If you're looking for things to do in November, these seven ideas give you a few ways to enjoy the month with your family. Make a meal to share, step outside, write a note, bake something, read a Psalm, watch a movie, or keep an evening free.
That's this month's Joy Agenda. I hope you find something here that sounds good to you, whether you have a whole afternoon or a little time after dinner.
Seven things to do in November
1. Make soup and share some
Choose a soup you already know how to make. Chicken noodle, tomato, potato, or a pot of chili all fit a November dinner. Add bread or crackers and let that be the meal.
If you're making extra, ask someone whether they'd enjoy a portion. Check about food allergies and find a time that works for them. A neighbor, a friend having a long week, or someone who lives alone might welcome dinner.
For soup you're saving, the USDA recommends refrigerating leftovers within two hours and using shallow containers. Include the date and any reheating notes when you share it.
2. Take a walk before the leaves are gone
A familiar path can be enough for this one. Walk around the block, visit a nearby trail, or take the long way back from the mailbox.
If your kids come along, see what catches their attention. A leaf bigger than their hand. A tree that's already bare. An acorn still wearing its cap.
Let the walk fit the weather and how you feel that day. If walking is out of reach, you could sit outside with a warm drink and watch the trees from there.
There's room for that version, too.
3. Write someone a thank-you note
Think of one person whose kindness has stayed with you. Maybe they brought a meal, checked on you, helped with a school pickup, or listened when you needed to talk.
Name the thing they did and what it meant to you. A few lines on a card or a piece of paper can hold the whole message.
Something like: “Thank you for checking on me last week. It meant a lot that you remembered.”
If your kids want to join in, they could write their own note or add a drawing. Put it in the mail or hand it to the person the next time you see them.
4. Bake something with your kids
Pick a recipe everyone wants to eat. Cookies, muffins, brownies, or a loaf of bread all give you something to make together.
A boxed mix works here. So does a familiar recipe with a well-worn page. Decide which parts your kids want to help with, whether that's measuring, stirring, or decorating after everything cools.
You can split the work if that fits your day. Set out the ingredients earlier, then mix and bake when you're ready. Let someone else take the dishes.
The part to look forward to is sitting down together with something warm from the oven.
5. Read a Psalm over breakfast
Keep your usual breakfast and add a little time to read. If you'd like a place to start, open to Psalm 100 in the Christian Standard Bible.
Read it on your own or aloud with whoever is at the table. You might talk about one line that stood out or name something you're thankful for that morning.
If you'd like other passages for another day, these Bible verses for moms give you more places to turn.
Breakfast can carry on around it. Toast, cereal, coffee, and a few minutes in God's Word can share the same table.
6. Pick a family movie for a night at home
Choose a movie your family already enjoys or one you've been meaning to watch together. Settle on it before everyone sits down so you can spend the evening watching.
Pop some popcorn, bring over the blankets, and find a comfortable spot at home. Dinner can be something you already planned to make.
If someone falls asleep halfway through, you can finish another night. The movie will keep.
7. Leave one evening open
An open evening gets a place in this Joy Agenda, too.
Once dinner and the basics of your evening routine are handled, see what you feel like doing. Read a few pages. Talk on the couch. Sit down while the kids play.
You can decide when you get there.
Keep a little room in November for the evening you haven't planned yet.
Questions about November family activities
What can families do at home in November?
Bake together, watch a movie, write thank-you notes, or make a meal to share. These activities fit around a day at home and can use things you already have.
What are some free things to do in November?
Take a neighborhood walk, write a note on paper you have, or read a Psalm together. An evening with no extra plans can be free, too.
What can you do when it's cold or rainy?
Choose an indoor idea, such as baking, a movie, or breakfast and a Psalm. You can save the walk for weather you want to be outside in.
How can kids take part in a November gratitude activity?
Invite them to thank someone for something specific. They could write a note, make a drawing, or help deliver a card.
What if your family only has time for one activity?
Choose the one you're looking forward to. A single batch of cookies or one movie night can be your November plan.
Make room for something you enjoy
I hope this month's Joy Agenda gives you something to look forward to in the middle of your regular days. A meal to share, a note to send, or an evening at home can each have a place.
Choose one thing you'd enjoy this November and leave room for it.
