Fun family video project ideas (that won't end in a sofa-cushion war)

A family video project is the rare activity that works for a four-year-old, a teenager and a grandparent at the same time. Somebody writes, somebody acts, somebody makes the sound of a door creaking with their mouth. At the end you have a film, a lot of bloopers, and a story the family will tell for years. Also, it is raining, and everybody has already done the puzzle.

Here are 20 fun family video project ideas, sorted by type, plus how long they take, how to share the jobs, and a few ways to keep it fun instead of a very long argument about who holds the phone.

What makes a good family video project?

A good family video project is short, has a clear idea, and gives every person a job. Aim for a film under two minutes that you can plan, make and watch in one afternoon. The goal is laughing together, not an award. The best ones are the ones everyone wants to watch again at dinner.

• One idea. "Our cat's secret life," not "a film about everything."
• Jobs for all. Writer, director, star, sound person, snack manager.
• A deadline. Premiere at six o'clock. Deadlines make families efficient.
• Screening night. Popcorn, dimmed lights, a ticket made from a sticky note.

Easy family video ideas for a rainy afternoon

• The family news show Anchors at the kitchen table report the day's big stories: "Breaking: toddler eats a whole banana." Add a weather report from the window.
• The cooking show A kid-hosted recipe show for pancakes or sandwiches. The mess is part of the charm.
• The toy adventure Film toys one shot at a time for a wobbly stop-motion movie. Lego heroes, stuffed animal villains.
• The fake commercial Advertise a household object as if it were amazing: "The Spoon 3000. Now with scooping."
• The music video Pick one favorite song and act it out, with dramatic slow-motion hair flips.
• The pet documentary A whispered nature film about the cat. "Here, the rare house tiger stalks... a sock."

Which family video projects work for small kids?

Projects with lots of pretending and very little waiting. Small kids love being the star and making sound effects, but they lose patience with retakes. Keep scenes short, film the first take, and let them shout "action!" themselves. Anything with animals, snacks or a costume is a strong start.

• Their own story as a cartoon Write down a story your kid tells you and turn it into a short drawn film. They will watch it fifty times.
• Dress-up movie trailer Three shots, one costume, a deep voice: "In a world... where bedtime is at seven."
• The sound effects game Film a silent scene, then let the kids add every sound with their mouths.
• Day in the life of a teddy Follow a stuffed animal around the house, narrated in a very serious voice.

What family video ideas work for tweens and teens?

• The family time capsule Everyone answers the same five questions on camera. Watch it again in five years.
• The grandparent interview Teens interview grandparents about their childhood. Surprising stories come out.
• The family parody Remake a famous movie scene with kitchen props. Budget: zero. Drama: maximum.
• The family podcast clip Record a funny family debate ("Is a hot dog a sandwich?") and turn a short clip into a cartoon.
• Holiday card film A short greeting for family and friends, instead of the annual photo nobody blinks in.
• The "how we met" story Kids interview their parents about how they met, then retell it as a very dramatic film.

Family video projects for special days

• Birthday surprise film Everyone records one line for the birthday person. Play it at breakfast.
• Mother's Day or Father's Day film The kids write it, the kids direct it, the parent cries.
• Year in review On New Year's Eve, one line from each family member about their favorite moment.
• Anniversary tribute The kids make a film about Mom and Dad, featuring embarrassing facts.

How long do family video projects take?

Most take one afternoon. A news show or fake commercial takes about an hour. Stop-motion takes longer, because moving a toy one tiny step at a time is slow. A short cartoon from a story goes fast once the words are written. Plan for fun first, polish second.

How do you run a family film day?

1. Step 1

   Vote on one idea. Everybody gets one vote. Parents' votes do not count double, sadly.

2. Step 2

   Hand out jobs. Writer, director, star, sound, props, snacks. Rotate next time.

3. Step 3

   Write it on one page. Three to five scenes, one sentence each.

4. Step 4

   Make it. Film it, draw it, or have it drawn for you.

5. Step 5

   Premiere tonight. Tickets, popcorn, applause. Bloopers after the credits.

Making a family cartoon in Nine

For the projects that are hard to film (a flying bus, a cat who runs a bakery), Nine makes short drawn films with a voice, music and sound effects. Write your scenes as A script, and each paragraph becomes a scene. Or start from Just an idea, or a voice recording of the family telling the story.

The best part for kids: the film is made while you watch, and they can steer it. Someone shouts "make the dragon purple!" or "faster!", a grown-up types it, and a new version comes back. Take turns, one change each. You can also hand over the chamber on a phone to move things and change colors. Films are short, up to 20 seconds on Film, from $29 a month. See pricing.

Dig deeper: how to make a cartoon with your kids, turn your child's story into a cartoon, animate a podcast clip, and a Mother's Day video from kids.