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Family Game Night!

By Nicki (Hamptons Macaroni Kid)

September 10, 2009

What to do when the day-to-day running has you feeling like you are losing touch with your family?  Call a family game night!   It’s a fun way for families to spend time together, allows you to compete, show off skills, learn sportsmanship and encourage family communication.  It may take a bit of skill to pull them away from video games, web surfing and the TV, but in no time they will be as eager as you!  Please don’t expect to walk away as happy as the families on the top of the game box (cause that would just be creepy), just remember, quality time and laughter is a recipe for memories that will last forever.

Here’s how to make your game night something you look forward to:

  1. Clear the books. Make this an important date. This sends a good message about family priorities, and it gives everyone something to anticipate.
  2. Keep it to the family. You may want to make other game evenings when you invite guests, but for this night, make sure it’s all about your immediate family. This fosters communication, comfort and helps everyone build a strong sense of family identity.
  3. No interruptions. Let the machine get phone calls, turn off your cell and PDA, and make sure all homework is done beforehand.
  4. Choose the right game. Make sure that everyone can enjoy playing the game, and let different family members choose the game. In fact, you might share the duties of being “in charge” of the night so that everyone gets a turn to create the event. (Of course mom and dad can assist the youngest players.)
  5. Vary the games you play. It doesn’t really matter what you play, as long as everyone can feel like a participant. But balance games of skill with games of luck so that everyone gets a chance to do something they’re good at -- and improve the odds of having a winning night.
  6. Use this as a teaching time. Family game night is a great time to reinforce things like manners, being a good sport, taking turns and other social skills that children will need as they grow up and go out in the world. This can all be done with good humor in the context of the game play and the family, and it gives kids a chance to practice these positive behaviors.
  7. Have fun!