If your family can barely decide what to watch on Netflix, the idea of making a shared vision board might sound like a recipe for chaos. But hear me out — this simple creative activity could be the most surprisingly bonding thing you do all year.
A vision board is a visual collection of your goals, hopes, and dreams. Think magazine clippings, scribbled words, stickers, printouts, drawings — whatever speaks to you. It’s not about perfection. It’s about clarity, connection, and creating something that reminds you what matters when life gets noisy.
And when you do it as a family? Magic.
Let’s talk about why it’s worth doing, how to make one that actually reflects everyone, and how to turn a fun little afternoon into a tool you’ll all benefit from throughout the year.
Why Bother with a Family Vision Board?
Life with kids moves fast. School, work, after-school clubs, screen-time arguments, snack requests every six minutes — we’re all spinning plates. It’s easy to lose sight of what we’re trying to build as a family.
A vision board gives you a shared space to say:
“Here’s what we want. Here’s who we are. Here’s what we care about.”
It’s a surprisingly grounding activity. And for kids, especially neurodivergent or anxious ones, it’s a chance to express themselves non-verbally — a rare opportunity to be heard without having to explain or justify.
Plus, it’s fun. Honestly. There’s glue. There’s glitter. There’s arguing over whether a dog in a party hat “represents our vibe” (my daughter insists it does).
Step-by-Step: Creating a Vision Board as a Family
1. Pick Your Format
You can use:
- A corkboard with pins
- A large piece of cardboard or poster paper
- A digital vision board using Canva or Pinterest (great if you hate clutter)
- A family notebook with pages for each person
2. Gather Supplies
You’ll want:
- Magazines, newspapers, old books for cutting up
- Glue sticks, scissors, markers, pens
- Stickers, washi tape, coloured paper
- Optional: snacks. Always snacks.
Put on music, light a candle, wear matching pyjamas — make it an event.
3. Set the Mood (Not Too Serious)
Before you start cutting and sticking, talk about what the board is for. Some questions to prompt your family:
- What are some things we want to do together this year?
- How do we want our home to feel?
- What do we want more of? Less of?
- What are our biggest dreams — wild or small?
There are no wrong answers. Someone might say “more hugs,” someone else might say “get a dog,” someone might just stick on a picture of a pizza and call it a day. It’s all valid.
4. Create Together — Then Individually
Let everyone add their own elements. If one child wants to focus on holidays and the other wants to put “learn how to do a cartwheel,” it’s all going on the board. Adults should join in too. Your kids deserve to see you dream.
Tip: Give each person a corner or section if you have space — then add shared goals in the middle.
What It Teaches Your Kids
- That their voices matter
- That dreams are allowed (and important)
- That you’re a team — even if you argue over the glitter placement
It also shows them that goals don’t have to be intimidating. They can be simple and personal. “Read more books” and “have more toast in bed” can live right alongside “visit Disneyland.”
Where to Display It
Put it somewhere you all see regularly — the kitchen, hallway, family room. Not only will it remind you of what you care about, it can spark spontaneous conversations when someone says, “Hey, we haven’t worked on that idea yet!”
If you’re a digital household, set it as the screensaver on your shared tablet or make it the cover of your family WhatsApp group.
Revisiting It (Optional but Powerful)
Set a reminder to revisit the board mid-year or at the end of the year. Ask:
- What did we actually do?
- What didn’t we do, and why?
- What do we want to add next?
If something on the board didn’t happen, it’s not a failure. Maybe your priorities shifted. Maybe your energy ran out. That’s life. The goal isn’t perfection — it’s intention.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need a tidy home, well-behaved kids, or fancy materials to create a family vision board. All you need is the willingness to come together for an hour or two and say, “Let’s imagine a life we love.”
And maybe — just maybe — agree on one pizza topping while you’re at it.
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