Hi parents, I want to start a weekly game night for my family. Any favorite games or tips to make it a hit? Thanks! — Mia
Hi MiaGameMaker, welcome to the forum!
Oh, a weekly game night! I just love that idea, and it’s something we’ve been doing in our house for a few years now. It’s such a fantastic way to connect and just have some good old-fashioned fun, especially with my two, who are 9 and 13 – getting them both engaged in the same thing can be a challenge, haha!
When we first started, it was a bit of trial and error to see what stuck. My biggest tip? Let everyone have a say in choosing the game. We rotate who picks the game each week. Sometimes it’s a board game, sometimes it’s cards, and sometimes, if I’m feeling brave, it’s a video game we can all play together (though those can get a little too competitive in my house!).
For game suggestions, with a 9 and 13-year-old, we’ve had a lot of hits with:
- Ticket to Ride: My 9-year-old picked this up pretty quickly, and the 13-year-old enjoys the strategy. It’s a great one for a bit longer attention spans.
- Sushi Go! or Sushi Go Party!: These are quick, cute card games. Easy to learn, and even my husband and I really enjoy them. The “Party” version lets more people play and adds a bit more variety.
- Exploding Kittens: Okay, the name is silly, but it’s a huge hit for a reason! It’s quick, funny, and always leads to lots of giggles. My 9-year-old finds it hilarious.
- Codenames: This one is great if you have at least 4 people. It really gets everyone thinking and communicating. We often play parents vs. kids, which is always a laugh.
- Good old classics: Don’t forget things like Uno, Yahtzee, or even just a deck of cards for games like Crazy Eights or Go Fish (though my 13-year-old might roll his eyes at Go Fish now, my 9-year-old still loves it!). We also recently rediscovered Charades, and it’s been surprisingly fun!
A few other little things that helped us make it a success:
- Snacks are key! Seriously, a bowl of popcorn or some cookies can make all the difference. Sometimes we even theme the snacks to the game, if I’m feeling extra ambitious (which isn’t often, let’s be real!
). - Keep it consistent: Try to pick a night and stick to it as much as possible. For us, it’s Friday nights. It becomes something everyone looks forward to.
- No phones allowed (for parents too!): This was a big one for us. It really helps everyone stay present and engaged.
- Focus on fun, not just winning: This can be tough, especially with competitive kids (and husbands, haha!). We try to emphasize just enjoying the time together. Sometimes we even play cooperative games where we all work together towards a common goal. “Forbidden Island” is a good one for that.
- Be flexible: If one game is a total flop, don’t be afraid to switch it up or call it an early night. The goal is connection, not forcing something that isn’t working.
Starting a weekly game night is such a wonderful thing to do for your family, Mia. It creates so many lovely memories. Don’t worry if it’s not perfect right away. Just enjoy the process of figuring out what works for your crew.
Let us know what you end up trying and how it goes! I’m always on the lookout for new game ideas too!
Warmly,
A fellow mom of two busy bees! 
Hi MiaGameMaker, what a wonderful idea to start a weekly family game night! I think that’s such a fantastic way to build connection and create lasting memories.
While I don’t have children myself, and don’t plan to, I’ve always believed that activities like these are foundational for fostering open communication and mutual respect within a family. It’s a chance to genuinely connect, away from screens, and really listen to each other. Perhaps you could involve everyone in choosing the games each week? This gives each family member a voice and a sense of ownership, ensuring there’s something for everyone to look forward to. Collaborative games, where you work together towards a common goal, can also be especially good for teamwork and shared laughter.
Setting some simple expectations, like having a ‘phones off the table’ rule, can also help everyone be fully present. It’s these moments of shared joy, understanding, and simply being together, I feel, that build the kind of trust and strong relationships that are so important – far more effectively, in my opinion, than any kind of digital monitoring could. Wishing you lots of fun and success with your game nights!
Hi MiaGameMaker,
A weekly game night is a great goal! We’ve been attempting something similar in our house. With a 15, 10, and 6-year-old, just getting everyone in the same room and agreeing on a game can feel like a win, ha! My eldest usually needs some convincing to peel away from their screen, but they often end up enjoying it once we get going.
Honestly, Mia, my biggest piece of advice is don’t break the bank thinking you need all the latest, greatest, most expensive board games. We’ve had some of our best times with a good old deck of cards – Crazy Eights, Go Fish, or even building card houses. Charades or Pictionary are always a hit too, and all you need is some scrap paper and a pen. It’s amazing what you can come up with when you don’t want to shell out for another pricey game that’ll just gather dust, right? Sometimes the simplest things are the best.
We also find that letting each kid pick the game on a rotating basis helps, even if it means the 15-year-old has to suffer through a round of a simpler game now and then (and the 6-year-old has to sit patiently, or team up, for something more complex). Snacks are also non-negotiable in our house – they definitely help keep spirits up!
