Family Fun Night Idea: The Family Game Show Night
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Family game night can be more than just pulling out a few decks of cards or board games. Turn your next game night into a collection of family bonding activities with this fun idea. Everyone in the family can participate, and someone will take home a big prize!
Choose the Best Family Board Games
Each family game show night should be different, so you may want to start off by investing in a collection of board games. The games should be geared toward the ability level of each family member who will be playing, so take that into consideration as you shop. Memory and matching games are great for younger kids, while card games like Uno can be easy for almost everyone to play. Some other ideas for families with younger children include.
If your kids are a bit older, you can throw Monopoly, Life, Clue, Scrabble, and Trivial Pursuit into the mix. Of course, you don’t have to invest in a lot of new games. A dry-erase board on an easel and some dry-erase markers are perfect for playing Pictionary, and charades requires only some paper and a pen.
Get into Costume
Play up the game show theme by having everyone get into costume, Let’s Make a Deal Style. This gets some extra use out of those old Halloween costumes, and it also gives everyone a chance to have some extra fun. You can even turn this into a game by making everyone choose a costume at random by picking them out of a bag. Have some self-adhesive name tags available so each family member can create their own design (and even pick a new game show name too).
Pick a Host
No game show night is complete without a host, so be sure to designate one for the night. You can also switch roles throughout the night so everyone gets a chance. A flashlight or hairbrush work perfectly as a faux microphone, giving the host the chance to “interview” the winner after each game. Younger kids might enjoy playing host while the older players take on more complex games.
Set up a Craft Service Snack Bar
Make sure there’s a break in the action by setting up a craft service snack bar, just like TV shows have available. You can fill your snack bar with candy, chips, and popcorn or make it a dinner feast with a table filled with pizza, breadsticks, and chicken fingers. Head for the snack table between games or whenever tensions get to be too much during a competitive match. An ice bucket, along with soft drinks, water, or juice are perfect for your family game night craft service snack bar.
Give Away Parting Gifts
Every game show has parting gifts for the players, so consider adding some extra fun to the night by giving away a few too. Movie theater boxed candy and $5 gift cards make great gifts, and small blind bags are fun for younger players. You can even go with traditional kids’ party favors. If you don’t want to spend money on the parting gifts, create “certificates” on your computer for things like a day without chores or an extra 15 minutes of screen time.
Invest in a Game Show Night Trophy
Keep track of how many wins each family member has throughout the night so you can declare a winner for the evening. Once the winner is announced, you can present them with a Family Game show Night trophy. This can be a statuette or a medal (or even a crown) that gets passed from one winner to the next. The winner keeps the trophy until a new one is named at the next family game night. You can purchase your reward of choice from a party or dollar store, but to make it a truly special prize, consider having one made at a local trophy shop.
Family fun night ideas help bring everyone closer and provide a great alternative to spending time watching TV or playing on screens. Take these family game night ideas and make them your own to create a tradition everyone can remember fondly.
