While so much has changed over the years, family game night is one thing that has yet to change. With so much going on in our day-to-day lives, sometimes it is hard to remember to take a moment and spend time with the people in our households.
As a mom, I know when you finally sit down and have a moment, you usually want to spend that moment with yourself but have you ever stopped to ask yourself, “How much time am I really spending with my family.”
I mean, the real-time, the fun time, the getting to know your family and their behavior time. How much of that time have you really spent with them this week?
One day I stopped and asked myself that question.
Usually, we are always running to this practice and that practice. Then once all of the practices are done, we are off to a tournament somewhere that takes up most of our days. When there’s no practice or a tournament going on somewhere, it’s always someone’s gathering we have to go to or a special occasion.
Well, when was the last time you had an actual family game night of fun?
Most moms will say, with everything else we have going on, when do we have time to plan a game night?
I had the same question when my family asked about a game night. Then I went deeper in my thoughts and asked, why do we need a family game night when the objective is to get the family to bond?
Aren’t we bonding because we are always together? A more profound question is, are we just together in the same space, or are we actually bonding?
Just because you are always around someone doesn’t mean you are making time to do things with them. It just means you’re around them.
Being with someone and actually being with someone are two completely different things.
The benefits of family game night
Studies show that family game nights can help children with several different skills.
- Following directions
Every game that we play comes with rules. So this is a perfect time for parents to explain to their children that rules are created to follow. The child will see that their parents, as well as themselves, can have fun but must also follow the game’s rules.
- Comprehension
Once the directions are explained, it is up to the players to process and comprehend the instructions given to them. This is an excellent way for parents to see how their child understands instructions and if they can follow instructions based on what duties were given to them do.
- Taking turns
Even as I get older, I see many people who forget this simple rule of taking turns. I see this a lot while driving, everyone wants to be the next person in line, and no one wants to take turns going. Maybe they never had family game nights as a child.
Playing games as a family will teach your child how to take turns and wait patiently for their turn to go.
- Winning and losing
At the end of every family game night, there will be a winner and a loser. That’s what playing games is all about. You can teach your child that it’s okay to win only some of the time during this time. Sometimes other people will win.
This is when you can also show them that it doesn’t feel good to lose, but all that matters is they tried their best.
Creating Memorable Moments
Playing together will create memories that will last a lifetime. Growing up, my family would have a game night together about once or every other month.
No, it was not that often, but my parents did make time for us to do it, and now I share that memory and experience with my children.
Family Game Night Age Range
The best part about the family game night is not everyone has to be the same age to play certain games.
When we first started family game nights in my household, we played games with all my children so no one would feel left out.
My youngest was in preschool, and my oldest was in college. Now my youngest is in kindergarten, and he understands how to not only play the games we play but also how to keep up with us.
Every now and then, we still get the occasional child that gets upset when they lose, but we eventually calm them down enough for them to understand that they will not win in every game being played.
11 Best Family Game Night Games
Below you will find the top board and card games our family loves to play:
- UNO
Uno is my favorite game of all time. With up to 16 players that can play at one time, this is an excellent game for any sized gathering you may have.
To play the game, each player has to take turns matching the color or the number of the card shown in the deck of cards facing up.
2. Connect four
This is another great classic game. The objective is to take turns against the other player while trying to get four of the same color chips in a row. The row can be straight across, diagonal, or up and down—the first to connect four wins.
3. Jenga
This is an excellent game of patience. You have to remove a wooden block from a tower and replace the block you removed without knocking over the tower.
The first person who makes the tower falls loses.
4. Operation
This game is one of my children’s favorites. With this game, you have to remove an item from the patient without touching the sides of the opening. If you touch the sounds, the buzzer will go off, and you will lose your turn.
5. Avengers Matching Game
We picked this game, and although it is simple, it is so much fun. This game is a memory game.
All of the games are face-down on the table. Each player has to take their turn to turn two cards over to see if they can match the cards. If the player cannot match the cards, they lose their turn, and the next player goes.
If the player can match the cards, they keep going until they cannot match a pair of cards.
6. Hungry Hungry Hippo
You must press the lever on the Hippo to open its mouth to eat the food. The first Hippo to collect all of the food wins.
7. Scrabble
It is a word game that’s similar to a crossword puzzle. With Scrabble, there are wooden titles with individual letters on each tile. Your job is to create a word to put on the game board. The person that makes the most words with the highest score at the end wins.
8. Guess Who
Guess the identity of the player sitting across from you before they can guess who you are. Each player must draw a card to see how they are, but keep yourself from your opponent. You and your opponent can ask yes or no questions to guess each other’s identity.
Example: Do you wear glasses? No
9. Taboo
Guess the word that is on the card your team member is holding. Your team member can give you clues on the word but can not say the “DO NOT SAY” words on the cards as a hint.
10. CandyLand
The objective of this game is to be the first player to reach King Candy’s Castle. Players will take turns picking up cards to see what color they must move to on the board.
11. Monopoly
The main goal of Monopoly is to be the last player with all the money and the property.
Where to purchase games?
We usually purchase our games from Wal-Mart or Target because we can’t wait to play. If you are an online shopper all of these games can be purchased on Amazon as well.
For more family bonding activities try:
When we are not in the house doing a family night, we are mostly outside checking out Mother Nature. Check out this link, about a great biking trail in New Jersey, Hartshorne Wood Park.
Conclusion
We have found all these games to be fun for the whole family to enjoy. For the perfect game night, a bowl of ice cream and some snacks always does the trick to keeping everyone entertained and meeting their sweet tooth needs.
Thank you again for coming along on this journey with my family and me. If there are any other games you feel my family would enjoy playing, please tell us in the comments below. You can also put any questions in the comments if there are any questions I have not answered about these games or family game night.
