bug to examine in a glass jar with a magnifying glass.
  6. Visit a new playground.
  7. Make stove-top popcorn and eat it while reading favourite storybooks.
  8. Create a Discovery Bottle with pebbles.
  9. Do some arm wrestling.
  10. Jump on a trampoline.
  11. Create some little friends (or pets) using natural or recycled materials.
  12. Take silly photographs of each other.
  13. Build a fort outside with chairs, ropes, cushions and/or sheets.
  14. Download some new audio stories.
  15. Write a song together.
  16. Make hot chocolate or go out to a cafe for some.
  17. Make some tissue paper stained glass window decorations.
  18. Explore a nearby river.
  19. Play tic-tac-toe using chalk on the pavement.
  20. Have a sensory nature scavenger hunt.
  21. Go play mini golf (or set up a backyard version of the game).
  22. Find a YouTube tutorial to make some origami.
  23. Make some symmetrical sticker pictures.
  24. Play cards (“Snap” and “Go Fish” are fun).
  25. Turn on the radio and have a dance party.
  26. Write a letter to a relative.
  27. Make a Water Bottle Fountain.
  28. Go to the cinema to see a new movie.
  29. Make a “Get Well Soon” card for a friend who is sick.
  30. Have a running race.
  31. Do a still life painting.
  32. Grow some crystals.
  33. Throw a frisbee.
  34. Write a story and illustrate it.
  35. Create some eggshell art.
  36. Find a maze or crossword book to do together.
  37. Print out an insect playdough mat to play with.
  38. Cook an extra serving of dinner (soup is easy!) and deliver it to a friend in need.
  39. Make a geoboard.
  40. Wash the car (and have a water fight).
  41. Put together an obstacle course.
  42. Go to the pool.
  43. Play “Hang Man” on the white board.
  44. Make some wool twisties.
  45. Collect rocks for a rock collection.
  46. Make some mug cake.
  47. Look through baby photos.
  48. Do word searches (or use I Spy books, for non-readers).
  49. Make a paper pinwheel.
  50. Have a picnic and look for pictures in the clouds.

What other activities do you and your boys enjoy together?  I would love to read your ideas in the comments!

Here are some other posts I’ve written about raising sons:

10 Ways To Embrace Being A Mother Of Boys

5 Ways to Nurture Compassion in Boys

10 Lesson for My Sons to Learn to Respect Women

Share this:
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Google+
  • Twitter
  • email

Filed Under: Blog, Parenting, Play Ideas, Positive Parenting, Raising Boys

About Chelsea Lee Smith

Author, certified parent educator, and mother of three with a background in Communications and Counselling, Chelsea provides resources to parents and teachers who want to incorporate personal growth into everyday moments. Follow her @momentsaday on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram.

Subscribe To The Newsletter

« Reflections on Purpose
Lemonade Stand Fundraiser to Sponsor a Child »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kate

    March 20, 2015 at 12:09 am

    OMG Chelsea – are we living the SAME life? My son is completely obsessed with the same two things. Last night at dinner I tried to swerve the conversation back to “real life” and off which of the battle ships is faster (kill.me) wah wah wha wha zzzzzz

    This list is brilliant – I think the big sister will appreciate it too as she and I about excited for lengthy Star Wars conversations as we are for getting our teeth cleaned by the hygienist.

    Reply
    • Chelsea Lee Smith

      March 20, 2015 at 7:49 am

      LOL Kate I’m glad I’m not the only one who zones out when the conversation goes to battle ships… I have definitely heard a lot of it 🙂

      Reply
    • Aly

      February 29, 2016 at 7:03 pm

      I found it easy as a mum if boys when they are young – teenagers is a totally different ball game!!

      Ideas much appreciated, from 14 to 17

      Reply
      • Chelsea Lee Smith

        March 7, 2016 at 10:05 am

        Sorry I don’t have teen boys myself so cannot speak from experience, but I found a few articles that I have shared on my Facebook page within the last day. Hopefully they help!

        Reply
  2. Kelly

    March 20, 2015 at 7:07 am

    This is a fab list!! Being intentional about investment.

    Reply
    • Chelsea Lee Smith

      March 20, 2015 at 7:50 am

      That’s a great way to put it, Kelly!

      Reply
  3. katepickle

    March 20, 2015 at 3:29 pm

    So many great ideas!

    One of my boys is not your stereotypical ‘boys boy’ but I still struggle sometimes to find things we have in common… I know very little about minecraft, and solving maths problems is really not my idea of a good time! LOL
    We’ve recently discovered two awesome card games that are fun for early primary age and up and also for adults – Ratata Cat and Sleeping Queens… highly recommend them both for a fun way to connect!

