100 Fun Things to Do With Your Daughter

One of the greatest gifts you can give your kids is your time and attention. So here are 100 fun things to do with your daughter. So you will connect and grow together, laugh and learn from each other, and so much more. So please enjoy these bonding activities geared towards teenage daughters, but include fun for the whole family. This list contains outdoor activities and indoor fun.

1. Puzzles

Putting puzzles together is incredible for several reasons. First, they are an alternative to screen time. Puzzles help improve mental speed and processes. Furthermore, putting a puzzle together creates a fantastic opportunity to open conversation. Communication activities are the best things to do with your daughter for understanding what’s going on in her life.

2. Build a Magical Fort

My teenage daughter loves building forts. It’s the cutest thing watching her mind spring into action. Convert your living room into a magical haven with blankets and fluffy pillow mounds. We usually incorporate Christmas lights into our fort decor. Forts are ideal hideaways for read-a-thons and carpet picnics. Bring the ambiance with an authentic picnic basket.

3. Trade Makeovers

Homemade makeovers are a fun way to laugh and love each other. Not to mention, this activity uses household items. So it’s a budget-friendly event. In addition, doing each other’s hair and make-up creates an opportunity to chat and understand your daughter. How does she feel about her looks? What are the girls at school saying and doing? Build her up.

4. MommyDaughter Dates

Mommy-daughter days can be anything you want them to be and fun things to do with your daughter. So take the entire day to spend time together. Enjoy some of her favorite places. Or introduce her to new hangouts. These can be night or day activities. Ask her what she wants to do.

5. Create Art

Make art together. It’s a perfect activity to spark creative ingenuity and expression. You can create art with abundant supplies, including paint, charcoal, colored pencils, and pastels.

6. Movie Night

Movie night has limitless possibilities. Watch your favorites or rent new ones. Introduce her to a classic, and let her introduce you to one of her go-to’s. Also, enjoy a traditional viewing with popcorn and candy. Or switch it up with a fresh veggie platter and dip.

7. Baking

Make cookies, brownies, cakes, cinnamon rolls, pies, and more. We keep it fresh by trying new things, including egg and dairy substitutes. Honestly, applesauce instead of eggs has proven to be better in some cakes and bread recipes.

8. Visit a Farm

Visiting a farm is a fun and educational experience. My family has been fortunate enough to engage with beautiful horses. Additionally, we’ve interacted with cows, sheep, chickens, bunnies, and, my favorite, goats. But, beware: goats will rip scrunchies right out of your hair. Too baaa’d.

9. Library Trips

Library trips are free entertainment you can take home for further enjoyment—books, movies, music, and games. Also, libraries typically have monthly classes and activities to engage your family. Sign up on your local library’s email list to be notified of these events.

10. Board Games for Family Night

Playing board games is another fun alternative to screen time activities. Games are fun activities for kids of all ages, even the little ones. Some fun board games we play include Hedbanz, Kids Against Maturity, and Do You Really Know Your Family? These board games are fun for all. Do you have a favorite board game?

11. Science Experiments

Mama, let me tell you, Science Experiment Kits are fun for the entire family. The best part of spending time this way is that you’re guaranteed to learn something together. 

12. Backyard Camp Out

Sleep under the stars. Or pitch a tent in the backyard, depending on what your set-up can accommodate. Reclining lawn chairs work great if you don’t want to sleep on the ground.

13. Chores

Chores are beautiful things to do with your daughter. They teach her responsibility and encourage them to be a family activity as they should be so that nobody burns out or feels unappreciated.

14. Create Music Playlists

Create music playlists together for future listening! Sharing an interest in music is imperative to understand what they’re listening to, how they feel, and who influences them. For example, my teenage daughter introduced me to Billie Eilish and Lizzo. I’m grateful she shares her musical passions with me.

15. Read Together

Read together and discuss what you’re reading. It’s a fantastic excuse to read teenage novels without being judged. I’m looking at you, Twilight. Reading is high on the list of things to do with your daughter because it’s so important.

16. Cooking

Cooking is a beautiful activity to engage with your tween daughter. It’s a life skill and an opportunity to pass on family recipes. We are in love with our Instant Pot. It makes cooking simple, and you feel like a master chef because the meals turn out amazing!

