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Family Game Night Ideas
Our family life is hectic. We have daily schedules that consist of working full-time jobs and side hustles while making sure that our kids are getting school work completed and to and from their extracurricular activities. With my husband’s referee schedule and all of my business ventures as well as two very active kids who play sports and participate in dance and cheer, it is not always easy to find time to be together as a family to just unwind. That’s why we love family game night!
Family game nights started involuntarily around the time of COVID-19 when we were quarantined in our homes and didn’t have any option but to enjoy each other’s company. It was that or we easily lose our minds. We had to find ways to entertain our kids and ourselves. While scrolling on social media one day, I came upon a family who liked to play a card game called “Garbage.” We quickly fell in love with it!
We now have a closet full of board games that our kids love to play! So after the strict Covid restrictions were lifted, I felt kind of bummed that we might lose this time together. Enter family game night!
When our kids hear that we are having a family game night, they get so excited! It’s a great suggestion for a rainy day (check out other ideas here). We let them choose what we eat and have for snacks. Their go-to meals are usually tabletop nachos or breakfast for dinner.
Tabletop nachos are a big deal in our house. I start by laying out a clean contractor bag or plastic tablecloth across our table. Then, we spread the tortilla chips out all over and add all of the toppings. We like nacho cheese, taco meat, sour cream, taco sauce, and jalapenos. The great thing about this is my daughter and I don’t like jalapenos so we choose to forgo those on our side of the table. Then it’s time to dig in! The best part is that when everyone is done, you simply fold up the tablecloth and throw everything away. There aren’t any dishes to be cleaned which is always a plus!
Breakfast for dinner is always welcome as we make homemade chocolate chip pancakes, bacon, eggs, and sometimes hash browns. It’s a treat for everyone!
Once dinner is finished the games begin! Below is a list of some of our favorite games to play. Since we have an 11-year-old and a 5-year-old, we try to choose games that each of them can play or allow them to take turns choosing a game so they each feel that we are giving them attention equally.
- Don’t Wake Daddy
- Garbage
- What Do You Meme?
- Hi Ho! Cherry-O
- Guess Who?
- UNO Attack!
- Operation
- The Logo Game
Have other suggestions for family game nights? Let us know!
