Family Games Night

Sometimes just getting the family together for a full day can be next to impossible. One great bonding activity, however, that can become a household tradition is a games night.

Getting Started
First thing is to look at the ages of your kids and find a game that is appropriate. If you have a collection of games already, great! If not, local toy stores will offer some great age-appropriate options that the whole family can enjoy.

Types of Games
Knowing the different options out there as well as the types of games your kids might enjoy will help you get started. Options include:

Classic games such as Monopoly, Clue, Operation, Candyland, Trouble, Trivial Pursuit and more. These board games all allow for 4 to 6 players.
Strategic games such as SimCity, Risk and Parthenon where a longer term strategy often includes building civilizations.
Multi-faceted games such as the Cranium family of games that include different elements such as drawing, building, and word puzzles.
DVD games such as SceneIt! that includes both the board element and fun movie clips and trivia.
Skill games such as Twister that get you into some fun, physical positions!
Video games that include a whole range of options, but be sure to check the video game rating for age-appropriate options.

Whatever you choose, it's a great way to teach your kids about friendly competition, the true nature of "fun" rather than focusing on winning and losing, and bonding as a family.