I was recently browsing at the bookstore and found a book called, 101 Things You Should Do Before Your Kids Leave Home, by David Bordon and Tom Winters. I like to find new things to do with my kids, especially when it comes to a good way to make memories, so this book stood out to me. I mean, why not choose from 101 things to do than just a short list?

(Plus the price was just right!)

One thing to know is that this book is centered around the Christian faith, but even if that’s not something you’re interested in, it still has lots of great ideas for ways to make memories with your children. Most of the activities are best for kids who are a little older (maybe 5 or so), but that’s not to say you can’t do some of the things listed with younger children.

The ideas range from traveling, to cooking, to teaching your children finances and thankfulness, to how to be better prepared for life beyond the family home.

But don’t fret; not everything is a lesson.

There are lots of ideas for ways to have fun, like #46: “Start a pillow fight,” or #94: “Have a paper airplane flying contest,” just to name a couple.

I especially like #28: “Make every family affair a photo op.”

I love taking photos of things we do, whether they’re everyday life or something special, like a visit to the zoo or some place new. The book offers some tips about how to best take a photo, as well as ideas of events to photograph.

Some other great ideas to do with your kids before they leave home include:

• #86: “Get creative in the kitchen”
• #91: “Trace your child’s silhouette” (My mom did this when I was a kid!)
• #38: “Serve in a soup kitchen”
• #16: “Conduct a laundry seminar”
• #43: “Throw a dart at a map”

Something else I appreciate about this book is that each idea has one page to go with it, explaining each topic just a little bit more. The writers make sure to talk about many aspects of life, including growing up, faith, life, and even death. I’m excited to try some of the ideas with my kids when they get a little older, and I’ll be keeping this book somewhere in sight.

If you’re interested in purchasing this book you can find it here.

What are some things you want to do with your children before they leave home? Sound off in the comments below!