| Having a regular family game night is a great way | | | | miss anything important. Otherwise, you will end |
| for the entire family to have fun together. It's | | | | up stopping to wait for conversations that |
| also a great way to spend quality time together | | | | interfere with your family's special time.o Let your |
| and actually helps kids with their socializing skills. | | | | friends know and have your children do the same |
| To make Game Night a success at your house, | | | | with their friends. Once they figure out what you |
| here are some tips on how to get started:o | | | | are doing every Wednesday at 7pm, you will |
| Agree on a night and time when everyone is | | | | have fewer interruptions.o Choose snacks for the |
| available. Don't make the mistake of scheduling | | | | family ahead of time so you can have them |
| during your son's football practice or your | | | | ready when game time starts.o Choose how long |
| daughter's piano lesson.o Don't let anyone out of | | | | game time will last (maybe an hour) so that you |
| game night unless it is a really important occasion. | | | | have time to complete games. You will probably |
| If they start missing for every little thing that | | | | find it much easier to keep your older children still |
| comes up, eventually there will be no one left to | | | | than you will the younger ones for longer periods |
| play!o Decide as a family what games will be | | | | of time.o Choose games that you can complete |
| played. Vote on them and choose from several | | | | during one game night rather than having to pick |
| that you can switch between. If you take turns | | | | back up in the same place the next week. By |
| choosing which of the chosen games you will play, | | | | then, it will have lost its excitement.o Get a |
| then keep a record of who chose last and whose | | | | comfy card table and chairs. This is especially |
| turn it is every week.o Choose games that are | | | | important for little ones who have trouble playing |
| age appropriate for the whole family. You don't | | | | on the dining room table and trying to reach the |
| want to play Chutes and Ladders every week | | | | middle of a game board. |
| and the little ones can't keep up with more | | | | Family game night can be a wonderful experience |
| complicated games. Look for those marked "All | | | | for every family member. With a little planning and |
| Ages".o Don't answer the phone. Have the | | | | a commitment to stick with it, it will grow to be |
| machine pick up any calls to make sure you don't | | | | your kids' favorite tradition! |