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How to Make It a Family Night

As children grow older and get involved in more activities, spending time with family becomes more difficult. As a result, many families try to make family night a priority. Creating a family night does not have to involve much planning. The purpose is to do something fun together no matter the activity.

Things You'll Need

Movie
Board games
Picnic dinner
Soccer or basketball
Fishing pole
Bait

Instructions

Watch a Movie
- 1
  Rent a movie. Ask family members for suggestions on what movie to watch, or put different movie genres in a hat. Choose one person to select the genre, and pick a movie based on what is written on a slip of paper. Rotate who gets to choose the movie each week.
- 2
  
  Purchase small bowls or popcorn bags that can be enjoyed during movie night.
  
  Make dinner prior to the movie. Choose a simple meal that can be prepared by everyone, and sit down as a family to eat. Make popcorn and special snacks after dinner and gather in the family room to watch the movie.
- 3
  
  Having a family slumber party is a fun way to increase family time.
  
  Turn movie night into a slumber party. Ask everyone to bring their pillows, blankets and sleeping bags into the TV room. Sleep there after the movie is finished.
Play a Game
- 4
  Play a board game such as Monopoly, Clue or Life. For families with younger children, choose games such as Candyland, Chutes and Ladders or Uno Jr. Teach small children about how to take turns and how to act when winning or losing.
- 5
  
  Charades is a game where players act out what is written on the card.
  
  Organize a game of charades. Divide the family into two teams. Have each team make up ideas and write them on pieces of paper. Place all of the pieces of paper in a hat, and ask everyone to take turns acting out what is written on the paper they choose.
- 6
  
  While soccer can be competitive, it is also a good option for a family game.
  
  Organize an outdoor game of football, soccer, kickball, baseball or basketball. Divide the family into two teams, and play until one team wins. Prepare Popsicles or ice cream to have as dessert following the game.
The Great Outdoors
- 7
  
  Picnics are a good way to spend time outside with family.
  
  Fill a basket full of lunch meat, bread, hot dogs and hamburgers, salad, chips and dessert and head for the nearest park for a picnic. Choose a park that has picnic tables and barbecue grills. Play on the playground as a family after dinner. Plan a game that can be played as a family, such as tag, hide and seek, soccer or kickball.
- 8
  
  Share one tent or put up several for the whole family.
  
  Go camping in the backyard. Set up tents and roast marshmallows and hotdogs on an open charcoal grill. Look at the stars and constellations or tell ghost stories after it gets dark. Challenge family members to catch the most lightening bugs and keep them in jars for the evening.
- 9
  
  Riding a bike is a great source of exercise and is a good family activity.
  
  Ride bikes to the nearest park. Pack some snacks, and plan an evening of soccer or baseball.
- 10
  
  Try catching frogs or crayfish with nets.
  
  Visit the nearest pond, lake or river to fish. Get each family member a fishing pole and bait. Check to make sure a fishing license is not required. Most states allow children under certain ages to fish, but most adults require a license.

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