Looking for fun things to do for adults this weekend? Sometimes the best time to try is not waiting for a holiday but starting this weekend. Kidulting is giving adults exactly that: a growing shift away from the idea that fun has an age limit. If you’re looking for kidulting activities or kidulting ideas that are genuinely worth your Saturday, these 10 suggestions are a good place to start.
Kidulting Activities: Key takeaways
- Kidulting is a growing trend among adults that helps them to reconnect with inner child and forget for a while about their job duties.
- Kidulting activities result in lower stress, stronger social bonds, and improved problem-solving skills.
- There are high-energy kidulting activities (escape rooms, trampolining) and low energy (LEGO sets, pottery classes).
- Immersive experiences are among the most memorable kidulting options.
Visit IKONO website for weekly inspiration on play, creativity and immersive experiences!
What is Kidulting? Real-Life Examples of Adult Play
Kidulting nowadays is a major cultural movement. It comes from blending the words “kid” and “adult”. Activities like escape rooms, board games, and craft workshops have become mainstream leisure choices for adults in their twenties, thirties and forties. But kidulting activities are not about acting like an eight-year-old child. It is rather about the feeling that you had when you were a kid. The state of curiosity, exploration, peacefulness, and creativity without judgement.
Top 10 Best Kidulting Activities to Try This Weekend
- Escape rooms
Try yourself in a role of detective that solve a mystery or pretend to be a group of friends that are trying to escape from a serial killer. Escape rooms are one of the most popular fun things to do for adults who want a mix of puzzle-solving, storytelling, role play, and adrenaline for one hour. There are various types of rooms: with actors, about your favorite magical universe, history themed. This is a great activity for groups of two to six, with difficulty levels for all experience.
- Trampolining
Trampolining parks have moved far beyond just hosting children’s birthday parties. Now they offer open-jump sessions, foam pits, and adult-only evening slots. Bouncing triggers a significant endorphin release, and you will be out of breath within ten minutes. This is exactly what you need to change your mood fast after a busy week.
- LEGO sets
Just like in childhood, suddenly LEGO sets are everywhere, and they have become even more engaging. Imagine the late evening where you build a whole castle from Harry Potter or realistic flower bouquets. This process is meditative, tactile, and surprisingly absorbing. It is a good way to spend time with your loved ones.
- Mixology class
What could be more fun than gathering with friends in a circle and becoming bartenders for a couple of hours? A cocktail-making masterclass is a great form of entertainment and a perfect way to spend a Friday evening. This is a social, hands-on, and one of the best fun group activities for adults that don’t involve running anywhere. Most cities have sessions running Friday and Saturday evenings.
- Pottery class
Do you remember how, as a child, you used to shape little figures out of clay and then argue with your friends over whose creation turned out best? And when you’re no longer eight, but still crave that feeling, the perfect solution is to sign up for a clay modelling workshop. Not only is the process wonderfully therapeutic, but you’ll also get to take your creation home and enjoy your morning coffee from something you crafted with your own hands.
- Immersive Experience at IKONO
Immersive experiences are purpose-built spaces where art and play collide. Unlike traditional museums, you move through surreal mirrored spaces, glowing light installations, and even giant ball pits. These kidulting activities offer no set path, allowing your curiosity to lead the way through environments that feel like a living dream.
“At IKONO, we believe adults deserve spaces that feel genuinely alive… where creativity has no wrong answer.” – IKONO Team
- Mini golf
Recently, mini golf has become a popular alternative to regular walks in the park. It doesn’t require any special skills, and it’s incredibly fun. Even better, if you go with a group of friends, you can turn it into a friendly tournament!
- Board Game Night
It might sound a little obvious, but when was the last time you played Monopoly or Alias? Or put together a jumbo puzzle? Beyond the classics, there’s now a whole world of modern, creative games that are definitely worth trying with friends. And if everyone’s busy, that’s not a problem. There are plenty of cafés and communities where adults get together for this!
- Crystal Art: Rhinestone Painting
It might not be the first thing that comes to mind, but what about creating a picture out of tiny rhinestones? It’s a surprisingly calming process: placing each sparkling piece one by one, watching the image slowly come to life. You don’t need any special skills, just a bit of patience and attention to detail. And the best part? By the end, you’ll have a shimmering artwork you made yourself, perfect for decorating your space or gifting to someone special.
- Nostalgia Spaces
Some cities have spaces built purely to trigger happy memory: comic book shops with reading corners, retro arcades with original machines, themed cafés built around a specific era. These places reward slow, unscheduled wandering.
Why Kidulting Activities Work (The Psychology of Play)
Play is a genuine psychological need that we never actually outgrow. In a qualitative study of 837 adults published in the Journal of Play in Adulthood, researchers found that 37% of participants described playfulness primarily in terms of positive emotions, and a significant portion cited it as a key strategy for managing stress and coping with negative feelings. When we engage in adult play activities, our brain chemistry shifts:
- Dopamine: Completing a task, like finishing a LEGO set or winning mini golf, releases this chemical, boosting motivation and mood. Even small wins during play activate the brain’s reward system, reinforcing the desire to keep exploring and creating.
- Cortisol: Play lowers cortisol (the stress hormone) by forcing the brain to focus on the present moment rather than future anxieties or work “to-do” lists.
- Social Bonding: Group play releases oxytocin, which strengthens interpersonal trust and reduces feelings of social isolation. In the same study of 837 adults, nearly 24% defined playfulness specifically through the lens of personal relationships, describing it as a way to connect, laugh, and build closeness with others.
How to Choose the Right Kidulting Activities
Two questions before picking your next kidulting ideas: how much energy do you have, and who are you going with?
- Low energy: LEGO sets, crystal art, pottery and board games are absorbing without being demanding is ideal after a draining week.
- High energy: Trampolining or escape rooms pull your attention away from everything else entirely.
- Solo or small group: Creative, meditative activities like rhinestone painting work well alone.
- With friends: Social and interactive experiences like mini golf, mixology or pottery class all scale with company and produce better stories.
Immersive art experiences like IKONO are worth a separate mention because the pace is entirely yours – contemplative alone, social with a group. If you’re not sure what you’re in the mood for, that flexibility makes it an easy first choice. Whether you’re planning a group outing or a solo escape, IKONO adapts to however you want to play.
Try your first kidulting activity. Book a weekend session at IKONO
Frequently Asked Questions
What is kidulting?
Kidulting is adults reclaiming the playfulness of childhood. Not by acting like a child, but by returning to that state of curiosity and creativity without judgement.
What are kidulting activities?
Kidulting activities are play-based experiences designed for adults to reclaim the curiosity and joy of childhood, such as immersive art, complex building sets, or themed roleplay.
What are the benefits of adult play?
Lower stress, better mood, stronger social bonds, and improved creativity.
What are fun things to do for adults on weekends?
From high-energy trampolining to meditative pottery or visiting an IKONO location, there are endless ways to spend a weekend playing.
Author Bio:
Sofiia Demchuk is a Marketing & Content Specialist with a passion for communication and the art of storytelling. At IKONO, she writes about immersive experiences, playful adulting activities, and things to do in major European cities.
