Families who are having a hard time finding time to spend together have started scheduling regular family nights. Once a week, every other week or once a month the family schedules a night where everyone stays home, turns off their electronics and spends time doing something fun. This time can help improve communication and keep families connected to each other. Finding fun activities that everyone enjoys can be problematic, particularly if there is a wide age range. Here are three ideas that can be used with any age. 
Round Robin Board Games
One of the most popular activities for family night are board games. If playing the same games gets boring have everyone choose their own favorite game and set it up in front of them on a table. Everyone will play each game that is chosen. Everyone sits down in front of their favorite game and takes their turn. When they have finished their turn they move to the left to the next game in line and take a turn playing that game. Players continue to circle the table, playing each game in turn, until there is a winner for each game.
Cooking Together
Not everyone likes to cook, but most people have some favorite dishes. Plan ahead to ensure all ingredients are available and have everyone cook their favorite dish. This meal may end up with three side desserts and a side dish, but it is only one meal so that is allowed. This activity can be repeated with the rule that each person must cook a different dish each time. Use the meal to create a family cookbook of favorite dishes. The cookbook can be given to the first person to move out of the home and into their own place. Make copies for the rest of the family too.
Make A Fort
This is a great activity for families with younger kids. Kids love to have a new space to play in and a fort is a temporary space that is easy to make and put away. Gather blankets, sheets or beach towels and some chairs to make the fort. Drape the the sheets over the chairs to create a fort big enough for the whole family to get inside. Use the fort to play in, read a book or eat a picnic. When it is bedtime simply fold up the sheets and put everything away.
Family night is an important event for many families to help keep communication flowing. Take this time to enjoy the families favorite activities and spend some quality time together.
Round Robin Board Games
One of the most popular activities for family night are board games. If playing the same games gets boring have everyone choose their own favorite game and set it up in front of them on a table. Everyone will play each game that is chosen. Everyone sits down in front of their favorite game and takes their turn. When they have finished their turn they move to the left to the next game in line and take a turn playing that game. Players continue to circle the table, playing each game in turn, until there is a winner for each game.
Cooking Together
Not everyone likes to cook, but most people have some favorite dishes. Plan ahead to ensure all ingredients are available and have everyone cook their favorite dish. This meal may end up with three side desserts and a side dish, but it is only one meal so that is allowed. This activity can be repeated with the rule that each person must cook a different dish each time. Use the meal to create a family cookbook of favorite dishes. The cookbook can be given to the first person to move out of the home and into their own place. Make copies for the rest of the family too.
Make A Fort
This is a great activity for families with younger kids. Kids love to have a new space to play in and a fort is a temporary space that is easy to make and put away. Gather blankets, sheets or beach towels and some chairs to make the fort. Drape the the sheets over the chairs to create a fort big enough for the whole family to get inside. Use the fort to play in, read a book or eat a picnic. When it is bedtime simply fold up the sheets and put everything away.
Family night is an important event for many families to help keep communication flowing. Take this time to enjoy the families favorite activities and spend some quality time together.
About the Author:
More Family Night game and activity ideas are available at www.creativekids.thingstodowithkidsmn.com.. Free reprint available from: Family Night Activities.