9 Fun Things to Do with Your Dad at Home

Spending unhurried time at home with my dad has given me some of my favorite memories. Focusing on fun things to do with your dad at home can make the house feel less like a pit stop and more like a place where your relationship actually grows.

Fun things to do with your dad at home: At a glance

1. Dad-versus-kids trivia night with Weekend
2. Living room karaoke “concert”
3. Co-op game night on the TV
4. Cooking a “signature dish” together
5. Indoor skills challenge or mini tournament
6. Story swap and memory night
7. DIY or fix-it projects around the house
8. Chill movie or sports watch party with a twist
9. Play Wit’s End

1. Dad-versus-kids trivia night (Weekend)

Trivia nights with my dad started as a “let’s just try this once” experiment and somehow became our weeknight reset. The mood changes the second we fire up Jeopardy! or Song Quiz (Roku, Samsung, Fire TV, LG) on the TV and pick teams.

With Weekend on our smart TV, the game handles all the questions, timing, and scoring while we focus on trash talk and cheering. Sometimes we team up against the TV; other nights it’s full-on rivalry, like “Team Dad” versus “Everyone Else.”

Jeopardy! scratches his love for classic quiz shows, while Song Quiz taps into both of our music eras, from his favorite throwbacks to my newer playlists.

What keeps it fun and not too serious for us:

• Mixing decades and genres so Dad gets some songs from his heyday
• Playing short rounds so nobody gets overwhelmed
• Letting the “winner” pick the next snack or next activity

If you want easy, low-prep fun things to do with your dad at home, trivia with Weekend is one of the fastest wins I’ve found.

2. Living room karaoke “concert”

The first time I convinced my dad to do karaoke at home, he claimed he “doesn’t sing.” Two songs later, he was belting out old favorites and laughing so hard he forgot to be self-conscious.

We use Karaoke from Weekend (on Roku) so the lyrics pop up big on the screen, and we can use a remote or paired smartphone as the mic. Pitch tracking and scoring add just enough competition for us to tease each other without making anyone feel judged.

I usually kick things off with something upbeat so the vibe feels silly, not serious.

A few tweaks that make our karaoke nights feel special:

• Theme rounds like “Dad’s decade,” “movie soundtracks,” or “most dramatic performance”
• Lights dimmed and maybe a lamp or flashlight as a fake spotlight
• Letting Dad close the night with “his” song

If your dad loves music, karaoke becomes one of those fun things to do with your dad at home that never plays out the same way twice.

3. Co-op game night on the TV

Some of my favorite nights with my dad are the ones where we don’t leave the couch but still feel like we’ve done something together. Game nights make that easy. We keep a loose rotation of classic board or card games and interactive TV games through Weekend.

When our brains want something active but simple, we fire up Jeopardy!, Wheel of Fortune, 20 Questions, or Song Quiz on the big screen. The TV explains the rules and keeps track of everything, so there’s no arguing about scoring or whose turn it is.

Sometimes we play cooperatively and set a shared score goal; other times we go head-to-head and trash-talk like we’re on a game show.

What helps our game night actually stick as a habit:

• Picking one predictable night each week (for us, it’s usually Sunday)
• Agreeing on one “main” game plus one backup if we want a second round
• Keeping snacks simple: popcorn, chips, or cut fruit, so setup is easy

This is one of the most flexible, fun things to do together because you can adjust the games to Dad's energy level and interests.

4. Cooking a “signature dish” together

For years, I saw cooking dinner as a solo task. Things changed when I started asking my dad to teach me “his” recipes. Suddenly, chopping vegetables together felt more like hanging out than working.

We picked one dish to perfect together, and it became a recurring ritual. Sometimes it’s a breakfast classic, sometimes a big bowl of pasta, sometimes a simple nacho or taco bar when we want something casual.

While whatever we’re making simmers or bakes, we often put Song Quiz on low in the background and guess songs while we stir or set the table.

A few small habits that keep this enjoyable for both of us:

• Letting Dad be the “head chef” while I handle prep, plating, or cleanup
• Choosing recipes that leave room for conversation, not just frantic timing
• Treating mistakes as part of the story (we still laugh about the over-salted batch)

If your dad has even one dish he loves, turning it into a shared project is a cozy, practical way to spend time together at home.

5. Indoor skills challenge or mini tournament

My dad and I both have a little competitive streak, so we started turning random activities into “mini tournaments.” Inside the house, that can mean anything from a paper airplane contest to darts (if you have a safe setup) or a balloon volleyball match in the living room.

Sometimes we pair physical challenges with quick gaming rounds.

For example, we’ll do a best-of-three in 20 Questions or Wheel of Fortune (Roku) on Weekend, and whoever loses has to do 10 pushups, a goofy dance, or refill the snack bowl.

Keeping the stakes playful instead of serious helps us both relax and lean into the fun.

Ideas that have worked well for us indoors:

• Balloon volleyball or mini basketball into a laundry basket
• Timed puzzle-building or LEGO speed builds
• “First to five points” trivia or guessing games on the TV

These challenges are some of the easiest, fun things to do with Dad. It keeps things light in physical activity without making it feel like an official workout.

6. Story swap and memory night

One surprisingly meaningful thing I started doing with my dad is “story swap night.” It doesn’t require much, other than a couch, maybe a drink or snack, and a bit of curiosity.

We’ll sometimes start with a simple prompt, like “Tell me about a time you got in trouble as a kid” or “What was your first job really like?” Once he shares a story, I share one of mine.

