Thrifty Thursday: Family Board Game Night, Entertain the Whole Family for Under $5.00
Thursday June 18, 2009
Maybe it is the economic times or could be the nostalgic mood of today's parent, I am not sure why, but board games have really made a comeback. We love to play games and through behavior modeling, so do our kids. Therefore, this week's tip is really a no brainer, right?
More: Thrifty Tips for Families
A two liter bottle of soda, two bags of microwave popcorn and 2-3 board games out of your games closet costs less than $5.00 and provides an entire night of fun entertainment for your whole family. That is less than one person seeing a movie and is guaranteed to be more fun. Tips for your family board game night:
- Play more than one type of game, giving everyone a chance to pick their favorite.
- Discuss the rules of each game before the game is played. Majority rules on any discrepancies.
- Turn off the phone(cell phones too), the television and the internet . Turn on some music. Focus on enjoying each other and the games rather than winning.
Haven't been bitten by the family board game bug yet? Try it for a really fun time with those you love. If you think it will be like pulling teeth getting your family to the game table, try this:
- Set the table up with a favorite game.
- Set out treats and snacks that you normally save for special occasions.
- Ask your family to come play a game with you. Do not pressure anyone to 'have fun'. If someone does not want to play, they can watch or just have snacks. It takes time to start a fun family tradition but everyone joins in eventually.
- Have fun - good light-hearted fun only! Even if everyone at the table is grumpy, you should have fun enjoying the game, company and food. Like ducklings behind their mama, everyone else will follow.
More: Thrifty Tips for Families
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- How To Give Choices
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This is a great idea, Denise. If you have trouble getting the children (or the husband) away from the TV, choose a night which is relatively free of must-see TV and declare that Weekly Board Game Night, one of those traditions that you often tout the importance of. Also, I find that kids, even teens, sometimes lose patience with long board games, so I look for ways to shorten them. Lots of games have modifications in the rules that allow them to be played more quickly.
If the family won’t play, it’s probably because you need to expose them to GOOD games… I’d recommend games like Ticket To Ride, Stone Age, Say Anything, or Wits & Wagers. They’re all easy to learn, but require actual thought, yet still remain fun.
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Sorry for offtopic