    Reply
    • Chelsea Lee Smith

      March 20, 2015 at 3:36 pm

      Haha my boys having been BEGGING for minecraft but I’m resisting as I know it will be a constant struggle to manage time on the iPad. And funny you mention math problems, because my hubby was teaching Mr 6 some algebra today and he was soaking it up with glee LOL.

      I can’t wait to look up those card games, thanks so much for sharing!!

      Reply
  4. Bek @ Just For Daisy

    March 21, 2015 at 8:49 pm

    So many great ideas Chelsea! Thanks for sharing my post too! 🙂

    Reply
  5. molly

    March 30, 2015 at 8:38 pm

    I’m looking at your list, honestly wondering why someone would post a list of things they like to do with their kids. But then my brain suddenly picked up on the fact that your list is serving as an amazing reminder that we should be taking the time to do things with our kids.. engaging with them and giving them 100% of our attention all the while. Your post reflects and reminds us that this is a piece of our lives that holds great significance! Thank you.

    Reply
  6. molly

    March 30, 2015 at 8:41 pm

    I know your list gave ideas to many. I didn’t intend to downplay that. If that’s what it sounded like i apologize! I just wanted to point out what it did for me personally. Thx! 🙂

    Reply
    • Chelsea Lee Smith

      April 2, 2015 at 1:45 pm

      No worries, I get it! Thanks for sharing what you got from it 🙂

      Reply
  7. Johanna

    August 14, 2015 at 9:23 pm

    I hear you!! I struggle with not being the fun parent. Even the books my boys ask to read, a detailed description of what each type of dozer does, for example, make me want to scream with boredom. Thanks for the inspiration for something new!

    Reply
    • Chelsea Lee Smith

      August 15, 2015 at 8:22 am

      Yep it’s hard not to “turn off” my brain sometimes when I’m not interested, so I like to remember that I can help set the tone by choosing/introducing new activities, too!

      Reply
  8. Lora S

    August 15, 2015 at 6:32 am

    What about littles? How do I relate to my 2 sons, especially the oldest who’s 2?

    Reply
    • Chelsea Lee Smith

      August 15, 2015 at 8:28 am

      Hi Lora, I personally found it easier to play with my toddler boys because they were still interested in a lot of games that I enjoyed such as generic role play/dressing up, working in the kitchen, hide and seek, playing at the playground etc. If you look under my “parenting” category and find ideas for play, I have a printable of activities for toddlers that may be useful.

      Reply
  9. Elizabeth

    August 15, 2015 at 11:44 am

    These are all great ideas, but how about some ideas for teenage boys. I have a 13 year old son and would love to get some new ideas.

    Reply
    • Chelsea Lee Smith

      August 15, 2015 at 12:32 pm

      Sorry I don’t have teenage boys yet so can’t recommend anything personally 🙂

      Reply
  10. Caro Webster

    September 2, 2015 at 7:46 am

    Lovely list Chelsea, but as you say, just as much fun for little girls…

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Everyday Life Lessons — Embracing Puddle Jumping - Lasso the Moon says:
    March 21, 2015 at 12:23 am

    […] 50 Ways to Connect with Sons | Moments a Day […]

    Reply
  2. Maternity Glow Presents: The Top 30 Mommy Bloggers for 2018 says:
    July 28, 2020 at 2:16 am

    […] Popular post … 50 Ways to Connect With Sons […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Categories

Subscribe to the newsletter

Follow on Facebook

Footer

From the Shop

  • Mason's Greatest Gems {Printed Storybook} $15.00
  • Little Questions Journal for Parents $12.99
  • Ultimate Digital Bundle $29.99

Sign Up for the Newsletter

Find out when I have a new resource available.

About the Author

Chelsea Lee Smith is an author, certified parent educator, and mother of three children with a background in Communications and Counselling. She provides resources to parents and teachers who want to incorporate personal growth into everyday moments. Browse the shop and blog categories to find practical inspiration for family life including tips, activities, printable pages, and resource recommendations.

Follow on Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Recent Posts

  • Top 10 Camping Road Trip Accessories
  • 9 Ways to Connect with Family You Can’t Visit
  • Prevent Morning Hassles with the Bus Stop Game
  • How to Help Children Gain Social Skills When They Study at Home

Copyright © 2023 Moments A Day. Do not reproduce images or content on this website without permission from the author.