Family board game nights are a great way to spend some quality time together and bond – while having fun and even competing with each other.
But without proper planning, the night might not be as fun as you wanted.
In this blog post, we will explain how to set up a family board game night to ensure it’s fun for your whole family.
How to Setup a Family Board Game Night
Here are the steps to set up a family board game night:
- Consider the ages of your family members
- Choose a suitable game or games for a game night
- Don’t forget the snacks
- Clarify any rules with all family members
- Enjoy the game night
To help you make your family game night as fun as it can be, we wanted to take a detailed look at each of these steps and give you our top tips.
1. Consider The Ages Of Your Family Members
Different games are suited for different ages. So if your family has children that are completely different ages, for example, a 6-year old and a 15-year old – you should try to find a game that’s suited for both of them.
Everyone should be able to understand it while keeping it fun for each family member. This means you should avoid games that are too complex for your younger children – the same way you should avoid games that are tailored toward very young children for older ages.
2. Choose a Suitable Game or Games For a Game Night
Although this point sounds similar to the previous one, it is a different one. Each game is different, and there are a lot more things to think about than the ages.
We recommend you ask yourself some of the following questions to find suitable games:
- How long should the duration of the game be?
- What type of games have your children expressed interest in?
- Do you want cognitive or educational benefits for your children?
- How many players should play the game (i.e., how big is your family)?
Answering these questions should help you find a game that is perfect for your family. But, of course, you can also choose several games, especially if you plan on playing for a couple of hours. And, of course, make sure to order them in time for your game night.
3. Don’t Forget The Snacks
An excellent game night will also have some snacks and drinks that your whole family can enjoy. On our game nights, we love to go for juices, some chips, and some other small foods that our family can snack on while eating.
But feel free to go with whatever snacks you enjoy – make sure there’s something that everyone likes!
4. Clarify Any Rules With Family Members
If you don’t clarify the rules with your kids entirely before playing, they might get a little upset if they lose (depending on their age). So before you let the games begin, make sure everyone is clued up on the rules of the game so that you can all enjoy a fun night.
5. Enjoy The Game Night
Once you’re all set up… It’s time to let the games begin.
Not so fast: Before you start, we recommend turning off any unnecessary technology so you can enjoy the moments with your family. Whether that’s phones, iPads, etc., notifications can be a real distraction and rob you of the valuable family time you had planned.
And from there, enjoy the night!
