Family Game Night

Family time is so important. We enjoy playing together as a family. There are days when it’s not so easy, when one child doesn’t want to do what the other does but when it come together it’s magic.

I found the best way to work in family game time is by getting dinner done by 5pm. That gives us enough time to eat and play. Everything that needs to be cleaned up gets put on hold until after we are done playing. However, we do put the left over food away first. If this won't work for your family pick another time that does. It might be that a certain day or the weekend will work best.

One of the boys favorite things to do is throwing a ball around outside. We get out the football and chase each other around. The last couple of days have been great weather for getting out and playing. We also play basketball.

On those days we don’t feel like running around we will do something like sidewalk chalk drawings, nature walks or go to the park. 

When the weather doesn’t hold up and we are stuck inside we play board games. Board games are becoming a thing of the past but they are a wonderful resource for learning and having a good time together. There are so many board games out there that teach math skills, money saving, life lessons, spelling and creativity. 

We also like to play the Wii. There are some great family games out on the market. We like Wii Sports, Carnival Games, Rock Band, Just Dance and the Wii Fit. It’s been a good investment for our family because it gives us something to do together. My boys are 12, 5 and 9 months and finding something we can all do together is really hard. The Wii makes that possible. It can turn game time into something competitive and exciting. 

This is his bowling pose. 

Family Time doesn’t have to cost money it’s just takes time. Time is important for your FAMILY. Take the time to find things to do together and enjoy being with each other. 

Family Time

You know how sometimes you just take a moment to look at your life and you're just happy to be alive and have the people you love around you. The moments where you take a minute of your time to watch what is happening around you. You just look over and smile and have that overwhelming feeling of love for your family. This happened to me just the other day.

We were playing with my 3 boys, Ben 12, Isaac 3 and Eli 6 months. I looked over at my husband playing around with my middle child and it just made my heart fill up. I was moved by the time he was spending listening and interacting with them all. It was a moment that I took the time to just look and watch for that one minute.

I feel like most parents don't take the time to play with their children. Our lives are so full of things to keep us so busy and before you know it the day is over and our children are older. 

I was number 5 out of 7 children and there wasn't much play time in my family but I can remember things that meant the most to me and they all centered around the times when my parents took that 5 to 10 minutes just to focus on me. Cooking with my Mom or making crafts was the best time together. Back scratches from my Dad or a game of chase were moments I cherish. Just thinking about them brings tears to my eyes. That's how important it was to me. Now my mom is gone and those times will be forever what I hold on to.

It's challenging to find things that all the family will enjoy together but when it happens it's amazing. It's for this time that I am so extremely thankful. Playing with the kids doesn't have to be something super exciting and expensive, a lot of what we do in my house is free. We don't really go out much since we have a little baby in tow. We play board games, wii games, silly games that we make up, watch movies and do crafts together.

It just takes 5 minutes of your time to sit down and listen. Pick up a game or puzzle to do together. Maybe just hide around the corner while your child is walking down the hall is all it would take to make  a game of chase. Children need that time together. It's good for development and it enriches the relationship with them for a lifetime. Before you know it they will be all grown up and out of the house, off to college, married, or having their own children. 

In the weeks to come I will post things you can do with your children. Don't miss it. The time is flying by.