How to start a "family game night" tradition.
Kit Bennett
Do you expierience a little jealousy when you see the happy families on board game boxes? You know the boxes I'm talking about; Mom, Dad and 2.5 children all happily playing together with a bowl of popcorn to share. To top off your envy, they probably have a loveable dog lying under the table -- Seriously, how do they do it? (sarcasm intended)
Before I provide you with tips on creating your own game time, I need to say ...that family on the box is NOT real, they're not even related !
They're models who'v been paid to look so blissfully "family like".
- Whew, I'm glad I got that off my chest.
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 the 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 older kids. After time, you may find they look forward to this designated family time and you'll no longer feel jealousy, or guilt as you walk down the game aisle of your department store.
Why start a family game night?
Family time of course. Game play teaches sportsmanship and good healthy competition. Playing together promotes communication. Family game night is inexpensive. Traditional parlor games are free! (see below for suggestions)
Family game night creates life long memories! Heck - it's just good old fashioned fun!More about learning through playing games...
GETTING STARTED
Set a consistent day and time. You'll need to schedule 1 - 1 1/2 hours.If every week is difficult, try twice a month to start;mark it on your
calendar and make it a priority.
If you don't already have games in a closet somewhere, purchase a few to get started, and then gradually add to the collection.
When game time approaches ,give the kids a 30 minute reminder. This allows them time to finish up what they're doing, so they'll be
more likley to come to the table with a positive attitude.
NO interruptions or distractions; turn off the TV, cell phone, PDA and let your voicemail pick up phone calls.
Select games that everyone will enjoy. Often this is difficult if there is a large age difference between your children. Parents or older siblings can
team up with little ones or you can create a variation of a more
challenging game.
Each week assign a family member to be "in charge" of the game night;they pick the snack and game for the evening.
A FEW NOTES ABOUT SELECTING GAMES:
When our youngest was 4 and the eldest 18, finding a game that was fun for everyone posed a challenge. Kerplunk, modified charades, Jenga, Cranium and other games, where reading or strategy were not required were the most popular. There were many times when our daughter's game pick was Pretty, Pretty Princess; we ALL played ...NO complaining allowed! Game night was after all a lesson in sportsmanship, cooperation and getting along as a family!
Begin with games which have stood the test time: Junior Monopoly, Clue, Sorry, Othello, Battleship, Boggle, Kerplunk, Operation, Chutes and Ladders, Candyland, Trouble, Sorry, Pictionary, Bop-It, 20 Questions, Go-Fish, Apples to Apples, Memory (also known as concentration)
Game Night Gets Wired
DVD games like SCENE-IT, or using a Wii game system are a popular new trend that require a TV, so it's kind of cheating, but the games are quite fun. With the variety of genres, ranging from sports to Disney movies, they can accommodate most family members.
Try Parlor games: 20 Questions, Charades, Dictionary, the name game
Click here for more parlor games >> (external link)
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