17. Journaling

Journaling is a form of self-care that you should teach your daughter. It’s an excellent tool for processing teenage emotions. There are self-guided or prompted journals. Writing in a daily journal has many positive benefits, including:

• Mood Boosts
• Strengthens Emotional Functions
• Keeps Sharp Memory
• Reduces Stress
• Healing
• Goal Achieving
• Improves Communication Skills
• Builds Confidence
• Sparks Creativity
• Strengthens Self-Discipline

Knowing how many benefits are associated with journaling, why wouldn’t you start? Alternatively, mommy-daughter journals have guided journaling prompts to strengthen your relationship.

18. Make Crafts

Crafting is one of our favorite ways to spend time together. It’s magical watching my daughter delight in her creations. There are hundreds (thousands) of fantastic craft projects.

19. Sewing

Sewing is a valuable life skill and a fun way to spend time creating things to do with your daughter! From stuffed animals, projects, and clothing patterns to designing your fashions, your options are limitless.

20. Yoga

Doing yoga together is a therapeutic way to get some exercise in. One benefit of doing yoga at home is the free tutorials on YouTube. So grab some yoga mats and a medicine ball for our yoga endeavors. Namaste. 

21. Create a Bucket List

Teach your daughter the practice of creating bucket lists, and then make sure she has some of those experiences. Also, it’s exciting and fun watching her check things off her bucket list.

22. Video Games

Playing video games is one of the more fun things to do with your daughter, especially when you play games where you work together as a team.

23. Mother-Daughter Date Night

Get dressed up and have a mother-daughter date night. Have a no cell phone rule and enjoy spending time with each other. Do you have any mother-daughter date ideas? My dad took me to a fancy restaurant to give me that experience. It was impressive when they rolled the table out for me to go to and come back from the bathroom. I’ll never forget that experience. Is there an elegant place near you?

Other ideas for mother-daughter date nights include visiting the Planetarium and riding a trolley or monorail. Another fun activity is walking the boardwalk, eating cotton candy, and taking a slow ride on a carousel. Of course, nurturing the inner child in you is ok too.

24. Have a Spa Day

Pamper yourselves with a full spa day, including facials and wraps. Additionally, you may enjoy services including hair, nails, and massages together. My daughter and I love getting pedicures. Find a good salon that caters to making you both feel extra special. They do exist, and they are the best.

25. Trip to the Zoos

Take a trip to a city zoo and experience up-close encounters with all kinds of God’s magnificent creatures. But don’t forget to wear comfortable walking shoes. Also, check if you can pack snacks because the zoo is typically an all-day adventure.

26. Grow an Indoor Herb Garden

Plant an indoor herb garden and make cooking more flavorful and fun. It’s exciting watching it grow. Alternatively, growing Bonsai Trees is a unique bonding experience.

27. Create a Family Heirloom

Start a tradition and create, or designate, something you both already love to be a family heirloom. Then, she will delight in knowing that one day it will be hers to pass on to her children. Traditional heirlooms include quilts, collections, jewelry, photo albums, scrapbooks, art, and furniture.

28. Go to the Amusement Park

Visit an amusement park, get on rides, play games, and eat food. If your location is near Legoland or other fun attractions, take the kids to whichever playground they prefer. Amusement parks are family-friendly, and there are many fun things to do with kids. In addition, many of them have year-round passes to benefit the locals. For example, Universal Studios is a blast.

Are there local bumper boats and bumping karts? These are both family fun activities that guarantee she puts her phone down. An impressive feat with a teenage girl!

29. Restaurant Reviews

Play restaurant reviewer. It’s cool to taste new dishes with the intent of reviewing them together when you get home. It extends your time together with good conversation while you enjoy homemade cookies and cocoa for dessert. However, avoid critiquing the food and staff at the restaurant. That’s extremely rude. Also, please tip and teach about tipping the staff. Then, if the review is kind, visit the website business page and leave a genuine review.

30. Enjoy Free Activities

Explore the free activities for kids in your town. From outdoor movie showings in the park to free monthly Build and Grow Workshops at Lowes. There are tons of free things to do in your community to enjoy quality time. Here is where to find them:

• Newspapers
• Library
• Sporting Good Stores
• National Parks
• Hospitals
• Nursing Homes
• Local Tourist Sites
• Google

31. Go Swimming

Go swimming together. Discover new swimming spots or swim laps at the pool; if you can get into the ocean because you live on the shores, you’re a lucky duck. Visiting beaches is another fun day activity. So take her to it one day.

