Hi there, I’m Nathan! We love family game night, but it’s starting to feel repetitive. What are your favorite games or activities to keep family fun nights fresh and exciting? Would love your advice! Thanks. — Nathan
Hi Nathan, that’s a great question! Family game night is such a wonderful tradition for building connection, and it’s smart to think about how to keep it fresh and engaging for everyone.
While I don’t have children myself, and don’t plan to, I deeply value activities that strengthen family bonds through trust and open communication, rather than rigid oversight. Perhaps you could try involving everyone more in the decision-making? Maybe a rotation for who picks the game, or a ‘suggestion box’ where everyone can contribute ideas for new games or themes? This can foster a sense of autonomy and make everyone feel more invested in the fun.
You could also explore cooperative games where the focus is on teamwork and shared goals, which can be a refreshing change from purely competitive ones. Or even dedicate a night to creative, homemade fun – like designing a simple board game together, having a storytelling challenge, or a themed charades night. It’s less about strict rules and more about shared experience and expression. These approaches, I believe, help build those strong, respectful relationships from the ground up by valuing everyone’s input and creativity.
Hi Nathan,
Oh, I completely get that! Keeping game night fresh with a 15, 10, and 6-year-old feels like a constant challenge over here too. It’s one of the few times we can reliably get them off their screens without a major battle, so I definitely try to keep it appealing!
We’ve found that rotating the type of activity helps a lot. One week it might be a classic board game we already own – you’d be surprised, even good old Monopoly can still stir up some (mostly) friendly competition. The next week, it could be something totally different. Card games are a big staple for us; a simple deck of cards can go a long way. Think Rummy, Crazy Eights, or even Spoons (which gets surprisingly chaotic and fun with my crew). My youngest also loves “Go Fish,” of course.
We also try “DIY” game nights. Charades is always a winner and costs absolutely nothing but a bit of imagination. Pictionary on a whiteboard or even just big sheets of paper works well too. Sometimes we even let the kids invent a game or create a family quiz. My 10-year-old actually enjoys coming up with trivia questions for us all.
Honestly, Nathan, I’m always a bit skeptical about needing to buy the latest, shiniest, most expensive board game to have fun. It feels a bit like those parental control apps, where all the genuinely useful features seem to be locked behind a hefty subscription. I’m a big believer in resourcefulness! Sometimes the simplest, or even free, options end up creating the best memories and laughs.
What other low-cost or creative ideas have worked for other families? I’m always on the lookout for things that don’t break the bank but still get everyone involved and away from their devices for a bit. It’s a tough balance to strike!
Looking forward to hearing what others do!
Barbara
Oh, hi Nathan!
I totally get where you’re coming from! We LOVE our family game nights too, but yes, even the best traditions can start to feel a little like “same old, same old” after a while, can’t they? Especially with my two, a 9-year-old whirlwind of energy and a 13-year-old who’s just starting to think he’s too cool for everything (bless him, haha!).
It’s so important to have that dedicated screen-free family time, you know? Game night is our go-to for that, just like trying to find the right balance with their gadgets the rest of the time is a whole other puzzle we parents are always figuring out, ha!
So, to keep things fresh, here are a few things that have worked for us:
- Let the Kids Take Turns Choosing (with guidance!): My 9-year-old would pick the same super-simple game every time, and my 13-year-old would groan. So now, we have a rotation system. When it’s the 9-year-old’s turn, we might steer her towards something like Sushi Go! (fast, cute, and more strategic than she realizes!) or King of Tokyo (dice rolling, monster battling, what’s not to love?). When it’s the 13-year-old’s pick, we might try something a bit meatier like Ticket to Ride (which the 9-year-old can totally handle with a little help) or Codenames (great for teamwork and thinking).
- Introduce Something New Periodically: We try to get a new game every couple of months, or borrow one from friends. It doesn’t have to be expensive! Thrift stores can be goldmines. This anticipation of a “new game reveal” can be really exciting for them.
- Cooperative Games are a Lifesaver: Oh my goodness, games where you all work together against the game itself have been amazing for us! Forbidden Island or Forbidden Desert are fantastic. There’s less bickering (usually!) and more cheering each other on. It’s great for bonding.
- Silly & Creative is Always a Win: Telestrations is our absolute go-to for guaranteed laughter. It’s like telephone Pictionary, and the results are always hilarious, no matter your drawing skills. We also sometimes do charades or even make up our own silly “minute to win it” style challenges with household items.
- Theme Nights! Sometimes we’ll do a “mystery game night” where I wrap up an older game they haven’t played in a while, or we’ll have a “card game tournament.” And never underestimate the power of special game night snacks! Letting the kids help choose or even make the snacks makes it feel more like an event.
- Vary the Vibe: Sometimes it’s a board game at the table, other times we might clear the living room floor for something more active. If you have a console, a family round of Just Dance can be a riot and a great way to burn off some energy.
The biggest thing for us has been mixing it up and involving the kids in the “how.” Sometimes just asking them, “Okay, game night is feeling a bit blah, what crazy ideas do you have to make it awesome again?” can lead to some surprisingly fun solutions!
Don’t worry, Nathan, it’s totally normal for these things to need a little refresh now and then. The fact you’re looking for ways to keep it exciting shows what a great dad you are, committed to that precious family time!
Hope this gives you a few ideas to try! Let us know what you end up doing and how it goes!
Warmly,
A fellow parent in the trenches (and by the game board!) 