Mumsnet users share their tips for a family night in with Goliath Games

[JustineBMumsnet]

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It’s not uncommon in a normal year to find yourself spending more time at home with your family as the nights draw in. With that even more likely to happen this year, making the most of family nights in is key, so you may have a few tips and tricks on how you enjoy this time together. With this in mind, Goliath Games would like to hear your tips for the perfect family night in.

Here’s what Goliath Games has to say: “Often it’s difficult to find something that the whole family will enjoy on a night in. Games like Wordsearch can bring everyone together as it appeals to anyone: from kids to parents, even grandparents! It’s such a well-recognised format and is easy to understand, just be the first to find the words on the board! Wordsearch is also educational, helping with spelling, reading and helps develop hand-eye coordination; but don’t worry the kids won’t realise they are learning as it’s so much fun!”

Do you have go-to snack ideas that please everyone, or do you order a takeaway to maximise on family time? Perhaps you find it helps to switch things up with a new board game? Or maybe your family has an old classic that you dig out time and time again?

Whatever your tips for a family night in, share them with Goliath Games on the thread below and you’ll be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £100 voucher for the store of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

Insight Terms and Conditions apply

We haven't found a game that we can all play together yet as 4y old DS isn't really interested in following any rules. Our girls are 9 and 7 and love playing UNO, rummy or pontoon.
The safest family evening in is probably home made pizza, movie and popcorn (if we can agree on a film.......)

We love a board game!
Current favourites are Labyrinth and Scotland Yard.
There are loads to choose from though and plenty that the whole family (from age 5 to 45!) can play together.

Popcorn mixed with m&ms for snack
Board games occasionally (zombie themed!)
But love having a home cinema and settling down to Parenthood

We like Arrogance, Articulate and Pictionary as family games. Bake Off is also the focus of family night - Dh watches sport with the boys, I watch sci fi and fantasy and comedy with them, Bake Off is one of the only shows we all watch together.

Have a bell or something else that you can 'ding' to remind people that it's their turn, so you don't have to keep saying it out loud.

We love playing board games and Monopoly is an all time favourite.
No snacks or takeaways though - it's usually a Sunday so we play until teatime. Great for cold winter days.

Favourite games:

Exploding Kittens
Taskmaster (hilarious fun)
Cluedo
Monopoly (usually one of the 'specials')

Or we'll have a film night with snack type food or nice cake / pudding.

I like to spring a games night on the children randomly, usually when I think they have been using their tablets too much. I'll just appear with a selection on games and bowls of sharing snacks. They always really enjoy it and never hesitate to play.

The kids absolutely love it if we get a takeaway for family night. It makes it a real treat for them. Now we have 2 teens and an 8 year old, it is actually really enjoyable having a games night with them. We have a mix of older classics (monopoly, scrabble, cluedo and a really retro "game of life" from my childhood!) as well as newer games like ingenius, dobble, frenetic etc.
Letting them take turns in choosing the games helps them engage better and it really does get all our brains ticking over, having a laugh together and family bonding time.
We've tried a couple of collaborative/escape room type games too as a family as they are great as you are working together rather than someone winning and someone losing.

Mine are only little 4 and 2 so our "family nights" are more afternoons. They love games like tumbling monkeys and easy board games. It has taught them to take turns and help with counting. If they are tired we just put film on to watch with cuddles. In lockdown we had theme days at home to break up the week for us and then, things like a favourite character day, beach day in the garden and a "spa day". We just follow their lead really, but love some of these replies and hope we can do that as they get older.

We choose a selection of games for the DC to decide from. We've learnt this ensures that the same games don't get played repeatedly whilst others languish at the bottom of the toy cupboard! Before settling down we check any batteries in games still work and all the pieces are there.
To avoid arguments we always have a recap of the rules. We don't usually have any snacks during our game playing sessions as we usually play games straight after dinner.

We usually do a long walk before a games night. Then we'll start late afternoon with a game, often followed by a takeaway and often finish up with a film or Netflix. Always with treats like chocolate or popcorn.

Screen ban, nice snacks and a range of games to suit everyone. I definitely love sneaking some education in without the DC realising. I try to buy games with that in mind.

I was going to say board games, but now I realise what the thread is promoting I'd feel like a right toady saying that. So I'll say pizza night and box sets or a good film instead (my family are in their teens now). We recently watched the whole of Deutschland 83 and 86 together and bloody loved it.

Have a bell or something else that you can 'ding' to remind people that it's their turn, so you don't have to keep saying it out loud

What a brilliant idea, especially on games where it isn't obvious someone's turn is over so you have to say "is it my turn now, or are you going to trade/ buy any more cards/ move out of Tokyo/cast a spell"

We love board games, we have a cupboard full of them! I love to try new games but i do love the old classics aswell. Its a great evening when you play a game, makes you bond more and have a good giggle.
We usually enjoy snacks such as a bowl of crisps to pick whilst we are playing.
I prefer games where i can just sit and play, nothing hectic like Twister! xx

Usually start at the dinner table when we are all together playing guess the character (usually Disney), moving on to charades . depending on energy we usually play a board game until fights break out. We also have a Switch so very good for family games without being seen as old .kids get a lot of fun out of teaching us how to play games. Usually we all get to choose snacks if game night is planned and share so we have a variety of sweets ,chocs, crisps etc .

We love games like this. I like a night in where my son helps to cook and it is a sharing type of meal. We like games where there is a timer - ups the excitement and it doesn't matter what age you are you can join in. So 60 sec challenge and articulate and pass the bomb are great favourites

we loves a games night. Card games - Cheat, Whist - always popular, as are Boggle, Doddle and Uno. Monopoly or Game of Life is we are in for a long haul. And recently discovered Drawosaurus online, which is fun. And we have salty snacks and make our own bubble tea or have a pot of green tea or pink lemonade. There will be a lot of this in coming months.

SCRABBLE we played every night during lockdown ( English lesson for my 14 yr old without him realising). Chess & Cards is the go too on holidays.

my sons favourite game is monopoly ad it last for hours usually until he wins by buying up everything on the board.

Our kids love board games so we don't usually have any trouble convincing them to play. Banagram and marshmallows as 'winner treats' is always one they love!

My DC are 1, 3 and 7 so a full on game night with all of them would be challenging. My older DC like party games, since lock down we quite like an evening of party food and some classic party games, musical statues, bumps, paper islands etc

Buy pizza bases from the supermarket - they everyone make their own pizza with their various toppings - colourful veggies, then a feelgood film, and ice creams

We let everyone have a turn in choosing what game we play, so that no one feels left out