32. Go for a Walk

Walking is another way to involve exercise in things to do with your daughter. It isn’t overly strenuous, but it is always the best time for good conversation and sightseeing. Listen as she explains what’s going on in her life and take the opportunity to impart parenting wisdom along the way.

33. Have a Dance Party

A dance party is a fantastic way to shake off the funk of a bad day or mood. And, of course, you should already have your playlists created.

34. Watch a Documentary

Watching a documentary is an excellent opportunity to learn something new together. Thousands of documentaries spanning numerous topics are available on all streaming services, including hundreds of free documentaries on YouTube. A must-watch, Living on One Dollar.

35. Reptile Zoo

My daughter loves snakes and lizards, and I know she’s not the only one. She lights up when we visit the reptile zoo. There are all types of reptiles, spiders, and even hissing cockroaches. EEK! The alligator was very cool to observe from a safe distance, of course.

36. Take a Painting Class

Explore your inner artists by taking a painting class together. Or you can grab the painting supplies and easels and host a sip and paint party. However, instead of drinking champagne, drink sparkling cider. Alternatively, make a sculpture at a sculpting class. 

37. Plant a Garden

It’s never been a better day to grow your food. Is anyone else concerned with the number of lettuce recalls? Gardening is good for the soul. Get your fingers deep into the soil and connect with your food. Where it comes from and how it grows. Check out these raised planter boxes for inspiration. 

38. Learn a Foreign Language

Learning another language together is a guaranteed way to spend time together. Also, you can count on ensuing laughter. The best language learning systems are Rosetta Stone and Babbel. The best free learning app is Duolingo.

39. Take a Class

Take a class together for a more hands-on activity, and learn something new. Is there something that you want to learn together or a passion that you share? 

Take a Class Together Ideas:

• Martial Arts
• Dance
• CPR
• Photography
• Cooking
• Self-Defense
• Computer Coding
• Sculpting
• Yoga

40. Start a Blog

Starting a blog is of our top things to do with your daughter’s list. It’s easy to start a blog. What could you blog about that brings you two together? The possibilities are limitless, and it’s a great way to earn extra money for their future, including college or trade school. Suppose you have ideas for digital products. Less than a month after taking Suzi Whitford’s Blog By Number course, I am already making money.

41. Take a Hike

Washington state is known for its excellent trails and breathtaking views. Do you have hiking trails nearby? It’s one of many fun and free things to do with your daughter. So venture out and enjoy the stillness of nature around you. Bring a tripod selfie stick to capture your adventures and make a scrapbook with them.

42. Make Slime

Making slime is a fun and affordable craft project. A quick Google search reveals thousands of slime recipes and everything you need slime kits and homemade supply lists. In addition, YouTube is your friend for fun slime tutorials. 

43. Volunteer

Humble your hearts and volunteer your time and services together. Volunteering is a great way to build a sense of accomplishment and gratitude. Some places that need and welcome volunteers include:

• Animal Shelters
• Hospitals
• Soup Kitchens
• Habitat for Humanity
• Food Banks
• Libraries
• Meals on Wheels
• Nursing Homes

44. Watch Old Movies

Grab your favorite movies from your collection and share your experiences and childhood memories with her. Streaming services are fantastic for watching old movies if you don’t own movies.

45. Acts of Kindness

Performing random acts of kindness is good for the soul. Acts of kindness improve mental and physiological health. Show and tell her this. Please don’t make this a one-time activity as it is one of the most important things to do with your daughter.

46. Pray Faithfully

One of the best things to do with your daughter is lead by example in prayer.

For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.

Matthew 18:20 New International Version (NIV)

Pray together for others and yourselves. Keeping a family prayer journal is a beautiful way to grow together in Christ.

47. Study Strong Women

Encourage and empower her by studying strong women in history and current events. Build your daughter’s confidence up. A teenage girl needs an extra boost sometimes. So she will grow into a healthy, young adult woman—girl power.

48. Window Shopping

Spend quality time window shopping and chatting about what’s going on in her life—of course, imparting wisdom when opportunity permits.

