Does your family need a change from the everyday routine? Does it seem like everyone is off by themselves absorbed in their own interests? Do you see your children draped across the furniture, their expressions glazed with boredom? Time to plan a family night! These are great opportunities to bond as a family, have fun, and build stronger relationships with each other. It can be challenging to spend quality time together, especially when one or both parents works outside the home and have only the evenings and weekends with the rest of the family. But with some forethought and planning, you can schedule an evening full of memory-making activities your entire family can enjoy. Here are a few ideas to get you started as you plan your next family fun night.
Game Time
One of the best activities you can share as a family is playing games together. Even the very young can play simple ones such as Old Maid or Go Fish. With so wide a variety of card and board games available, your family can enjoy hours of fun interaction. Plan a start time, pop some popcorn, and clear the table for games—and put the phones away. You don’t have to be limited to the card and board versions, either; try some tried-and-true classics like charades, doggy doggy where’s your bone, blindman’s bluff, or hide and seek. Or, get creative and make your own board game!
Movie Night
Another easy amusement is watching a movie together. This is something we do with our daughters every so often, and they always get excited about it. After the movie is chosen, the girls change into their pajamas and grab their “snuggle essentials,” like their blankets and stuffed animals. I let them pick a special snack to munch on during the movie, and then we all cuddle up together and start the film.
The More the Merrier
You could also consider inviting another family to join yours for the evening. This is a wonderful way to reach out to families who may be struggling spiritually or who simply need some encouraging fellowship. Plan simple snack foods and several different games everyone can play; set out a puzzle for people to work on; prepare a few easy crafts for little ones to make. Or you could go somewhere nearby for an activity such as bowling or skating. This past Christmas we went over to some friends’ home for dinner, and then we all piled into their van to tour a local Christmas lights display. It was something simple, but we all had a very enjoyable time together and made some special memories with our friends.
Pick a Theme—Any Theme
One more suggestion is to plan a theme night and implement it in food, games, and other activities. For example, some friends of ours recently had “Grinch Night” with their family and wore Grinch-themed clothes, ate Grinch food, and watched the Grinch movie.
Whatever you choose for your next family night, make the most of your extra time together!
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Jennifer is a pastor’s wife and mom of two young girls and loves homeschooling them. During her own twelve years of being homeschooled, Jennifer developed a passion for reading and writing. She earned a bachelor’s degree in creative writing and relishes writing during her free time.