The Short Answer
A Raspberry Pi is a great family project machine, and you do not need to be technical to start. This is five realistic things to do with one together: a retro games console, a network-wide ad blocker, a smart home hub, a coding setup for the kids and a digital photo frame. If your Pi is not set up yet, start with my first-time Raspberry Pi setup guide , then come back here.
Five Family Projects Worth Trying
Once the Pi is running, here is where it gets interesting. These five projects are all realistic starting points for families, sourced from guides at wemustbegeeks , PiDiyLab , and CrowPi.
1. Retro Gaming Console (RetroPie or Batocera)
Using emulation software such as RetroPie or Batocera, a Pi 5 can play games from the NES, SNES, Mega Drive, PlayStation, N64, and dozens of other classic systems . Setup is largely a matter of flashing the emulation OS image to a second microSD card and plugging in a USB or Bluetooth controller. One important note: only use ROMs for games you legally own. Difficulty: easy. You will need a second microSD card, a screen and a USB or Bluetooth controller.
If you are thinking about pairing this with a proper controller or display setup, the gaming setups for teenagers guide covers display and controller options in more detail.
2. Network-Wide Ad Blocker (Pi-hole)
Pi-hole turns the Pi into a DNS-level ad blocker for your entire home network. Rather than installing an ad blocker extension on every device, you point your router’s DNS at the Pi and it blocks ads and trackers for every phone, laptop, smart TV, and tablet in the house. Setup takes around 30 minutes and the web interface is straightforward. Difficulty: easy. You will need access to your router settings so you can change its DNS.
3. Smart Home Hub (Home Assistant)
Home Assistant runs locally on the Pi, giving you a privacy-first smart home dashboard that does not depend on any cloud service or subscription. It supports a wide range of smart home devices and integrations. At least 2 GB of RAM and a 32 GB A2-rated microSD card are recommended, and Ethernet is strongly preferred over Wi-Fi for the most reliable connection. Home Assistant OS can be installed directly through Raspberry Pi Imager. Difficulty: easy. You will need the microSD card above and, ideally, an Ethernet cable.
4. Kids’ Coding Environment (Scratch 3 and Sonic Pi)
Raspberry Pi OS Bookworm Desktop ships with Scratch 3, Python 3.11, Thonny, and Sonic Pi already installed , so there is nothing extra to download before a child writes their first line of code or composes their first piece of music in Sonic Pi. Sonic Pi introduces loops, timing, and musical structure through code in a way that is genuinely accessible to primary school age children and upwards. No additional hardware is needed beyond the standard setup. Difficulty: easy. You will need nothing extra, and a child can start straight away.
5. Digital Photo Frame
An old monitor or television, the Pi, and a script to cycle through a folder of photos is all you need for a low-cost digital photo frame. If you have a spare screen sitting in a cupboard, this is one of the cheapest and most satisfying things you can do with a Pi. No additional hardware is required beyond the standard kit. Difficulty: easy. You will need a spare monitor or TV and a folder of photos.
Related Notes
If any of the five projects above spark ideas around creative tech at home, the AI art at home guide covers a different angle on family-friendly technology projects that do not require specialist hardware.
