Tips To Hosting Family Game Night That Adults And Kids Will Love

If Latinos know how to do anything, its multi-generational partying. Birthday parties, family game night, holiday parties or any kind of celebration generally is meant for family of all ages. While I think this is a great way to build family legacy and pass down cultural roots, one of these generations can often feel left out of the experience. Ultimately, I think there’s an art to hosting family game night that adults and kids will love and I hope I’m on the right track…

How to Host Family Game Night

Learning to host experiences in our home that both protects my babies’ youth and still offers a fair amount of adult type fun has become kind of an obsession lately. From play dates to family game nights, I want all my loved ones to feel attended to in our home.

Here are a few tips I’ve picked up along the way to host a family game night that involves, celebrates and embraces each generation of the family…

1. Pick the perfect game: This is maybe the most crucial tip to hosting a successful family game night for all generations. Obviously we don’t want to play games that are inappropriate or make our guests feel uncomfortable, especially young children. Some cards game out there are a riot to play with friends, but aren’t great for little ones. But if you’re hosting a Family Game Night that involves guests of all ages, maybe Hungry Hungry Hippo isn’t the best idea either. Don’t get my wrong, my kids love Hungry Hungry Hippo, but their childless Tio…. maybe not so much.

Daddy D’s family loves playing various card games (Spades is their favorite!) and it’s a great way for kids, too. Card games are inexpensive and beloved by most. Charades and Heads Up are also inexpensive and fun alternatives. Most board games have a rating system that helps you determine whether a game is appropriate for kids, families or adults.

For this game night, I picked up the popular Apples to Apples during my weekly shopping trip. Alina (5 yo) teamed up with her Tio – which was a WONDERFUL bonding experience for them -while Sebastian (3 yo) cuddled with his Tia and cheered us all on. I thought about getting Apples to Apples Junior, but worried it wouldn’t be as engaging for the adults. Ultimately, the game we played was perfect. We laughed our hearts out and made some pretty awesome memories together as a family of three generations.

Family Game Night Ideas Adults Love Too

2. Plan your timing and spaces: When I host Family Game Night, I always serve dinner first for a number of reasons. I want my family to have their bellies full as we head into our legacy building moments. Also, since it’s usually more comfortable to play games at the dining room table, I like to serve dinner and then get it cleared off for the rest of night. Dessert plates are easy to shuffle around if needed. When we play charades or games that involve movement, we move the party to the living room, but we generally always eat first to allow guests to loosen up before the main event.

3. Crock pot meals can be special, too: My brother lives out of state, so this particular Family Game Night was a bit more special than an average evening with the kids and husband. I wanted to make a meal that we’d really enjoy, but one that wouldn’t keep me in the kitchen all night. I ended up making Slow Cooker Korean BBQ Short Ribs (recipe coming soon!) with freshly steamed baby bok choy over white rice. It was so simple and flavorful! Also, since our Family Game Night was over the Thanksgiving holiday, we all enjoyed something different.

4. Bring on the contributions!: Even if you’re hosting the party, suggest (or allow) guests to make a contribution to the evening. Potlucks are great in part because they allow others to feel involved in the creation of a memorable night. From a great bottle of wine or even a new favorite game, invite guests to be apart of the experience. Even kids can help out by writing name cards, setting the table or helping their team win!

5. We’re all winners at Family Game Night: You could lose every hand and still come out a winner at a successful Family Game Night! The way to do that is to remember that the purpose of the evening is social interaction and making memories with people you love. It goes without saying how cool it is that Family Game Night also models to your children how to take turns, win and lose with grace…. and to laugh really loud!

Hosting a Family Game Night that both adults and kids are apart of (and love!) is possible. Not only is it possible, but it’s an effective and easy way to build family legacy for all generations of your family.