With the kids out of school for the summer months, we’ve been spending ample amounts of time together as a family. Whether we are off on our travels or at home, there isn’t a lot of time which we aren’t together. As busy as we are with fun activities, there is lag time in there and being so used to ‘go, go, go’ – the ‘I’m bored’ statement sets in from time to time.
While to don’t designate actual ‘board game nights’ together, we do break out the games from time to time – evening in the mornings. We’ve been playing them most out at our summer creek property when camping. It’s a nice way to spend the time together, surrounded by nature, when tech items are absent. I guess you could say we disconnect to reconnect. The girls are known to have an intense game of UNO by the campfire, right before we break out the s’mores.
Here are some game night tips from Mattel:
Prepare your space – Transform your everyday living room into the ultimate game room! This can be as easy as ensuring there are enough crazy seats for everyone who is playing, turning on background music that is upbeat but not distracting and setting up a variety of delicious snacks. These small changes will show your little ones that you’re taking the game night, and family time, seriously.
Play a variety of games – While some people have a preference for particular games, others may want to change it up. Designate a set amount of time that you will play each game to ensure you’re keeping everyone entertained and allowing people to try their hand at something new. Starting with UNOTM then moving on to Apples to Apples before Pictionarywill keep everyone entertained while giving them the opportunity to win at a new game!
Disconnect to connect – While it may be difficult, make a rule that no one is allowed to have any technology during the few hours you have together. This includes no television or cell phones as they may take away from the moments you’re sharing with your loved ones. By disconnecting from technology, you will be able to better connect with your family members.
Disclosure: I received product to facilitate this review, all opinions are my own.
.
Mandy says
07/31/2015 at 12:41 pmWe like to do a lot of family BBQs and check out local events.
tanyab79 says
07/31/2015 at 1:14 pmBy camping, biking, swimming, playing cards and board games.
kathy downey says
07/31/2015 at 4:06 pmWe do weekend fishing trips
Dianne says
07/31/2015 at 4:20 pmMy daughter is very good about getting the family together as her home is big enough for everyone to fit in. She has a dinner or BBQ at her home for all the family once a month or more. Aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents and great grandparents are all invited. In between I make it a point of going to visit my grandchildren whenever I can. One of our favourite things to do is crafts or board games. Everyone likes to join in.
Lynda Cook says
07/31/2015 at 5:50 pmWe get together for BBQ’s and just some fun family time
Anne Taylor says
07/31/2015 at 6:35 pmWe spend lots of time with each other at the beach and having bbqs for the whole family!
Glogirl says
07/31/2015 at 7:34 pmWe connect over BBQ’s and campfires during the summer.
Darwin says
07/31/2015 at 10:11 pmWe do board games and story telling after bath time before bedtime. One of us would start the story and the rest would take turn telling another part of the story.
Thomas says
07/31/2015 at 11:21 pmWe connect by playing board games.
Brenda Lacourciere says
08/01/2015 at 2:03 amWe spend time at camp or the beach.
Florence C says
08/01/2015 at 6:19 amWe connect by doing daily outings and a camping trip is always in there.
Nicole s says
08/01/2015 at 6:21 amWe like to spend time together outside. Camping is a big one on our list
Erika Letson says
08/01/2015 at 8:35 amWe love to travel together, I find that’s a great way to connect with each other. At home we play board games and watch movies together.
Judy Cowan says
08/01/2015 at 9:00 amWe connect by spending lots of time camping, going biking or swimming together, talking around campfires and playing games.
Andrea says
08/01/2015 at 9:44 amWe love family game night! This would be awesome!!!