49. Visit a Flea Market

Find a flea market and go on a second-hand shopping adventure. Other names for flea markets include farmer’s markets, rummage, and garage sales.

50. Research for Fun

Research something for fun. Visit the library, or scour the internet for all the information you can imagine. Learning together is a bonding experience.

Ideas of Things to Research:

• How something is made.
• Where something originates.
• Facts about a person/place/thing.
• How to make/create/fix something.
• Statistical data.
• The technology or science behind something.

51. Learn a New Hobby

Learning a new hobby together is one of the best things to do with your daughter to spend quality time. Don’t have money or time to learn something new outside the house? Seek out YouTube how-to tutorials and practice a new skill together.

52. Play Flashlight Hide and Seek

You’re never too old to enjoy the fun of flashlight hide and seek. Arm your family with flashlights and turn off all of the lights. Traditional rules of the hide and seek game apply. However, the dark makes moving around more manageable, and the game can become entertaining because you can continue to change your hiding spots! It’s the perfect entertainment for if the power goes out. It’s fun entertaining the little girl in you too.

53. Read Graphic Novels

My teenage daughter prefers reading graphic novels over traditional books because she’s an artist and appreciates the remarkable illustrations in the text of her stories. Graphic novels are lovely entertainment for someone whose teenage daughter’s needs are creative and artistic expression. 

54. Find a Drive-In

Remember the good old days when you packed the family up for the drive-in theatre? They still exist! And if you’re lucky enough to find one within a traveling distance, you should go! She will love the experience, and it will be fun to reminisce.

55. Go on a Bike Ride

Get some fresh air and exercise with a bike ride together. Ride locally or pack your bikes up and find a biking adventure. It’s out there!

56. Create a Vision Board

Creating a vision board is one of the more important things to do with your daughter. It teaches her short-term and long-term goal setting. Additionally, it validates her sense of accomplishment once she’s achieved her goals. 

57. Practice Mindfulness

Mindfulness is the act of focusing on the present. It’s an empowering method of reducing stress and taking control of a chaotic mind. Unfortunately, being a teenager in today’s world is incredibly stressful. Help her control her thoughts and feelings by practicing mindfulness activities together.

58. Make Tie-Dye

Wearing tie-dye has come back into fashion. Also, tie-dye is a fun activity. Create tie-dye t-shirts, hoodies, purses, and more for fun things to do with your daughter. There is something genuinely satisfying about wearing your fashions together. 

59. Decorate Your Vans

Classic White Vans slip-on shoes are trendy again. Not that they ever were out of style. However, the popular thing in middle school is to decorate your Vans with Acrylic Paints and Sharpie Fine Tip Markers. Do you have an artistic daughter? Grab yourself a pair and decorate them together for mommy-daughter days out on the town. Don’t forget to spray them with an acrylic sealer before wearing them out!

60. Create a Family Scrapbook

Put a family scrapbook of all your favorite memories together, including shows, sporting events, dances, and other experiences, with your best photos. Keep your concert and movie ticket stubs, dinner receipts, and other mementos here. 

61. Go on a Snail Hunt

Venture out for a snail-searching journey and count how many you can find along the way. The snails are ripe for the hunt when the rain comes out. Flashlight snail hunts are fun for backyard endeavors on a rainy day. But remember to watch your step and wash your hands if you handle them.

62. Be Photographers

Have a photoshoot with changes of outfits and fun. Photograph each other, nature, and the city. This Fujifilm Instax camera takes polaroid-style photos and is trending in middle and high school. 

63. Rearrange a Room

Rearranging a room can be mood-elevating and make you feel rejuvenated and happy. So spend time rearranging an area of the home together. Bonus get rid of clutter and the chaos that goes with it.

64. Explore Space

Does your daughter have an interest in space? Does she revel at the moon and stars? Then, getting a good telescope and exploring the universe is one of the most fantastic things you can do with your daughter.

65. Go to the City

Go and visit the city. See what she has to offer and create memories together. Map your trip ahead to avoid chaos and prepare to pay for parking. Take her to festivals, museums, the aquarium, and live music events. Also, the art museum and arts center are fun places for kids who are artists.

66. Visit the Country

If the city isn’t your forte or getaway, take a trip into the country. Scenic drives make beautiful backdrops to instrumental music and good conversation. Roll the windows down and let the breeze blow through your hair.

