by Linda Castillo
Now that my eldest daughter is four years old, I was excited to start a new family tradition – family game night. Our week is hectic rushing to get to school, ballet lessons, appointments, daycare and work, so family game night is a great escape from our hectic routine. It’s the perfect time to simply relax and spend time together having fun.
Here are some ideas to make your next family night a hit!
Mark your Calendar
There are so many activities going on and even things to do around the house that unless you set a date family game night it may never happen. Decide on the frequency and evening that works for your family’s schedule. It can be every other Friday night or even make it in the middle of the week to add some fun to the weekly schedule.
Quick Meal and Simple Snacks
I like to order pizza for game night that way I don’t have to worry about getting caught up in the kitchen making dinner and washing the dishes. Also, have some healthy snacks like fresh fruit of the season, popcorn, or pretzels to keep everyone fueled up to play their best.
Time to Pick The Games
Depending on your child’s age, there are plenty of games to choose from. Hasbro offers a wide selection of games for every age. Since my daughter is four, we started with Hungry Hungry Hippos, Crocodile Dentist and Operation Game. I was feeling really nostalgic opening the Operation Game which I enjoyed so much playing when I was a little girl. I love that my daughters will enjoy some of the classic games from childhood and new ones that just came out.
Game night is a great way to spend time together and an opportunity to teach preschoolers that playing a game is not just about winning. My daughters will see that playing games is about being together and creating special memories.
Note: Hasbro provided the three games mentioned above as part of a product review.
Linda Castillo is the Founder and Executive Editor of www.ModernLatina.com. She writes on topics that empower and inspire Latinas including art, motherhood, green living, culture, travel, and issues transforming the Latino community. Linda has earned a B.S. in Business and a M.S. in Mass Communications from San Jose State University.