How to Start a Family Game Night Tradition that Everyone can Enjoy
A fun-filled game night is one way to foster family connections and start building traditions. Kids and parents enjoy each other’s company in the comfort of your home. Who doesn’t want a night packed with fun, surprises, great food, and prizes?
Family time is an essential aspect of keeping the family bond strong. It helps the kids feel that they belong and that they are loved.
Focusing on making time for the whole family creates a sense of security for kids and will also help parents stay connected with kids on a different level.
If you or your kids have a slight disconnect or strife, the family game night can help you reconnect and mend those cracks. It can also set the mood for the whole week ahead. For kids, it improves mental and emotional development.
Lessons your kids can learn while participating in a family game night includes:
- Team work
- Problem Solving
- Communication
- Integrity
- Flexibility
- Confidence
- Follow Directions and Rules
- Social Skills
This night of game activities will be personal device-free, family-focused, and entertaining. You can start a family game night tradition when kids are still young and continue to do so even in the teenage years and beyond.
Our family game night falls every Friday. It’s the day we all look forward to after a long week of school and work. So when I hear the “let’s do this again,” I know for sure that it’s a jackpot of a fun night!
There’s plenty of ideas for your family to enjoy and bond together – game night takes the top place for most families!
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How to organize a game night with the family
1. Select the best day and time for everyone.
Everyone takes part in the family game night. So it’s best to check and ask when each member of the family is available. Be sure that you can commit to these activities as consistently as possible.
You can set this game night weekly, every first and 3rd Friday of the month, or add to any special events (birthdays/holidays). You know which schedule works best for everyone, so start with that.
2. Choose 2-3 games to play.
Getting every member to pick a game in which everyone can play. If the whole family agrees to play a specific game or add it to the list of games for the next round, that’s great!
Not all the time; everyone can decide which game to play, so make sure everyone has a say on what to include in family game night.
It will be helpful when there are already lists of games to be played each time (listed below). Then, all you’ve got to do is vote- the majority wins.
3. Create a family game night prize basket.
Another way to spark up the spirit of game night is to have a basket full of prizes and goodies for everyone. Having fun while competing in a friendly manner will boost confidence for everyone.
There will be prizes as well for participating in the games. Everyone gets something out from the game night basket! Young kids tend to get excited when prizes are handed around. You can include toys, books, and other coveted items based on your family members’ interests.
4. Start a game night feasts for the family.
As the name implies, prepare some great food for the big family game night. Have kids choose the menu and let them help prepare the food for the family night festivities.
5. Let children lead the activities.
You may want to take the reins when planning game nights for the family; however, it’s great when the kids can have a turn of planning everything down to the last activity of the night.
Then, have them plan and let them surprise you. What’s not to love about this, you’ll get to sit and relax.
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6. Setting game rules.
For young members of the family, it can become a bit complicated. So make space to readjust some game rules when planning which games to play for the night.
Also, if kids are all in the school-age range, game rules can be strict.
7. Be spontaneous or plan ahead.
Planning builds up anticipation for the game night that your family has chosen. It’s a way to look forward to each week.
Here’s the thing, you can also make a surprise quick game night any time of the week as well.
The kids won’t expect it, and it’ll boost their spirit, especially if it’s been a tough week in school. But, of course, you’ve got to be flexible to squeeze in spontaneous game nights once in a while.
8. Model good sportsmanship.
Win or loss, everyone gets to have fun, right?
This activity can also be a teaching moment for the youngest members of the family. You can give some gentle reminders, especially for kids who don’t understand the concept of winning and losing, to others.
Don’t forget to praise each other for playing a good and honest game. Thank each other for a great family game night!
9. Make it a family tradition.
It becomes part of your family calendar. Reconnecting with your kids is a great way to treasure togetherness. It helps boost family strength and promotes deep connections through fun-filled activities.
Traditions can be passed down to the future generations and something to look back to when kids are grown and have families of their own and game night traditions.
10. Enjoy the conversations and, yes, laughs.
As you enjoy these family activities, you also get to learn from each other. How you interact with one another also lessens stress from overwhelmed parents and school-tired kids.
Your teenager may also open up and share something you didn’t expect to hear.
It can be a chance to reconnect with your spouse while watching the kids play with each other in one of the games. You both can look back on these moments when time moves quickly, and the kids leave the nest.
11. Extras and more fun.
Do you want to invite cousins and other close friends to one of your family game nights? The more, the merrier for these nighttime fun-filled activities.
Make it a family team versus a family team or kids versus parents – it’ll be an excellent way to reconnect with everyone.
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The Best Games for a family game night.
You can add board games, card games, PlayStation games, Wii games, or other creative games your family enjoys. The objective is to have a line-up of fun activities to play on a particular weeknight/weekend night.
Games aren’t made equal; there are more challenging games out there. So work together to achieve a goal when it’s a coop game.
Here are some family game favorites you can try!
Any games on PlayStation (cooperative or competitive):
Some more Games for Families with Younger Kids:
You can also take these game nights outside the backyard or patio. It doesn’t have to be just played indoors.
You can consider the season at the moment, with crisp fall air or just as the sun sets during summer. Or on a spring or winter night to appreciate. It can be an excellent ambiance to enjoy while playing these games with the family.
What do you think of the idea of starting a family game night?
Grab this chance to build a stronger relationship with your kids and for your kids to feel connected with you. Choose the best games that everyone can participate in and have fun with.
When you start a family game night not only lets you restore connections, but it’s also a great way to continue that bonding experience as everyone enjoys the whole family activity.
Do you have a game night tradition? How do you set it up for your family?
4 Comments
Tiny Sprouts
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Jordan N.
It’s great to have family bonding over fun activities too! Your project sounds amazing! Have to check it out! Thank you.
Michelle Latinovich
Family Game Night!!!! I love everything about this post! I really love your idea of making a prize basket…how fun! Thanks for a great read!
Jordan N.
Yes, it became part of our family fun night having a prize basket to enjoy! Thank you, Michelle.