10 Great Ideas for Family Game Night

Scavenger Hunt

This is a wonderful outdoor game where you hide different items all over your backyard and give players hints on where to find them. A scavenger hunt is a great way to let your kids get some time outside while engaging in a fun activity. You can get your kids involved by asking them to give you ideas on what kind of hunt you should have.

Similarly, you can turn it into an indoor game and hide different things all over the house, then let them search for them. However, be ready to have it turned upside down. But that's a small price to pay for all the fun you will have.

Hide and Seek

This game needs no introduction because it's so simple even a baby can play. Change things up by making up new rules to increase the difficulty, such as setting a timer to find everyone. This game is a great way to get younger kids involved and remind everyone else of their inner child.

Charades

This word-guessing game is a beloved classic that allows you to let loose and is entertaining for all ages. You can play it anywhere and at any time, meaning you can even play while on the road. The goal of the game is to act out a concept while your partner tries to guess what word it is. You can customize this game for younger kids with charade ideas involving things they can easily identify, such as musical instruments, everyday activities, or cartoons. 

Obstacle Courses

This is another outdoor game that can also work as an indoor game. If your little ones have been stuck on their screens, a bit of physical activity working to evade various obstacles could provide hours of fun. You can create your obstacle course using pillows and chairs and make blanket tunnels, forts and more. Make sure you clear out the space you intend to use and store away any fragile items.  

Indoor Bowling

If you are stuck at home and cannot get down to the bowling alley, you can always make your own at home. Clear out the living room and set up your bowling lanes for a fun night of bowling. You can get home bowling kits or DIY it and use plastic bottles as bowling pins and a small ball as the bowling ball. You can even make it a craft project, numbering the pins and helping your kids learn numbers as they play.

Picture Word Bingo

This game is a good way to help your kids learn new words and how to match them to the right pictures. You can customize it to suit kids of any age. For instance, for the youngest kids, you can use sight words and simple pictures and gradually make things more difficult for older kids.

Jenga

This classic block-stacking game requires loads of patience and a steady hand. It's ideal for kids as young as 5, but they might need some help getting some of the pieces out.

Balderdash

One of our all-time favorites is Balderdash. Any child that can write a few words can play. If you have younger kids, create teams with older kids or adults who can do the writing. Making up funny definitions for words, or crazy events for dates can bring on uproarious laughter and release a lot of the stress and tension of our daily lives.  

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How Do You Make A Game Night More Fun? 

The secret to having a super fun family game night is proper planning.

–Set the date

You want to pick a day when everyone is available and at their best. Avoid school nights since the fun activities will go well beyond bedtime, and you don't want to mess with their school schedules. Friday or Saturday night works best. Just remember to involve everyone before settling on a date.

–Pick what games you will play

Since they are the star of the night, it's important to decide in advance what kinds of games you will play. The best games for family game night should be age-appropriate, teach a lesson, be easy to set up and be loads of fun.

–Prepare snacks

Gaming is an energy-intensive task, and no game night is complete without food. Having the right snacks at your game night is crucial to its success. If you plan on playing after dinner, prepare healthy, light snacks everyone will enjoy, such as chicken wings, mozzarella sticks, tacos or carrot sticks and dip. Avoid giving the kids too much sugar so close to bedtime.

–Set some rules

It's important to have some rules in place before beginning game night, such as no using electronics, no cheating, no sore losers, and everyone must take part. It might be hard to stay away from electronics but unplugging for a few hours will allow you to reconnect with your loved ones.

Lastly, smile, relax and let yourself have some fun. In this fast-paced world, getting some time to simply kick back and spend time with family is hard, so take advantage of this. Be mindful of the moment, and remember you are creating lifetime memories with your kids; you don't want to miss out.

There you have it, a list of the best games for family game night. These are ideal for all ages and are both fun and educational. Remember to use the tips listed above to make things even more fun for the whole family.