It’s easy to fall into the same routine—work, dinner, TV, sleep. Rinse and repeat. Change it up every now and then by hosting a family game night.
Game nights are perfect for competitive people and for those who just simply want to sit down and spend time with the people they love most. They can even be a great learning opportunity for your children. With the right games, you can reinforce important educational topics while providing a chance to connect and engage with your kids.
If you’re looking for entertaining, educational games to add to your family night, check out my personal favorites.
Who says trivia has to be boring? I Should Have Known That! showcases tidbits of knowledge that most people should know (but probably don’t) into one game. Instead of getting points for right answers, you lose points for wrong answers, all while groaning, “Ah! I should’ve known that!”
Although this game can intensify your competitive family members, you’ll also learn fun facts along the way!
This game is best for children ages 14 and up. It typically costs around $20, but right now, you can buy it on Amazon for just $12.99!
The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game®, made for children ages 3 and up, involves sorting and matching colors while helping a little squirrel prepare acorns for the winter. It’s a colorful, highly interactive game that comes with a matching board book. Even though this is a preschool game, the sneaky squirrel’s actions make it great for everyone. This game is currently on sale for around $18. Both my 3.5 and 6 year old enjoy this game very much!
Tapple is just an all-around fun game, but can be a bit stressful for those who dislike timed responses. The main centerpiece of this game is a plastic wheel surrounded by letter keys.
At the start of the game, one player picks a card and announces the prompt/category, which is usually something simple like “Fruits,” and then presses the 10-second timer button on the center of the wheel. One by one, players must find objects that fit within the category that start with each respective letter. After the letter is pressed down, the 10-second timer resets for the next person. Once a letter has been selected, it can’t be played again. If a person can’t think of an object (that starts with a letter) in time, they’re out of the game. If you’re the last person in the round and you name a qualified object in time, you’re the winner of that round! And to win the entire game, you have to get three category cards.
It’s fast-paced and exciting, and it actually helps improve vocabulary! The game is recommended for children ages 8 and up and only takes about 15 to 20 minutes to get through one game, so it’s perfect if you don’t have a lot of time! You can purchase it from most retailers for about $14.99.
Not all forms of education require pencil and paper. Suspend is a family game that asks players to balance small wires on a stand. This game provides hands-on engineering and math practice and plenty of excitement when the pieces topple and everyone’s sent into a fit of laughter. Though anyone can play this game, the dexterity and creativity it requires works best for ages 8 and up. Younger children may struggle with the fine motor skills required to play it well. This game is around $22.99 to purchase, although Amazon is having a 14% off sale.
The Puzzle Match Game gives kids the opportunity to explore their spatial skills as they work to match their blocks to a puzzle card. Twist, turn, and rearrange until the tiles on the blocks match the tiles on the card. Once they match, hit the buzzer to be the first one to score. While this is definitely an excellent option for family game night, it’s also great for independent play. Kids can see how quickly they can match the puzzle cards on their own for additional memory and spatial reasoning practice. This game is recommended for ages 4 and older and retails around $26.99.
Are you looking for more fun ideas for your family? Simply Sales has your back. Just visit our website, where I (and the rest of the team!) share gift guides (with discount codes), product reviews, family night ideas, and other content that busy moms need! You can also join our Facebook community to connect with other moms and to get real-time updates on our favorite sales when they happen. We look forward to seeing you there!
