In summer, our family time is dominated by being outdoors: backyard barbecues, trips to the beach, and Seacoast hikes and nature walks. However, as the Seacoast weather turns chilly and we all start moving indoors, it can be challenging to find quality activities to connect with your family — or, at least ones that don’t involve screens. This is where a board game night comes in. This simple, yet powerful activity is not only a screen-free experience, it’s also an opportunity to build communication skills, encourage teamwork, and create lasting memories. Whether you’re playing with a three year old or a thirteen year old, there’s a board game out there that can transform any ordinary night into something special. My family has found that family board game night has brought us together (literally and figuratively) with laughter and connection.
Building the Routine
It’s hard to develop a board game night without a routine. I suggest starting small, like setting aside every Wednesday in October to play a game after dinner. If it works for your family, you can continue! As your family develops this routine, build excitement by visiting a local Seacoast game store or toy shop and get a new game to play on game night! Some local favorite game shops include:
Diversions Puzzles and Games – Portsmouth and Somersworth, NH
G.Wilikers! Books and Toys – Portsmouth, NH
Treehouse Toys – Portsmouth, NH and Biddeford, ME
Noggin Factory – Dover, NH
Village Toy Funatic – Ogunquit, ME
The Beach Funatic – York Beach, ME
Whirlygigs – Exeter, NH
Go! Calendars, Toys, and Games – Kittery, ME
Jetpack Comics & Games – Rochester, NH
A Board Game for All Ages
Where do you start? As my own kids have grown, the games we play at family board game night have matured with them.
To start, games with toddlers and preschoolers can be tricky. My recommendation is to keep it short and simple. The goal should always be for them to feel included. My preschooler always liked to buddy up with a grown up and “play with mommy.” This way, she could still participate — I would just talk her through our steps and ask her advice on each move. Preschoolers like to spin the spinner, roll dice, and pick the cards.
As kids start to learn how to recognize words, numbers, and learn to read, the number of games you can access dramatically increases. I personally found that the early elementary age is one of the hardest when it comes to navigating sore losers and frustration when the game isn’t going their way. I recommend having discussions prior to starting play about how we act when we lose or are struggling. If avoiding outbursts seems inevitable, steer toward puzzles or collaborative games instead of one with a clear winner and loser.
While my kids aren’t in their teen years yet, as a middle school teacher I am exposed to the games teens play on a regular basis. I love playing strategic games during these years. In addition, there’s a lot of opportunity to teach classic card games, as well.
Lost on where to start? Here are some personal favorite games for each age group:
Toddlers and Preschoolers aged 2-5: Zingo, Candy Land, Hungry Hungry Hippo, Don’t Break the Ice, Hoot Owl Hoot, Dinosaur Escape, Sneaky Snacky Squirrel, First Orchard and even more from our previous post
Elementary Schoolers, aged 6-10: Uno, Sushi Go, Max, My First Stone Age, Race to the Treasure, Sorry, Jenga, Checkers
Tweens, aged 10-13: Upwords, Clue, Catan Adventure, Set, Ticket to Ride, Apples to Apples, Yahtzee, Monopoly, Cribbage, Kingdomino, Planet
Teens, ages 13 and up: The Chameleon, Charterstone, Chess, Fluxx, Exploding Kittens, Bananagrams, Pandemic, Scattergories
Bring the Family Together
A family board game night offers more than just entertainment, it provides the opportunity to bring your family closer together. I’ve found that sharing laughs over silly moments, solving challenges as a team, and engaging in a little friendly competition has helped create a space for meaningful interaction. Truthfully I’ve found that it has also forced me to put my phone away when I’m getting a little too sucked into my own device. In a world where it’s easy to get caught in daily routines and digital distractions, setting aside time for a family board game night is the perfect way to memories that last. Consider this your invitation to make a new fall routine: pick a night, choose a game, and let the fun begin.
