Fun, therapy-oriented activities are often suggested as effective ways to build a stronger bond with your family – and for good reason! From a new take on the family tree to a playful beach ball toss, family therapy activities can help reduce conflict and improve interactions between family members. Incorporating family therapy activities can also lead to healthier boundaries, stronger emotional relationships, and more positive interactions. Choose one of these 22 fun engaging family therapy activities and get ready to redefine family time!
1. Family Genogram
This family genogram activity is a twist on the traditional family tree! Instead of tracing blood relations, your kids will map out the emotions and behavioral patterns connected to each family member. This activity is often used in family therapy to identify sources of tension and promote understanding between family members.
Learn More: Optimist Minds
2. The Miracle Question
Imagine that your family unit wakes up tomorrow and everything about your family is magically ideal. How would it be different from family life today? This is a super way to help your family identify current issues and future goals while fostering healthy relationships and reducing conflict.
Learn More: Mango Clinic
3. Family Sculpting
In this activity, one family member will be the “sculptor” who arranges the others in different positions that best represent how they see these family members. The sculptor can direct them to sit, stand, or strike a pose, prompting everyone to see how their family dynamics are really taking shape!
Learn More: IHBT OHIO
4. Emotions Beach Ball Toss
This activity throws some energy into family time! Use a dry-erase marker to write emotions on a beach ball. Then have one member throw it to another who will share a family memory connected to the emotion their hand ends up on. This playful activity will improve communication and bring everyone closer together!
Learn More: Treat N Heal
5. Colored Candy Go Around
Sweeten up family therapy with candies! Assign different topics to colored candies and prompt each family member to share things like their likes, worries, and favorite family memories. Watch the barriers melt away as everyone begins to communicate more effectively by opening up and sharing their thoughts and feelings.
Learn More: Liana Loweinstein
6. The Spoon Game
This is a perfect dinner table activity to support healthy interactions. The family member who holds the spoon is the speaker of the house! This game is fun, but it also serves another purpose; it promotes active listening and balances family dynamics by giving everyone an equal opportunity to share.
Learn More: Kids Fun Family
7. Rumors
“Rumors” is the perfect game for practicing communication! Have one of your family members whisper a sentence to the person next to them who will repeat that same sentence to the next person, and so on. Will the sentence make it around your family intact?
Learn More: Family Games Treasure House
8. Mirroring Activity
This mirroring activity is an excellent way for your family members to boost their cooperation skills while exploring nonverbal methods of communication. Get two family members to stand face-to-face; one will make movements and facial expressions for the other to mirror. This is a super creative way to liven up your family time!
Learn More: Ascend HC
9. Make a Family Crest
A family crest project is a creative way to encourage interaction and bonding between your family members by exploring what makes your family unique. Your artistic family members will love using markers, crayons, photos, and other supplies to create a crest showing your family’s history and identity. Once it’s completed, display it proudly in your home!
Learn More: Local Anchor
10. Stand Up, Sit Down
This family therapy exercise encourages honesty and transparency while also revealing deeper family issues. All family members will begin in a standing position and one family member will make a statement. If the statement applies to you, simply communicate that in a non-confrontational way by sitting down.
Learn More: North Point Colorado
11. The Feelings Walk
This activity is a fun spin on musical chairs! Write the names of different emotions on paper or sticky notes and place them on chairs, then play some music and start circling the chairs. When the music stops, your family members must sit in the nearest chair and take turns sharing something related to the emotion written on that chair.
Learn More: Confident Counselors
12. The Family Gift
Turn gift-giving into a lesson in teamwork by creating a present for your whole family. Collect art supplies and a gift bag and work together to decide on and make your family’s gift! This activity will reveal how your family uses decision-making and problem-solving skills to reach a common goal.
Learn More: Your Tango
13. The Magic Key
This activity is geared toward children who struggle to express emotions. It is an exercise that encourages your child to visualize holding a magic key while they’re walking through a house. Explain that the key only opens one door and behind it is the one thing that will make them happy, that even money can’t buy. Next, have them draw what this would be for them!
Learn More: Forces Children Trust
14. The Fish Game
Take a deep dive into family dynamics with this idea! Start by cutting paper sea creatures – from angry angelfish to calm crabs – and put them together to create a unique underwater portrait. Your family will take turns explaining what the portrait symbolizes and which family member is represented by the different sea creatures.
Learn More: Kids Fun Family
15. Family Questioning
This therapy activity helps develop understanding among your family members. One person will begin by answering a question about themselves and then take a guess at how other members of your family would answer that same question. Your family members will get to know each other much better through this activity and may even find some common ground!
Learn More: North Point Colorado
16. The Family Portrait
With just paper and some markers or crayons, this activity can open up a world of family secrets. Each member will draw their perspective of your family and then share their drawing, revealing important information about family dynamics. What a super way to spark some much-needed discussions.
Learn More: Creative Counseling 101
17. Boat Storm Lighthouse Assessment
This activity works best when guided by a skilled therapist. Your family will use a large sheet of paper to silently draw a storm, lighthouse, and boat. Each member will then write a story describing what happened and then share this while the therapist guides them to explore feelings about fear, danger, and family support.
Learn More: Creative Expression
18. The Eye Contact Exercise
In this therapy activity, your family will divide into pairs to stare into each other’s eyes. This is not a competition, but rather an opportunity to deepen connection and understanding between family members. This eye-opening activity is a powerful way to strengthen trust and build stronger relationships.
Learn More: Optimist Minds
19. Family Movie Night
A family movie night creates the perfect relaxed environment for family bonding. Make some popcorn and choose a movie that depicts another family’s relationships. Then start a conversation about how the film family dealt with struggles and solved issues, and compare this to the way your family handles situations.
Learn More: Cave Home Theater
20. The Snowballing Game
Tell a familiar family tale to strengthen collaboration and listening skills. Have each of your family members contribute to a retelling of a well-known and loved family memory and notice how everyone works together! Each different perspective weaves details into a rich story that captures your family’s cherished past.
21. Expressing Individuality Activity
Gather everyone in the kitchen, roll up your sleeves, and get baking! Begin by making an easy cookie dough and have each family member create a shape that represents an aspect of their individuality. Bake the cookies, and before taking a bite, explain how this shape represents your unique self! What’s better for bringing everyone together than food?
Learn More: Psych Reel
22. “What If” Game
This fun activity improves communication. Each person writes a question and its answer on separate slips of paper and places these into two bowls – one for questions and one for answers. Take turns picking a strip from each bowl and reading these aloud which is sure to result in hilarious combinations!
Learn More: Psych Reel
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