Carol M says
08/01/2015 at 9:45 amBBQs mostly
louise says
08/01/2015 at 10:28 amwe go camping, we fish and we play games like board games or even play games like hide and seek or tag
Stephanie LaPlante says
08/01/2015 at 11:01 amWe like going to festivals together
Ali P says
08/01/2015 at 11:46 amWe do a lot of biking, swimming, and going on picnics! No electronics!
nicolthepickle says
08/01/2015 at 12:03 pmWe like to go to the library, borrow and read “all the books” together.
jan says
08/01/2015 at 2:20 pmwe like to get out camping during the summer
Carole Dube says
08/01/2015 at 2:57 pmWe spend lots of time over BBQ’s!
Jamie hall says
08/01/2015 at 3:18 pmLove doing family BBQ s
Nate Fuller says
08/01/2015 at 5:11 pmWe make as many trips to the cottage together as possible, there we are forced to interact!
Cheryl says
08/01/2015 at 8:28 pmWe visit more in the summer 🙂
Kelley Moore says
08/01/2015 at 8:33 pmBBQ’s and campfires during the summer.
Elizabeth Matthiesen says
08/01/2015 at 8:34 pmI have 7 children and 7 grandchildren scattered across 3 continents. We are a close knit family and communicate every day on What’s app with messages, videos, photos and voice messages too.
macfsh says
08/01/2015 at 9:01 pmThis summer has been all about different challenges. So using marshmallows and toothpicks – divide the family in half and who can make the highest structure. Or with a glue gun and popsicle sticks who can build a boat to sail across the pool. Stuff like that. It’s been fun.
Doris H says
08/01/2015 at 11:09 pmWe connect doing outdoor activities…we love camping.
Amy C says
08/01/2015 at 11:18 pmWe like to go swimming, go for walks and bike riding together as a family.
nicky says
08/02/2015 at 10:17 amwe go for walks, picnics, and play outside together!
Karla Sceviour says
08/02/2015 at 11:18 amwe play games,watch movies,go for bike rides
Tanis says
08/02/2015 at 12:20 pmWe usually have someone visit or go and visit family that don’t live around here, otherwise we plan family BBQs for the ones that live close!
Amy Heffernan says
08/02/2015 at 3:50 pmWe like to go camping!
Melinda says
08/02/2015 at 9:34 pmDuring the summer months, we camp and share songs around a campfire.
Valerie Mallette says
08/02/2015 at 10:02 pmI connect with my family during the summer months by gardening, hiking, swimming, BBQing, going to a cottage and playing board games together.
Lisa H says
08/03/2015 at 1:04 amWe go for walks in the park.
Jonnie says
08/03/2015 at 1:06 amWe spend lots of time fishing and jumping on the trampoline. Most evenings after supper, we play a board game.
Debbie W says
08/03/2015 at 10:58 amRoad trips and picnics
Carol Denny says
08/03/2015 at 3:39 pmWe go to the cottage.
Jennifer P. says
08/03/2015 at 5:35 pmWe find it way easier to connect in the summer – our schedules are pretty wide open, we are not tied down to classes etc, and we have later meal times and bed times which gives us more time together in the day. We get outside a lot to the local parks, go for walks, read, ride bikes, hike etc.
Silvia D says
08/03/2015 at 6:20 pmwe like going hiking, and nature walks together
Amanda Costa says
08/03/2015 at 7:49 pmSummer is the best time to connect with my family swimming, biking, camping and BBQ’S every weekend! #summerfun
Brenda says
08/03/2015 at 8:15 pmWe connect by spending time outdoors when it is nice out and watching movies when the weather isn’t so great!
Josie says
08/03/2015 at 9:32 pmWe do a lot of camping in the summer
leanne says
08/03/2015 at 10:39 pmWe connect by being together all the time 🙂
ruth moreira-lozon says
08/04/2015 at 7:32 amWe go for a lot of walks, and kids tend to open up when there are no screens 🙂
Mary Cloud says
08/04/2015 at 8:04 amWe like to go on road trips together so we can all unplug and spend some time together
Darrah Bailey says
08/04/2015 at 9:58 amA good weekend trip or a bike ride/walk
LILLIAN BROWN says
08/04/2015 at 10:16 amLike hiking and watching kids play soccer during the Summer
SueSueper says
08/04/2015 at 10:23 amWe connect by all going to the beach. We also watch family movies together.
