In today’s busy world, taking time out of the week to reconnect with your family is important. You can choose to go to dinner, catch a movie, or get away for the weekend. The more popular option is having a family game night. Bringing your loved ones together and participating in a competitive and fun game is a great way to bring everyone closer. However, many families fail to give the night the essentials to keep if fun and civil. If you are planning a family game night, be sure to include these must haves.
Choose a Regular Night
It is not surprising that even today’s youth are very busy. With the boom in technology everyone seems to be in constant overdrive. Between school assignments, Tweeting with friends and “liking” this and that on Facebook, you will need to choose a night and stick with it. Everyone needs to plan for family game night and schedule their time accordingly.
While choosing a game night, look at everyone’s schedules. If your teen is always out on Friday and Saturday nights, don’t choose that night. If you know you have a weekly meeting on Tuesday nights it might not be a good choice. Pick a night when everyone is home and stick to it. Inconsistent scheduling can kill a game night forever.
Pick Snacks Carefully
Drinks and snacks are essential to any gathering. Game night should have its own type of snacks that won’t interfere with game play. Greasy or messy finger foods can ruin the game you are playing. Large foods that take time to eat and chew can interfere with the flow of the game, especially games that require you to scream out answers like charades or trivia games.
Choose some of your family’s favorite finger foods. Chips, party mixes, popcorn, and fresh cut fruit are all good choices for game time snacks. Make iced tea, lemonade, or a pitcher of iced water ahead of time so you don’t have to leave the game during play.
Explain the Rules Clearly
Everyone plays games differently. This is especially true if you have invited a guest for the first time. Explain the rules before the game begins and make sure everyone understands. Arguments could spark mid-play that will ruin the entire night if the rules aren’t fully clear. If there are differences in the way everyone plays the game, compromise and come to a solid conclusion before you start. If possible write the rules down so everyone can see what was agreed on.
Keep Variety Available and Switch it up
Everyone has their favorite games, and their least favorite. Playing the same game every week can cause your players to dread game night, especially those who never win at it. Although game night is not all about winning, it is definitely the goal for the players. Keep a variety of games on hand that everyone likes and switch it up. If Suzie likes charades but Alex never wins at it, choose a game next week that Alex may be good at and give him the chance to win also. This will keep your game nights for everyone.
Holding a weekly family game night is a great way to pull your family away from their phones, computers and friends to have a night of bonding. With a little planning and patience, each night can bring you closer and closer. Make your family game night a success with compromise and fun.
Betty Buchannan is an avid family blogger. If you are planning a family game night, visit http://www.triviaquestions.net/movies/ for great movie trivia questions to reel in the fun.
