A family game night is a great way for parents and kids to bond. It can help develop family connections, as well as teach valuable skills, such as the importance of playing fair, how to pay attention and keep track of things, and how to be a good winner and a good loser. It’s fun, too, of course! Here are some tips on how to make sure a family game night isn’t a family lame night.
Get Rid of Distractions
A family game night means a family game night. It does not mean a tablet night, or a watching TV night while occasionally rolling some dice. You want the time to be spent together, strengthening family bonds – not distracted by the hockey game on TV or texting on a cell phone.
Democracy!
Have a vote on what to play – it’s important that the entire family gets a say in what to do, not just the kids! Learning to cooperate and do what others want to do sometimes is a key skill, and family game night can help encourage that.
Have Rules
As with anything where there are winners and losers, some ground rules are important to keep feelings from being hurt. You want friendly competition – not the beginning of family rivalries. A set of ground rules can help prevent an overzealous winner from hurting the feelings of the loser, or the loser from sulking all night through.
Snacks!
Finger food and tidbits are a great way to keep the fun going. Popcorn is a classic snack, though a bowl of fruit is a healthier alternative. Anything light and easy to eat between turns is a great choice.
Take Breaks
Some games can end up taking quite a while to finish, so give everyone a chance to get up, use the restroom, text friends, etcetera every now and again. Don’t have the breaks be too long – if they last longer than ten minutes or so, interest tends to wane and it can be hard to get going again. An occasional break, however, can keep a game from feeling like a slog.
Another great way to spend a weekend? Coming down to Kids Fun City, of course! Check us out for a fun day full of games and activities.