Erin W says
08/04/2015 at 10:34 amWe connect outside normally! Beach days, hiking and camping! And I find bringing board games camping is a great way to connect!
Shannon says
08/04/2015 at 2:36 pmGame night and family movie night.
Elva Roberts says
08/04/2015 at 3:07 pmI will enjoy the visits of my adult children, grandchildren and even great grand children. I will tend my flowers and catch up on my reading-activities that i enjoy immensely.
Jenness M says
08/04/2015 at 4:24 pmWe spend a lot of time at our cabin and get away from it all!
SweetPanda says
08/04/2015 at 7:40 pmWe walk to the park after dinner, having BBQs with family and go on road trips
J says
08/04/2015 at 8:47 pmPicnics, camping trips in the backyard, water fights, etc..
Tina L. says
08/04/2015 at 9:01 pmWeekend bbqs
Robyn Bellefleur says
08/04/2015 at 9:38 pmWe go for long walks with our kids and dogs.
Carol Denny says
08/05/2015 at 5:15 amWe spend time at the family cottage. Lots of board games and beach time.
Treen Goodwin says
08/05/2015 at 6:35 amwe connect while camping , we have family night in the camper and chat about the day play games and send quality time together 🙂 thanks for the chance 🙂
Moe Bwell says
08/05/2015 at 7:03 amWe play games, go to the beach, evening walks, bbq’s and just out or drives.
Marianne says
08/05/2015 at 7:46 amWe go for nightly swims in the pool, we play games (board and video), we watch family movies as well.
Sunshine G says
08/05/2015 at 9:31 amWe go to the park on weekends and play on the swings.
angela m says
08/05/2015 at 1:01 pmWe love to go camping together
Angela Mitchell says
08/05/2015 at 3:21 pmWe spend a lot of time camping, swimming, biking and going on family vacations.
TJ Turnbull says
08/05/2015 at 5:58 pmgoing to the beach on the weekends are a great summer trip :D)
Tainan Lu says
08/05/2015 at 6:23 pmBBQ
we love food 🙂
andrea amy says
08/05/2015 at 11:06 pmHanging out with the kids, playing games, going to the park etc
Laurie P says
08/06/2015 at 8:27 amFamily bike rides are a regular for us here!
caryn s says
08/06/2015 at 9:58 amWe like to bike swim and picnic in the park as a family!
KC says
08/06/2015 at 11:04 amI like going in walks and sharing dinner with my family, both at home and special nights out.
salexis says
08/06/2015 at 3:58 pmconnect with your family during the summer months by visiting my family cottage – a giant family reunion!
Victoria Ess says
08/06/2015 at 5:55 pmWe go on day trips.
Lesley E says
08/06/2015 at 10:37 pmlots of playtime outside and having fun together
Betty S says
08/07/2015 at 4:50 amwe have family Bbq’s and campfires
Ginger Leah Gervais says
08/07/2015 at 6:50 amPicnics in the park, go to the movies. Make forts and count stars… sparklers at night… and chalk on the pavement drawings during the day. Baking and colouring.
lori b says
08/07/2015 at 8:18 amhiking and biking
Abby says
08/07/2015 at 9:20 amWe do weekly family board game nights! No phones allowed at the table.
Jennifer I says
08/07/2015 at 10:59 amWe like to go camping!
Melanie B says
08/07/2015 at 11:06 amBiking, camping, movies
Erica Seaman says
08/08/2015 at 9:08 amWe go camping every chance we get 🙂
Lisa Neutel says
08/08/2015 at 2:31 pmwe spend time outdoors as a family..camping, hiking, playing sports ..but we love our game nights
Michelle Lafayette says
08/08/2015 at 8:39 pmSpending time at the lake together.
Barb W says
08/08/2015 at 8:54 pmTime at the lake!