The idea of having a family game night is nothing new. Families have been playing together since they could place stones in holes. However, modern families are competing with video games, Web surfing, and of course, television. Board games are no match for a virtual character traveling through time and space, collecting gold coins! It may take some convincing to bring your kids on board, especially the older kids. After time, however, you may find they look forward to this designated family time, and you’ll no longer feel jealous or guilty as you walk down the game aisle of your department store!
Here are some reasons why family game night may be beneficial:
- Family time, of course! This is time taken out of your busy life to enjoy the company of loved ones.
- Playing games together teaches and monitors sportsmanship and good healthy competition.
- Playing together promotes communication. By disguising communication practice in fun games, parents and kids will not even notice the discourse with each other improving over time!
- Family game night is inexpensive! It definitely beats the cost of going out for dinner or buying video games.
- You get a chance to create life-long memories with one another. When all family members participate and really get into the games, laughter, friendly competition, and family quirks are sure to make an appearance!
- Lastly, family game night allows for good, old fashioned fun and time to relax!
One suggestion, aside from the traditional store-bought board games, is to make up a game that is based on your family’s knowledge and familiarity of each other! The game we came up with is called Family Game Show. This can be played with friends or family, and it is especially fun to play when extended family is over.
Here is how you play:
- Individually, write down questions about each other that everyone can answer. Some examples: What is your favorite kind of ice cream? If you could be any superhero, which would it be? What is, or was, your best subject in school? You can come up with as many as you want, but only about nine questions are necessary.
- Assign one member of the family to play Moderator.
- The Moderator asks Person A a question, and that person writes down their answer on a private piece of paper.
- Then, the rest of the family writes down what they think Person A’s answer to the question will be.
- The Moderator then asks everyone to reveal their answers. Whoever correctly guessed Person A’s answer scores one point.
This game promotes family cohesion by building knowledge about each other. It also brings about a ton of laughs!
Filed under: Just for Fun! | Tagged: family activities, social skills