On quieter nights, we might play a slower-paced Weekend game like 20 Questions between stories so the conversation naturally ebbs and flows without pressure to talk non-stop.

A few prompts that have led to good conversations for us:

• “What did you want to be when you were my age?”
• “What’s a small decision you’re really glad you made?”
• “Which song instantly takes you back to a specific moment?”

These talks have helped me see my dad as a full person, not just “Dad,” and they turn an ordinary night at home into something deeper.

7. DIY or fix-it projects around the house

Some dads come alive when there’s something to fix or build. Mine definitely does, so I started seeing house projects as a chance to learn from him instead of something to avoid.

We’ve tackled small DIY projects together like hanging shelves, organizing a closet, repairing a wobbly chair, or putting together flat-pack furniture. We take turns measuring, holding tools, or reading instructions while the other explains the logic behind what he’s doing.

It feels oddly satisfying to stand back and look at something we finished as a team.

To keep these projects feeling fun instead of stressful, we:

• Pick tasks that are completable in under an afternoon
• Put on a playlist we both enjoy, or let Song Quiz run in the background for mini music breaks
• Take a photo before and after so we can see the progress

If your dad is handy (or wants to be), DIY time can be a powerful way to bond and pick up practical skills while staying at home.

8. Chill movie or sports watch party with a twist

There are tiring days when neither of us has the energy for an intense activity. That’s when a simple movie or game on TV becomes our shared reset. Even more so if we add a small twist so it feels intentional.

Sometimes we add themes like matching snacks to the film, wearing team colors for a big game, or making predictions about the plot or final score. Other times, if we’re in a more social mood, we’ll watch until halftime or a natural break and then pause to play a quick game.

It's usually Jeopardy! or Song Quiz via the Weekend app, as a way to keep us interacting instead of silently scrolling on our phones.

What makes these low-key nights memorable for us:

• Agreeing ahead of time that phones stay mostly away
• Letting one person pick the movie, and the other pick the snack
• Ending with a quick “best moment” recap before turning the TV off

It might sound small, but these relaxed evenings have quietly become some of my favorite fun things to do with my dad at home because they’re easy to repeat and customize.

9. Play Wit’s End

If my dad and I are in the mood for something a little more adventurous than trivia, Wit's End on Weekend (smart TVs and web) is its own category of fun. Think Dungeons & Dragons, but with no rulebooks, an AI game master, and no experience required.

We start by building our characters out loud, just describing what we want, and the AI brings them to life with a portrait and backstory. Watching your character appear for the first time is one of those moments where you both look at each other like, “Wait, that actually worked.”

From there, the AI game master takes over. You speak your actions out loud, then the AI game master rolls the dice and narrates what happens next. The dice rolls are where the real drama lives. A high roll sends us into celebration mode; a low roll has us groaning and laughing at the same time.

What makes it especially good as a dad activity:

• No gaming experience needed: The AI handles all the rules, so it's accessible even if your dad has never touched an RPG.
• You set the tone together: Want to play it seriously and craft a heroic story? Go for it. Want to cause as much chaos as possible and see what the AI does? Also completely valid, and usually funnier.
• Every playthrough is different: The world, scenes, and characters are generated on the fly, so there's no “spoiling” it if you've played before.

A heads-up: Wit's End is best suited for teens and adults, given its fantasy-adventure themes. If that fits your household, it's one of the most original and memorable things to do with your dad at home. It’s the kind of gaming session you'll end up quoting for weeks.

How Weekend turns “just another night” into quality dad time

At Weekend, we love seeing “nothing to do” evenings turn into mini events between dads and their kids. When you open our app on your smart TV, trivia, guessing games, and karaoke are just a remote or phone tap away.

On Roku, Fire TV, Samsung, and LG TVs, we bring you fan-favorite titles like:

• Jeopardy! for classic clue-and-question trivia
• Wheel of Fortune for puzzle-solving fun
• Song Quiz for music showdowns
• 20 Questions for smart guessing
• Karaoke for living room performances
• Wit’s End for AI-powered, voice-driven fantasy adventures

Mix things up so that you'll have multiple fun things to do with Dad at home any day of the week. Try Weekend right now with a 7-day free trial, giving you access to all our amazing titles.

FAQs

What are the most fun things to do with your dad at home?

Some of the most fun things to do with your dad at home include playing interactive trivia like Jeopardy! or Song Quiz (Roku, Fire TV, Samsung, LG) together on your TV, hosting a living room karaoke night, and cooking a “signature” dish as a team.

How can I host a dad-and-kid game night everyone actually enjoys?

You can host a dad-and-kid game by starting with 1 or 2 easy games on your smart TV through Weekend. Titles like Jeopardy! or Wheel of Fortune (Roku) for classic game-show fun, or Song Quiz for music battles. Then I'd add simple snacks and teams to keep the energy up.

Do I need special equipment for these at-home dad activities?

No, as most activities use what you already have at home. Use your TV and remote or phone for Weekend, basic kitchen tools for cooking, simple supplies for DIY or crafts, and books or a couch for story time. As long as you have a compatible smart TV, you can start playing Weekend titles without buying extra gear.

How can I get the Weekend app on my smart TV to play with my dad?

Open the app store on your Roku, Fire TV, Samsung, or LG TV and search for “Weekend.” Select the Weekend app, choose Install or Add channel, and follow the on-screen prompts so you and your dad can start playing trivia, Karaoke (Roku), and more in just a few minutes.