67. Create a Comic Book

Creating a comic book together is one of the more unique things to do with your daughter. Sketch and plot the adventures of your comic book characters while laughing and making memories. Document your family’s adventures in a unique edition comic book. What are your superpowers? 

68. Host Karaoke Night

Do you share a passion for singing? A family karaoke machine is an entertainment for you! Turn your family room into a concert with two wireless microphones, a phone/tablet holder, and a groovy disco ball. This activity is perfect for encouraging natural talent, or for just having fun.

69. Holiday Decorating

Decorate for the seasons or holidays. This activity is always much fun to do together. So allow them to be festive in their personal living space too. Dollar stores are ideal for decorating on a budget.

70. Movie Theater

See a new movie at the theatre. Is there something out that your daughter wants to see? Of course, there is. Budget for her favorite movie theatre snacks, or take her to lunch first and make a day of it.

71. Go Roller Skating

How long has it been since you were in a pair of roller skates? Well, lace up a pair and go rolling skating with your daughter. The skating rink is busy on the weekends. So I’d avoid those times. Alternatively, going ice skating or skateboarding can be fun.

72. Book a Hotel Experience

Take a night to live in the life of luxury and book a fancy hotel room—budget for room service and local entertainment. Mommy and teenage daughter nights on the town are an incredible experience to share with her.

73. Visit the Science Center

Planning a trip to your local science center is high on the list of things to do with your daughter. Explore events, exhibits, IMAX movies, and more. Admission is affordable, and there are tons of experiences to embark upon and enjoy.

74. Get your Hair Done

Book a day at the salon and get your hair done. It’s fun pampering, and new hairstyles always boost confidence. Is there something dramatic she wants to do to her hair? Let her. It’s only hair, but it’s her expression, and it’s so much fun.

75. Play 20 Questions

This game can be risky, depending on your daughter’s personality. Haha! However, it provides an opportunity to ask more complex questions about your daughter’s life. Additionally, it allows her to discuss things she wouldn’t have otherwise confided in you.

76. Bowling

Bowling is an excellent activity for a daytime date. Or, check your local alleys for Moonlight Bowling for a more upbeat and exciting game. Be prepared for loud music, fog machines, and disco balls. Making this one of the incredibly fun activities for spending time with your daughter.

77. Create a Family Time Capsule

Create a family time capsule and bury it in the backyard to dig up later. It’s one of the most extraordinary things to do with your daughter. Every mom I know would love to dig it up 20-years later and see what their family has stored.

Ideas to Include in Family Time Capsule:

• Kid Artwork
• Family Photos
• Family Stories
• Music
• Book/Comics
• Cards/Letters
• Ticket/Movie/Concert Stubs
• Questionnaires for Each Member

78. Photo Scavenger Hunt

Please pick up a group of her friends and host a photo scavenger hunt. Watch them delight in finding and creating photographic memories. 

79. Create a Recipe

Break out your favorite cookware, put on your matching aprons, and create a family recipe together. Take a favorite dish and add a new spin to it. Or, if you’re super creative, develop a recipe from scratch!

80. Water-Park

Take a day to be a big kid again and go to the waterslide park for adventure. Admission is affordable and allows you to have hours of fun in the sun. Don’t forget the sunscreen and waterproof pouch for cell phones.

81. Practice Gratitude

Developing an attitude of gratitude is one of the best things to do with your daughter to see her succeed in life. So grab a gratitude journal and develop this habit together.

82. Go See a Show

Alternatively, spend some money on a show and give her the experience of appreciating the arts. Open your teenage girl to new experiences and culture. Check out ballets, operas, and broadway-style musicals. Don’t forget to keep those ticket stubs for your scrapbook or time capsule.

83. Trash Hunt

Have you heard of the #trashtag challenge? It’s a viral movement cleaning up our planet! Become part of the change and make a difference with your daughter. Take bags on walks and pick up litter as you go. Then, make a game out of it. Count how many pieces along the way, or play who can fill their bag with the most trash. That practice is outdoor family fun that impacts the world; pretty cool. Then, join the Litterati community and post your pics in the Litterati app.

84. Mini-Golf

Get a couple of rounds of put-put mini-golf in. They’re not traditional golf courses. So it’s a quicker way to get to the putting, and it’s so much fun playing through all of the unique setups. Also, admission is typically affordable.

