10 Compelling Reasons to Have a Family Game Night

One of the reasons GameroomVault.com exists is to help promote time together for families. Regardless of whether you are playing a board game, darts, or ping pong, games can be a great family activity. Unfortunately, life often gets in the way and time with family winds up being cut short. In this article we’ll take a look at 10 reasons why you should make quality time together for fun and games.

1. Family Bonding

As a parent, one of the best things you can do for the health of your family is to prioritize family time. If your family has a scheduled game night once a week or once a month, that is quality time that you know you’ll have with the whole family. You can show your kids they are important to you by dedicating time to them. In fact, most kids appreciate your time and attention more than any gift you could buy for them.

2. Develops the Habit of Spending Time Together

A family game night is great for building in to your regular schedule. If you do it on a consistent basis you’ll build the habit of getting that time together as a family. And you don’t always have to play games. If everyone is not in the mood for games that night, you can always substitute something else like watching a movie together or going out for ice cream. There are a lot of benefits from playing games, but simply having time together is what’s most important.

3. Gets Kids Away from TVs and Screens

In today’s society we spend way too much time looking at screens. Many of us stare at a computer screen all day, and then in the evenings a TV is usually on. The screen habit starts really early with most kids in our culture. My 4-year-old daughter will watch YouTube videos on the iPad all day long if you let her. And many kids have smartphones now as well. Having time away from screens is healthy and needed.

4. Games Teach Valuable Lessons

Games certainly can, and should, be fun. But there is also a lot that can be learned from playing games. Kids learn how to handle winning and losing (and adults too, for that matter). They learn how to follow directions and play by the rules. Games can even help to develop social skills. Some games are highly educational as well. Depending on the age of your children you can use games to teach things like the ABCs, math, colors, shapes, etc.

5. Builds Problem Solving Skills

Games also teach kids how to solve problems. Most games involve some sort of challenge or obstacle, as well as some strategy. Even without realizing it, these situations can be excellent teaching and learning opportunities. Problem solving is a necessary skill that will be extremely valuable throughout their lives.

6. Gets Everyone Together

Most of us have such busy schedules that families often have very little time together. Kids are often involved in all kinds of extra-curricular activities, and parents have to juggle their own schedules with taking kids to their appointments and events. It’s not unusual for families to have little or no time at all together throughout the day. Family game night is a great way to ensure that you save some time in your busy schedule for each other.

7. Fun for Everyone

This time together can be fun for kids of all ages, and for adults as well. There are games for all different age levels and interests. As a parent, much of the fun comes from simply having time with your kids with nothing else to worry about or to distract you.

8. Game Night Can Be Versatile

There are all kinds of different things you can do, and part of it will depend on the ages and interests of your kids. You can play board games, card games, interactive games, and even active or physical games. It can be around the kitchen table, or you can create a fun gameroom in your basement or a spare room in your house. Play Monopoly, have a ping pong tournament, or even go bowling. Whatever interests your family.

9. Great Stress Reducer

As an adult, a game night is a perfect way to get your mind off of work and the daily responsibilities that can cause a lot of stress. Laugh and have fun with your family and you’ll find that it makes you feel much better. And it’s not just adults that need stress relievers. Kids, especially teens, can also face a lot of stress at school and in their own lives.

10. Creates Lasting Memories

As your kids grow up they will have great memories of the fun times that you spend together as a family. For you as a parent, time with your kids goes quickly and they’ll be out of the house before you know it. Memories of time together will be cherished by everyone.

The most important part of a family game night is making it happen. Make it a priority and get it on your calendar, or you’ll find that the busyness of life prevents it from happening. If you don’t have a regular night with your family, schedule your first one today.