You have heard it before - “…screens are taking over our lives!” You, like so many others, may be at the point where you have to intentionally work in non-screen time for you, your child, or your whole family. If you are really busy, you may have very few opportunities to get the whole gang together. A routine time for analog game-play can do the trick. Here is a brief guide to get the most out of game night.
1. Remember why this is important: The adults in your family are working hard and so are the kids. Most interactions are with some kind of digital device and many nights you may be too tired to do anything other than sit in front of the television or tablet with or without other members of your family. When you and your family interact it is usually about problem-solving or giving guidance on what to do or not to do. Is this sounding familiar? You are not alone. Having a special time dedicated to interacting for the sake of just being together and having some fun can enrich your lives in so many ways. Times dedicated to having fun together help to maintain the affective bonds between you. Parents and children will have more meaningful memories, and be more resilient with one another during all of those other times. Simply put, families that play together, stay together.
2. Pick some good options: The possibilities are endless when it comes to the games you can play. Here are a few top recommendations from trusted individuals:
Uno Flip: This is a simple variation to the timeless classic Uno card game that many of us grew up with. Basically, when someone plays the “flip card,” the deck, discard pile, and everyone’s hand get’s flipped over to reveal a bizarro version of the original deck. “It’s fun and everyone laughs… I like the colors.” - A. T., 8.5 year old girl.
Rack-O: Brilliantly simple, this game provides a fun challenge to sequence the cards in ascending order on the rack. “It’s less about chance and more about logical reasoning.” - J. T., 11 year old boy.
Harry Potter Labyrinth: This game is perfect for any fan of the books or movies. Each player re-arranges the maze on their turn to try to get to different characters. “Not too long, and not too short… a mix of strategy and luck.” - Mother of an 8.5 and 11 year old.
My personal favorite is Harry Potter Labyrinth because it is easy to learn, and there are several opportunities to practice having a good attitude when someone block’s a player's path, thwarting plans to get to their character. Pro tip - you can adjust the length of the game by changing the number of cards each player gets.
Here are some additional honorable mentions:
4 Player chess: A slightly more complex version of the original that allows for more people to play.
Clue: A classic mystery game that has various themed editions, like Harry Potter Clue. 3-6 players.
Catan: A game that gets everyone to build their own civilization and strategize to think about resources and trading. Up to 4 players.
Battleship: Designed for two players, but if you really love the game you can team up with a partner to get more people involved.
Mancala: A timeless classic two-player game that is short enough to have a family tournament.
Mastermind: A strategy and codebreaking game that is designed for two players, but you can work as a team to add players.
3. Choose a good time to try out: Pick a day and time when there is no time pressure. You may want to build some excitement by announcing it a few days ahead of time (but only do that if you are 100% sure you can deliver). If you can fit it into a weekly or monthly routine that is even better. Weekend or half-days from school are good, but regular weeknights can work too. It is best if everyone is done with their duties, chores and /or homework. Don’t do it at a time that conflicts with another favorite activity. We like to do it over dinner sometimes. Remember, you want to “stack the deck” for everyone to have a nice time.
4. It’s less about winning, losing, or even getting the rules right, so remember number 1, and have fun!