85. Take Turns Being a DJ

Take turns being the DJ and let her songs into your rotation. When I was a kid, I begged my dad to listen to Tupac with me, and he refused—calling it a bunch of noise. Big mistake. I could’ve used some guidance navigating his thug life antics. Pay attention to what your kids call music.

86. Make Bath Bombs

Bath bombs are trending among middle and high school girls right now. So get a bath-bomb-making kit and create fizzy and magical fun.

87. Paint Rocks

Painting rocks is another artistic activity to engage creativity and create a space for communication. There are Rock Painting Craft Kits that are great. But we use these acrylic paint markers and find our rocks. Going for walks to find them is part of the fun. For over 30 step-by-step painting tutorials, grab this rock art handbook.

88. Create a Meal Plan

Creating a meal plan for your family is crucial for maintaining a schedule and fitting your budget. Instead of determining your family’s dinners alone, please give her a voice. Let her help create a weekly meal plan with you and then involve her full circle.

Do grocery shopping, prep, and put away together. And of course, cook those meals as a team. This activity teaches essential life skills and gives you a friend through an otherwise thankless chore.

89. Coloring

One of our favorite things to do with your daughter is coloring. We have colored together from the moment she could hold a crayon. Coloring creates a safe space to discuss feelings and open lines of communication.

While we enjoy coloring books, she’s graduated onto Giant Coloring Posters. Design your color layout together and work to bring your vision to life.

90. Get Into Nature

Visit a State park or nature center to enjoy outdoor bonding activities with your teenage daughter. It’s an ideal fun activity for a day trip. Also, take a stroll through an arboretum (botanical garden), for more nature fun with the family.

91. Declutter and Donate

Helping your daughter declutter and donate is a healthy way of teaching her to let go and make room for new things. Also, it’s a great lesson and example of a charitable heart.

92. Movie Marathon

Movie marathons are ideal ways to binge on your favorite series based on books. So stock up on your favorite junk foods, make nachos or pizza, and start the movie marathon.

93. Coffee Shop Date

Take your daughter on a coffee date and enjoy the coffee shop ambiance. Enjoy delicious pastries and good conversation over your favorite espresso drink.

94. Pick Fruit

Go to a local orchard or berry picking farm and pick fruit together. Fresh fruit is delicious and ideal for baking treats. Spending time with your food and understanding its process is one of the best things to do with your daughter. Also, it’s another activity to practice mindfulness and gratitude.

95. Go to the Arcade

Cash in your bills for tokens and go to the local arcade or family fun center. Spend hours being a kid again and just enjoy the ride. Play classic arcade games or new hits. Additionally, check for places with laser tag for some of the most fun you will have in your life. Girl power!

96. Meditation

Take a time-out to breathe and meditate. Meditation is a beautiful practice for quieting the mind, reducing stress, and enhancing self-awareness. Furthermore, it can calm anxiety and increase blood flow to your brain. Teach your children healthy coping mechanisms like meditation, and how to embrace their girl power.

97. Become a Local Tourist

Take a tour of your home town and do all the things a tourist would do. Visit an aviation or natural-history museum. See the sights and collect souvenirs from your day’s adventure. Check things off the bucket list. Sometimes instead of spending money, we choose pretty rocks or a handful of sand to remember our time. Grab a pack of mini jars and label your adventures to revisit later. 

98. Build a LEGO Set

Pick up some of your favorite LEGO sets and get building. The larger the set, the more time you have to build and spend quality time together. Does your daughter like to put things together or play games like Minecraft? Building LEGO sets are fun things to do with your daughter.

99. Trampoline Park

Get your jump on at a trampoline park. This activity can be fun if you go at the right time. Ask when their typical downtimes are and call ahead to find out about large parties and smaller kids. Otherwise, it can get a little warm and funky up in there.

100. Go Out for Ice Cream

One of the sweetest things to do with your daughter is getting ice cream together. Pun intended. See if your town hosts an ice cream social or visit the local ice cream shop.

Did you enjoy this list of fun things to do with your daughter? I hope you found several fun activities that fulfill your daughter’s needs. Please spread the love and hit that social share. Thanks. Those genuinely make my day.

Popular Reading at Sober Healing

10 Tips for How to Be a Happy Stay-at-Home Mom