July 28th, 2022 | Updated on August 8th, 2022
Family game nights are a fantastic chance to spend time with your family, even getting the extended family around for some fun. You’ll enjoy each other’s company and spend quality time together without distractions.
A game night can also be a chance to save money, unwind and let your hair down for a while, which can be hard when you are a stressed-out parent.
All you need to enjoy a game night with your family are some great games and activities, a range of snacks, some drinks, and good company. Here are some ideas of things that you could play.
Word Games
Word games like Scrabble (or Boggle if your children are younger) are fun and educational, and they can get really competitive.
Just make sure you choose a game that everyone can play together, opting for something more fun and less serious with younger kids, or if your kids are far apart in age. If anyone gets stuck and frustrated, a word unscrambler can help – you just type in the letters and press enter.
Hedbanz
Hedbanz is the boxed version of that game we all played when we were kids when someone put a sticky note on someone else’s forehead with a name, place, object, or animal written on it, and the person wearing the note had to ask questions to try and guess what was on their head.
You can, of course, still play it like this, but Hedbanz is great for kids because you get colorful headbands and picture cards to stick in them.
There’s no writing or preparation, and even kids who aren’t reading yet can play. It’s easy, funny, and doesn’t take long to play. Perfect for families with younger children.
Jenga
Jenga is such a simple concept, but it’s so much fun and strangely addictive. In the summer, giant Jenga out in the garden can also be a brilliant challenge, which is especially useful for entertaining if you are having a garden party and other kids and families are coming.
Suspend
Suspend is another simple concept that’s incredibly competitive and tremendously nerve-racking. If you like Jenga, it’s definitely one to try.
During a game of Suspend, you each have small metal sticks or rods, in slightly different shapes with color-coded ends and notches.
The aim of the game is to hang all of your rods onto a stand, and then balance new additions onto each other, without knocking them all down.
Ticket To Ride
Ticket to Ride is a brilliant family game. It’s often seen as an adult game, and couples and groups can enjoy long games, building train tracks all over the world, using problem-solving skills and strategy to outwit their opponents and block off lines.
But the colorful pieces and fun gameplay mean that kids love to have a go too. It can last a while, so it might be best for older kids with longer attention spans, but it can be a great game for a family game night.
Monopoly
There are some fantastic modern games like Suspend and Ticket to Ride, but that doesn’t mean that you should overlook the old classics like Monopoly, and now for younger kids, Monopoly Junior.
Video Games
A big part of the appeal of family game nights is that you all get off smartphones and screens and give each other your attention. But don’t think that this means you can’t occasionally enjoy family video games too.
If you have a Switch console, games like Mario Party and Switch Sports can be fantastic family fun, and on other consoles, sports games can be fun in multiplayer. Let your kids show you their favorites and have a go.
Family game nights are wonderfully good fun. Try to make them a regular event, and you’ll all start to look forward to this quality time together.
Image: Unsplash.com