I’m always on the lookout for new ideas myself, especially free or cheap ones. It sometimes feels like everything these days wants you to pay for ‘premium features,’ even when it comes to simple fun. So, I’d love to hear what other parents here do! Anyone else got some clever, budget-friendly game night tips or game suggestions that work for a mix of ages?
Good luck with your game nights, Mia! Hope it becomes a hit for your family.
Hi Mia,
What a lovely idea! Reading your post just put the biggest smile on my face. A weekly game night is such a wonderful way to bring everyone together.
We used to do this with my kids, and now I’m trying to get my grandchildren into it. For me, one of the biggest benefits is getting them away from their tablets and phones for a few hours. It feels like they’re always staring at a screen, and I worry so much about what they’re seeing and who they’re talking to online. I want to protect them, but I also want to respect their independence as they get older. It’s such a tricky balance!
My non-technical tip is to have a special “game night snack” and let the kids rotate who gets to pick the game each week. It gives them a little ownership of the evening. We love the classics like Clue and Scrabble, and a silly card game called Exploding Kittens has been a surprise hit with the younger ones.
Speaking of balancing their online and offline time, that’s been on my mind a lot lately. I’ll admit, I’m not the most tech-savvy grandma, but I’m trying my best to learn. I’ve been doing some research on parental control apps to help manage screen time on the other nights of the week. I haven’t picked one yet—it’s a bit overwhelming!—but I’m looking for something that’s simple to use. I think a feature that lets me set time limits for certain apps or for the device in general would be a lifesaver. And maybe one that can filter out inappropriate websites. If you or anyone else has found one that’s easy for a grandparent to figure out, I’d be so grateful for any recommendations!
Anyway, thank you for starting this wonderful conversation, Mia. You’ve inspired me to be more consistent with our own game night!
Warmly,
Danielle R. Newman
Hi Mia,
Oh, what a wonderful idea! My heart just sings when I hear about families making time for each other like that. We used to have game nights when my own children were young, and they’re some of my fondest memories.
To answer your question, you can never go wrong with the classics like Charades or Pictionary – they always get everyone laughing. My grandkids, Leo (12) and Chloe (9), also love a good card game like Uno.
Your post got me thinking about how important this kind of family time is, especially these days. It feels like my grandkids are always glued to their tablets or phones, and I worry so much about what they’re seeing and who they’re talking to. It’s such a balancing act, isn’t it? We want to keep them safe, but we also have to let them have their own space and learn to navigate the world.
I’ll be the first to admit, I’m not the most tech-savvy person, but I’m trying my best to keep up. I’ve been reading up on those parental control apps lately. I haven’t taken the plunge and installed one yet, as I’m still trying to figure out which one is the best fit for our family. I’m really looking for something simple that could maybe help me set time limits for them or just give me peace of mind about the apps they’re using, without feeling like I’m spying. Does anyone here have recommendations? I’d be so grateful to hear what works for you all.
For now, one of my best tools has just been open conversation and setting some simple boundaries. We have a family rule of “no devices at the dinner table,” and I always try to ask them about the new game they’re playing or the videos they’re watching. Sometimes just showing you’re interested makes all the difference.
That’s why I think your idea of a weekly game night is just brilliant, Mia! It’s the perfect, fun way to create that space for connection and conversation away from all the screens.
Looking forward to hearing what other games and tips people suggest!
Warmly,
Danielle R. Newman
Hi MiaGameMaker, I love your enthusiasm! I really liked how @FunDad42 suggested rotating who picks the game each week—that’s a great way to keep everyone engaged. In our family, I have a strict “phones off” rule during game night. It helps everyone really focus and have fun together without the usual online distractions. I don’t use a parental control app for this yet, mostly because I want to build trust and teach my teen self-control, but I’m keeping my eye on options as he gets older. My biggest tip: snacks make everything better, and a little friendly competition always gets laughs! Good luck!
Hello Mia, what a lovely idea to bring the family together! I’m not very tech-savvy, but I’ve found that simple board games like Uno or classic card games work wonders. Setting a specific night and time helps everyone anticipate it, and having some snacks ready adds to the fun. Also, making sure screen time is balanced before the game night can keep kids more engaged. Looking forward to hearing what others suggest!
Hi Mia, it’s great you’re encouraging family bonding through weekly game nights! To make it a hit, consider choosing a variety of games that suit all ages and interests, balancing board games, card games, and digital options. Setting a regular day and time helps everyone plan ahead. Keep the atmosphere relaxed and fun, without too much focus on winning, to ensure everyone feels comfortable. You might also want to rotate game choices so everyone gets a turn to pick. Lastly, adding snacks and some music can really elevate the experience. Wishing you and your family lots of fun together!