A Family Tradition Continues…
Our grandson is turning three and I was thinking it was time to start collecting some fun and age appropriate board games we could play when he comes over. I grew up in a family where the aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins and friends of the family got together and played games around the table, eating snacks and having lots of good but cheap fun. From the time my own son could follow directions and understand, we’ve played games together and even now, with all the kids out of the house, my husband and I pull out the Sorry or Scrabble or my very favorite but very old game, Racko, on a regular basis and compete. We also have friends over to play, whether it be cards or board games, sip wine, munch on appetizers and visit.
Before I checked out board games at the retail stores, I zipped over to Goodwill to see what they had to offer. I have bought tons of games (and puzzles) there for anywhere from $1.99 to $4.99 and they weren’t missing any pieces. Usually the boxes are taped up and I’ll ask to open it up and make sure everything is there. On the day I went, there were over 25 games on the shelves, all in good condition and nothing was more than $4.99. Then I hit Target and Wal-Mart to see what their selections and prices looked like and to do some “research”. (Which means hanging out and asking shoppers questions so it’s obviously not scientific research!)
Here’s just one shelf of games and puzzles at the Discover Goodwill on Circle….lots to choose from.
When I asked teens if they play board games with their parents a lot of them replied, “They (the parents) don’t have time,” and when I asked parents if they still played board games with their kids, they told me, “No, they (the kids) don’t have time nor would they want to.” Then I changed up my question and asked the teens, “WOULD you play a game with your family/parents if they wanted to?” And I’d say about 80% of them said they would, that might be fun, or, it’s been a long time since we did that, but sure. I even had one (16-year old) tell me that when he goes to his friend’s house, he occasionally joins the family for games but his own family didn’t do that.
The overwhelming response from the parents I queried was, “no time, we’re too busy these days, we wouldn’t be interested in the same games, and they just wouldn’t want to.” Hmmm? When I asked the same shoppers if they watch movies or TV programs together as a family, everyone said yes.
So why not turn off the TV once a week or month, dust off the games you probably already own, check out the used games at a thrift store, or ask your family what game they would play and buy it and declare a family night of game playing? When you play games together there’s communication and interaction going on, it’s cheap, and you just might be surprised how much fun everyone has.
Preschool children typically love playing games and not only is it good bonding time, the kids learn about following directions, rules, fairness, and patience (not to mention colors, numbers, shapes, etc.) Chutes and Ladders, Candyland, and Cootie (anyone remember that?) are three games I picked up for our own grandson at Goodwill (all priced at $3.99). Here’s a few more games appropriate for ages 3 to 6…..
Here’s just a few popular games that are fun for family and friends to enjoy….
Family/friend game night doesn’t have to be just board games either…..we love to have friends over and bowl on the wii.…which we’ve enjoyed so much, now we’re going to the bowling alley and playing for real! (Another inexpensive and fun thing to do as a family or with friends).
Serve up easy and inexpensive snacks (if you’re having friends over, ask them to bring something to share, which keeps the expense down for everyone), have a couple of beverage choices, and just have fun. We have a small bowling trophy that cost about $5 that we’re going to pass back and forth between our friends when we bowl, with the winners keeping the trophy and decorating it in some way until the next winner takes possession. You could do something as corny (but fun) as picking up a fake banana and writing “top game banana” or something like that and letting the family member keep it until the next game night. Make it fun, keep it simple, and have fun, while creating some lasting memories.
I just picked up this How To Host A Murder game (was $2.99 but half off that day) at Goodwill which will be our next game we play with friends….these games are a lot of fun if you’ve never played.
