make tonight a family game night!

Posted by the elves on 11/7/2011

We play a lot of games at my house. How can anyone resist a sweet voice asking “Does someone want to play a game with me?” Sometimes it has to be a quick game and other times I have to admit I speed a slow game up, by making or not making a certain move. I have even been known to peek to see (and change) what color card is coming up next, in a Candy Land game to make sure whoever is closest to saving Princess Lolly gets there a little quicker.

For the past couple of months we have been taking turns playing ABC Go Fish with my new kindergartener. This has really helped him learn his letters quick, it’s a quick game and we have fun together. I try to add a little more education and conversation to most of the games by asking other questions, such as what things in this room start with “H”. With the older boys we have been playing Scattergories and Boggle. The games can be hard at times, but it leads to really great conversations and humorous moments. Plus it helps us all realize their are many views on one subject.

By far our favorite games to play are cooperative games. Cooperative games are games where you have to work together to solve the problem or “win”. What I like most about these games is we don’t always win, which allows us to think as a group about what we could have done different. I feel these games help to make my boys deeper thinkers. Most cooperative games aimed at 12 and younger are quick too.

I know most people can’t play a board or card game every time a sweet little voice asks them to, that’s why a Family Game night is such a great idea. Choose a night each week (preferably the same one). Each week have a new person choose a game that all players can play. (We have kids ranging from 5 to 16 so sometimes we partner up with the little ones and let them do what they can, like flip cards, roll the dice and move the peg.) Make some organic popcorn and enjoy the evening together.