If you have visited my blog often you already know I really like to play games. I have reviewed several here on my blog and talked about playing board games, card games, dice games, trivia games, etc. When I found out that this Wednesday 9/23 was National Family Game Night I had to make mention of it!
I grew up playing games and always enjoyed it. I remember playing with my parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, and now Hubby and Taylor too. My extended family and I get together once a month to have game night and celebrate the birthdays of that month. We had our game night just this past Saturday (we played dominoes and Imagine If this time) and everyone brought snacks (I brought my homemade hummus) and it was fun as always. I asked my family members if they wanted to share anything about games…
Hubby – “It gives me more time to spend with my favorite-mother-in-law” (He really calls her that and she calls him her favorite-son-in-law)Aunt Judy – “Game night is a good way to keep the family together, a good reason for a get together”
Jamie – “I remember Grandma and Grandpa teaching me to play games as a little girl. I always got to stay up late then too. I have loved playing ever since.”
Dad – “I remember playing all sorts of games every Monday night like Rummy Royal, Aggravation, Blitz, and Yahtzee”
The Fairy Godfather – “I enjoyed playing games with my daughter, Jamie, when she was little”
Tomorrow night, Hubby, Taylor, and I will have our own little Family Game Night to celebrate the 1st Annual National Game Night. Taylor likes Monopoly or Scrabble usually, but you never know with him what he will pick. We play games as part of homeschooling fairly often as well. I think games are fantastic for teaching colors, reading, numbers, counting, deductive reasoning, spelling, team work, and I could go on and on. It really does not matter what you play – just so long as you play! Several folks on twitter commented they wished they had family close by for Family Game Night, you can have anyone you want though. Some do just immediate family members, some folks play with extended family, some with friends and neighbors. Whatever works for who you have around!
Tips for National Family Game NightLooking for some quick tips to make the most out of National Family Game Night on September 23? Below are ten helpful hints to prepare for the nationwide event and to start creating a family game night tradition that the whole family will look forward to week after week. Call the family together and gather around a Hasbro game for a great night in any day of the week!
1. Schedule it!: National Family Game Night is Wednesday, September 23, mark the calendar!
After participating in the gaming event, decide in advance which day will be your weekly family game night. It doesn’t matter which night of the week you choose – any night will do! As long as the date is marked on a calendar that everyone can see and parents make it a priority to keep the appointment, the night will be one to remember! Use stickers or a colored marker to help make the family game night dates stand out on the calendar.2. Involve everyone in the planning: Involve the whole family in the planning process by allowing the kids to pick the games or choose the snacks. For variety, rotate responsibilities during each family game night.
3. Game suggestions: Be sure to pick games that are age-appropriate for all family members so that everyone can participate. For an active family, BOP-IT! or the classic game of TWISTER are great options. For a laugh-out-loud time, families might want to try GUESSTURES or TABOO. For families that thrive on competition, try CONNECT 4×4 or MONOPOLY CITY.
4. Fun food “pairings”: A special family game night menu will make everyone look forward to the festivities. Serve fun finger foods that are easy to eat during game play, such as hamburger sliders or chicken fingers. A make-your-own sundae bar is a sweet treat for dessert before or during game night. Or, use a family recipe to make your family game night unique.
5. Create a tradition: Whether it’s the way that teams are selected, a 30-minute bedtime extension, or having everyone play in their p.j.’s, establishing an activity on family game night that becomes a family tradition will create even more excitement around game play for everyone in the family.
6. Keep a family scoreboard: From week to week, recognize the family member who won the last family game night by posting their name on a special scoreboard that receives a place of honor on the refrigerator. Or, create a family crown that can be worn by the winner at dinner or during the next family game night.
7. Remind everyone: To keep the date with the family, set up reminders on a handheld device or on the family computer to make sure that game night happens. For the tech-savvy, reminders can also be sent through Evite.com or on social networking sites such as Facebook. For the kids, put a note in their lunchbox reminding them about family game night.
8. Mix it up with “special guests”: To expand the fun, invite other families in your neighborhood to participate in a family game night tournament. If you have extended family members living in the area or if you are traveling during a scheduled family game night, invite everyone to participate!
9. Capture the memories: By having regularly scheduled family game nights, families are guaranteed to create new and lasting memories. Snap a photo of special moments at each family game night and place the printed photos around the house or email to relatives to share that come-from-behind win or incredibly tall Jenga tower!
10. Brainstorm for next week’s family game night: As each family game night winds down and clean up begins, start brainstorming for next week’s event. What games might be selected? What will be the special food served? By planning in advance for the next event, you can get a jumpstart on the preparations and raise the anticipation level for the next family game night.
I hope all of you participate in National Family Game Night in some form. Just take time to have fun and enjoy each other’s company! Happy Gaming!
