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Low budget family game night is one of the best ways to create family memories. These game nights will become treasure troves that your children will pass down through the generations. Setting one up is easy, affordable and super fun! Here is how we do game nights at our home.
Game playing teaches kids about winning and losing, it also allows for healthy competition. Games are very educational. Setting up a time each week or month will be something everyone looks forward to.
Creating a Family Game Night
Game nights do not just happen. They have to be planned on purpose. Nowadays with so many busy schedules it is hard to have devoted focused family game time. Hardly anyone stays home anymore to have fun. Low budget game nights at home can be the next new trend. Staying home doesn’t have to be boring, and having fun doesn’t have to be expensive.
Time for Play
Kids need time for play. It is a very important part of their learning. Modeling play time through games is an easy way to teach them. Playing games teaches children that someone will win, and someone will lose. In addition to that they get to see the entire family smiling, joking and laughing. Laughter is good medicine.
Games help with problem solving, memory expansion and social skills. Games teach children to achieve. Parents playing with children gives them a chance to see mom and dad having fun. As a family it is important to have down time.
Some of our best family game nights have been impromptu. When the kids’ ask to play a game even though you may have grocery shopping to do, set aside an impromptu night, and tell them after the store a few games can be played. Lately, I have been trying to say yes to more games when they ask.
Food for Thought
When I was young our game nights alway included pizza. Pizza and pepsi were our go to food and beverage. Homemade pizza is a great idea and can only add to the fun. Let everyone make their own mini pizza and toppings. Add in a fun beverage such as gatorade.
Another choice for food would be popcorn. Carmel popcorn is our favorite but you do what your family likes and eats. Low budget food choices are easier if they are homemade.
Game Ideas that are Low Budget
Our shelves are filled with games. I have a hard time getting rid of our games. There are so many to choose from that we never get to them all. Math games, history games, science games and many more. We usually pick three to four games for our family game nights. Some easy games and some harder ones. Silly games and strategy games are a good mix. My favorite games are fun games such as Sorry, Yahtzee and Uno.
Some other family game ideas are Wheel of Fortune, Parcheesi, Ticket to ride, Minecraft, Racko and Catan. My sons’ like to play chess with their dad and battleship. Clue has always been a family favorite. Then there is always the memory games, card games and candy land. When they were little we always played some easy board game. Low budget family game nights have been our priority for many years.
No Technology Rule
Technology has taken over our world. It is mostly good. But in our home for game nights we set the rules of no technology. All phones, iPads, computers, TV is turned on. We want lots of conversation happening. Technology has its time and place. Family game nights are not it.
Set aside time without any devices. Unplug and enjoy the togetherness. Sometimes I have even went as far as to turn off my phone so that I do not hear any notifications. It’s’ ok to not be available 24/7.
My goal is to enjoy my children all the time. I want them to enjoy playing games together and that will only happen if we model it for them Just like reading, listening to music and all of the other things they see us do. One of the memories I don’t want them having is watching me on social media all the time.
When our family reminisces hopefully the remember all of the activities, game nights, homemade pizza and fun we had overall. Set up a few boundaries, make sure some pizza dough is ready for the using and enjoy time together.
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