For some families, just getting everyone to sit down to dinner at the same time for a solid half-hour is like pulling teeth. It’s not that they don’t appreciate each other’s company, just that everyone has a hectic schedule that can’t be easily coordinated. A daughter might have soccer practice on the same night that dad has to work late at the office. But what if – just for one night a week – everyone in the family made a commitment to spending quality time together?
Family games serve to focus everyone’s attention in one direction, but the game isn’t as important as the bonding experience. Families with younger children might want to give Super Scrabble a whirl as it encourages the development of vocabulary and logical thinking. Just don’t pay any heed to dad when he insists that he let somebody else win. Board games just might not be his strong suit.
As a child I was fortunate enough to be exposed to board games at an early age. I have fond memories of playing Chutes and Ladders, Potato Head, Dominoes and many other games.
Families nowadays have many electronic gadgets and if you think your family as a whole is disconnected maybe you could institute an old-time tradition – weekly family night. Rule number #1; turn off all cell phones. Spending time playing board and card games will re-unite and reconnect the whole family.
To this day I still love to play Monopoly, Parcheesi, Sorry, Uno, Rook and so many others. Create many new memories for your family by “daring to turn off your cell phones for one night a week”.