Family Fun Month rolls around in August each year. It is the perfect reason to take that long-awaited family vacation together or to simply put away all the devices and have some good ‘ol fashioned quality time with each other. With the month of August serving as the golden hour of summer, expect to make the most of it by surrounding yourself with your loved ones and enjoying their company. After all, no one has your back more than family does, so it’s best not to take for granted the wonderful messiness of family relationships. Family Fun Month is there to remind you to take a break, so we bring you some ideas for how you can fully utilize the last month of summer. So before the chaos of school, work, and extracurriculars threatens to engulf you and your family, make the most of this month by finding ways to create special memories together.
History of Family Fun Month
The origins of how Family Fun Month began are unknown. However, we’re sure glad that someone thought family fun was an important enough concept to celebrate it over an entire month. Furthermore, this month presents the perfect opportunity to acknowledge the diversity that exists within the single term ‘family.’ Traditionally the concept of family was defined as “the co-residence and the organization by kinship” or “a co-residential group that makes up a household and may share general survival goals and a residence.” We have come a long way from such a framework or definition, and that in itself is something to celebrate. Today there are all sorts of families, from single-parent households to blended families, to adopted families. The idea of blood being thicker is fast becoming redundant and archaic, as more value is placed on the actual caregiving relationships which bond people together.Historically, the study of family history became a separate branch of history only by the 1960s, and it’s something that is separate from genealogy. People are keen to trace their ancestry as far back as possible, as it’s always exciting to know how far back one’s ancestry goes and to discover the socio-cultural contexts one’s ancestors existed in. If we were to go the ancient route, there are many origin stories of the first family — from the Biblical story of Adam and Eve to Hesiod’s “Theogony,” which tells of the Greek gods and their complicated family relationships (written in 800 B.C.). However you decide to trace the history of families, there’s no denying that families have existed since the beginning of the human race, therefore no man is an island, and we all can choose to invest time this month with someone who we consider to be family.
Family Fun Month timeline
Hesiod writes "Theogony," covering the often messy family relationships and dynamics between the Greek gods of mythology.
Popular scholar Friedrich Engels publishes "The Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State," his seminal work on the family evolution theory from a Socialist perspective.
The history of the family becomes a separate field of history, linked closely with sociology and anthropology.
Scholars from all fields begin to take a vested interest in family studies, releasing a huge canon of work relating to the concept.
Family Fun Month FAQs
What is Parent Month?
Parent Month is an annual celebration to recognize and honor those parents who have made a significant contribution to our education system and our country. Throughout the month, several activities are hosted for parents. These include concerts, parents’ award ceremonies, seminars, workshops, and fairs.
What can families do for a fun night?
Cook a special meal together as a family, have a movie night, have a family board game night, play a sport together, or take turns picking the activity.
Which month is Family Month?
National Family Month is celebrated in June. This is a good time to reflect on your family and how to make it stronger. Strong families share many of the same qualities. Strong families build trusting relations by following through with promises.
Family Fun Month Activities
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Take a trip
We're sure you don't need to be told this twice. Whether it's a local staycation, camping trip, road trip, or an actual getaway to someplace completely different — there's nothing like a change of scenery to rejuvenate everyone. Trips provide the best opportunities for making memories that will last a lifetime (and maybe more), so get planning. There's something for every budget.
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Learn something new
Like with team-building activities, families can try something completely new by learning a new skill together. Be it cooking, a new language, a craft — there are so many options out there. This can be something that's taken up and lasts the entire month.
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Observe unique August holidays
With family fun being the mandate for the entire month, make the most of it by tapping into our pool of other wacky and fun holidays that occur in August to make the most of all that this month has to offer. It's that time of year when delicious celebrations like National Ice Cream Sandwich Day and National S'mores Day come around, in case you were looking for an excuse to treat that sweet tooth. International Friendship Day also occurs in August, so feel free to personalize these unique holidays and make them your own by coming up with ways to observe them with your near and dear.
5 Important Facts About Unique Family-Bonding Activities
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Family recipe book
Start building your own family recipe book now, with reasons why the recipes resonate with you, to be passed on as a family legacy.
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Family tree
Dig deep to unearth the genealogy of your family tree, and then build one together, complete with character traits and everything you can find!
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Screen-free evenings
Set aside a time (evenings tend to work) when the whole family puts away all screens and finds alternative ways of entertainment — together.
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Adopt a family
The idea is to bond as a family by supporting a family in your community who may be in need.
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Honorary days
Since it's over a month, you can make a roster and set aside particular days for each member of the family to honor them on their days by prioritizing them.
Why We Love Family Fun Month
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Family bonding
Nothing is more important than investing in the relationships we have and perhaps take for granted sometimes. So Family Fun Month can serve as a reminder of how impactful family relationships are and how enjoyable it can be to get together and enjoy the varied company of one's family members.
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Family is a powerful symbol
The concept of the family unit is imbued with powerful symbolism and meaning. It is a unit that has existed from time immemorial and will continue to do so. Not only are families integral parts of society as a whole, but they shape each and every person in the world — if that isn't the most awesome universal fact, we don't know what is!
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We love fun
Unless you're a real humbug, we're sure you don't need to be told twice when it comes to partaking in enjoyable activities — for who does not love to have fun? It's extra special to put a smile on the face of loved ones, so we love the fact that there's an entire month presenting opportunities for doing so.
Family Fun Month dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | August 1 | Tuesday |
| 2024 | August 1 | Thursday |
| 2025 | August 1 | Friday |
| 2026 | August 1 | Saturday |
| 2027 | August 1 | Sunday |
