A few years ago, our family camped in Indiana at our favorite park (Pokagon State Park just north of Angola, if you’re interested). It was a Friday night, our normal evening of a board game followed by a movie. My youngest daughter lamented the fact that we couldn’t watch a movie while we were camping. I immediately launched into a wordy lecture about the beauty of nature and how great it is to watch the stars or just sit around the campfire. “Yeah, but a movie would be funner,” the youngest sighed.
My goofy husband, with a spitty-lisp, shouted, “Inconceivable!” I responded with, “I do not think that word means what you think it means,” in a rich Spanish accent. Our oldest daughter laughed, “The Princess Bride!”
And the Movie Game was born. We each took a turn to say a line from a movie and the others guess which movie it is from.
“As you wish.” Princess Bride!
“Take your issues off the road!” Ice Age
“Oh, no…Oh, yes!” Spirit
This game continues in the car during long rides, around the dinner table and has now spread to family friends. The beauty of the Movie Game is that it’s spontaneous and can include the entire family. It’s fun and silly and keeps us talking with one another.
Another favorite is the Map Game. On our dining room wall, we have the National Geographic mural map, a 10’x 7’ map of the world. Not only is it a great conversation piece, but an invaluable tool for homeschooling and the only tool needed for the Map Game. The idea is simple in that “I Spy” kind of way. We take turns finding a country or city, name it, and the others search the world to find it. Whoever finds it takes a turn. While our map is ridiculously huge, friends of ours have a map on their dining room table covered with clear plastic to keep it safe.
I invented Laundry Ball a few years ago out of pure desperation for help folding socks on laundry day (which, at our house, is every day). Because folding socks is such a drag, I set up an empty basket. When someone finds matching socks, they fold them together, earning one point, and then toss them into a basket for another point. If they miss the basket, they just pick it up and drop it in, hopefully happy with one point. The person with the most points doesn’t have to put the laundry away in the drawers.
Sometimes, it is within the game that we can find our happiest memories. That’s one reason why the game companies promote a Family Fun Night once a week; sure they do it to sell games, but there is value in the concept. We have all the basic board games, but it isn’t always convenient to play them, especially with a baby in the house who eats everything!
What amazes me most are the valuable lessons I have gleaned from Family Fun Nights that carry over into everyday life. First, the simpler the better. Life with too much stuff, too many rules, and too many expectations just wears me out. Secondly, how we treat each other, the gracious words, taking turns, sympathizing with the loser and not gloating over our win (or vice versa…learning how to lose gracefully), that all matters every day. Thirdly, the time I put in with my kids today determines how they respond to me tomorrow. I like to be treated with respect. I like to be listened to and smiled at. If I make a mistake, I prefer people laugh with me instead of shouting or laughing at me. Through games and time well spent, I can create relationships with my family that will build a strong foundation and pave the way to those deeper conversations that just around the corner. Yes! All that can be established through play!
But this isn’t a definitive list. If you have games or traditions from your family, please share!
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