Family Game Night: Make It Fun for Everyone

By Carol Band

How to Hold a Family Game Night that's Fun for Everyone

An evening of playing games really can bring your family closer, help you get to know each other on different levels, and even build character and provide hours of fun.

Soccer practice and sleepovers, committee meetings and club outings - there are plenty of reasons to rush through dinner and head out of the house. Parents and kids have loads of commitments that take them in separate directions and keep everyone on the go. How do you carve family togetherness time out of that kind of schedule?

Hold a Family Game Night.

It isn't a new idea. In fact, parents and children have enjoyed playing games together for years. But, these days, we need time together as a family more than ever. An evening of playing games really can bring your family closer, help you get to know each other on different levels, and even build character and provide hours of fun.

So dust off the dice, count the cards and let the games begin!

Reserving the Night

Family Game Night can only be successful if everyone shows up, so plan ahead. Choose a night (or afternoon) that isn't busy. Then make sure you don't:

• accept any social invitations
• bring work home from the office
• make any excuses.

Mark the night on the calendar and remind everyone that they're expected to be there - ready for fun. Treat Family Game Night like a special occasion, and that's what it will become.

The key is to make the night an eagerly anticipated, not obligatory, activity. Build the excitement by leaving a game board piece under your child's pillow the night before, placing a card next to her breakfast plates, or sending a note in his lunchbox ("See you at Family Game Night, tonight!). Promise to serve a favorite snack during the games.

"I once put Monopoly money in my husband's wallet on the morning before our scheduled family game night," says Jen Radley, the mother of two boys, ages 11 and 14. "It was a fun way to remind him that there were plans for the evening."
Don't let anything interfere with your game night kickoff. Eat dinner early or order takeout. Make sure homework is done, piano has been practiced and there are no distractions. You might even want to turn off the phone. Then clear away the dishes, put out some snacks and play!