There are many fun activities to do on a rainy day, but one favourite amongst many families is to have a Family Game Day! Pop some popcorn, clear off the dining room or kitchen table and play some of your favourite games together.
Here are some helpful tips to make your Family Game Day a great success:
Prepare Your Space – Transform your everyday living room into the ultimate game room! This can be as easy as ensuring there are enough cozy 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.
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.
While we definitely have favourites in our house, it is always fun to add to our game collection. Mattel has graciously offered to add to a lucky winner’s game collection by offering a giveaway! Which game are you most excited to try?
It’s a Mattel Family Pack Giveaway!
Prize: 3 MATTEL Games, including: UNOTM, PictionaryTM and Apples to ApplesTM
Giveaway Open to: Canadian Residents, outside of QC
Giveaway Ends: August 10, 2015, 11:59pm ET
We are a member of the Mattel Play Advocates program. As a member, we receive various perks, however our opinions are never influenced in any way.
We don’t play as much as we should, but when we all get together on the holidays we will pull out the board games and when the grandkids get older I will be able to pull out the games!!
In the summer we play on rainy days when we are camping but that is about it. I keep thinking we should start having a weekly game night.
about once every two weeks
Usually on Friday nights, but if we have a rainy day we’ll bring out the games!
We play more in the fall and winter when inside more.Then usually once a week or so. In summer we do take games along camping!
We play a lot of board games, most weekends and in summer its more often.
We LOVE board games! but technically only play once every 2 weeks(?)
We play games basically every time we get together. My son is still too young to play but I know he would love these games when he gets older!
Most nights – although it’s usually Bubble Guppies or Candyland at this age!
When my grandchildren were younger, we played games quite a bit. Monopoly and card games were favorites. I guess I will have to wait for the great grands to play with.++
my grandchildren play quite often with their parents and with me when I see them. They love playing games, have to watch them like a hawk though they do tend to get a bit devilish. 🙂
My kids are little so we only play occasionally, but every time I hang out with my sisters we play games. Apples to Apples is a favourite.
We try to do it every week 🙂
We play quite often when the grandkids come over but more so in the winter!
We play games a lot, probably about 3-4 nights per week.
We play board games or cards 3 times a week. They just love it. Grandma recently introduced Uno to the kids and now they want to play at home but we don’t have the cards
We play family games once a week.
Lately (since all this amazing summer weather came) we’ve only been playing board games about once a week but in the winter and spring we were playing games almost everyday.
At least weekly!!! We love Go Fish, Tumblin’ Monkeys and Angry Birds with our grandchildren and tons of other games with friends and family like Uno, Scrabble and Pictionary. We would love to try the Apples to Apples game!
It depends on the week, the weather, etc. but its usually about once or twice a week!
almost every Friday night!
Right now we only have family game night about twice a month, but as our kids get older we plan to do them once a week.
We usually play at least once a week. We’ve been playing twice a week since summer vacation started.
Not often enough. About once a month,
Usually about once a month
We have a game night at least twice a month, usually more in the fall and winter!
We usually do it every other weekend
At least once a week and often more.
We play the snakes and ladders, My little Pony version, everyday.
When the kids were little I played games with them about 3x week but now that they are older it’s less than 1x week.
we have started playing memory card game almost nightly with our oldest
A few times a month
A few times a week, we love games!
Not often enough! Usually around holiday times when all the family gathers together from out of town.
Once a month my sister comes over with the kids and we play games
We don’t play nearly enough, a few times a year! Hoping to check out our local Games cafe and start a family game night at home as well.
We try and play a game as a family at least once a week, whether it be a board game or card game, something as a family.
not as often as we should,about once a month
we should do moregame nights, we always have so much fun
Very often! We love family game night! This would be great, thanks for the chance!
We have game mornings 🙂 My son is always up early so we choose some puzzles or games to play before we get caught up in the rush of the morning.
About once every 2 weeks!
As a family we usually play games at least monthly.
At least once a month
At least monthly!
We play at least on a week but sometimes we play everyday for weeks on end. We love games!
about once a week or more.
At least monthly!
Normally weekly 🙂
we play every few months. not often enough.
We have family game night once a week.
Once or twice a week
we play about once a month
we play family games, indoor and outdoor, at least once a week ALL together!
As a family, about once a week… however throughout the week my daughter and I will play a game or the hubster and I will when things have quieted down for the evening.
we try to play board games as a family once or twice a week
We play alot!!! Every week for sure!
Monthly.
We do not play as much in the summer because we are so busy with outdoor activities but from Fall until Spring we like to play at least once a week.
About once a month but a lot more in summer when we’re at the cabin.
My grandchildren love to play board games when I babysit them. When my kids get together they also play board games in the evening once the kids are in bed. Sometimes I join in and other times I watch if it is one of their more complicated games that I am trying to learn.
as much as I can, usually during family get together’s
Usually when the weather is bad and they can’t find anything to do
We try for atleast twice a week.
Our kids are grown, and our grandkids are too young to play games yet, so we never play games as a family.
Not as often as we would like. We have a lot of games for older age groups but not much for kids
We try to once a week.
Not as often as I would like, we have tried but not gotten into the routine. Maybe some new games would help!
Usually once a week
Not as often as we could but my kids will often play games together.
I don’y play any board games as a family. My son is going to be moving back home soon, so now that he’s a little older. I would love to start doing more things as a family. Playing some good old fashioned board games would be a very good start.
I play with my grandchildren on my visits with them.
I play cards with adults. I play board games only when I visit my grandchildren.
Florence C
Usually every weekend sometime. Sunday is usually best as we are all not so busy.
we play board games all winter
We always play boardgames when we’re camping in summer, and then at home in the winter or rainy days.
My grown son plays games with his friends and my great-nephew plays with his family weekly.
At least once a week. Love playing games.
we play more in the winter when we’re stuck inside, or in the summer when we’re at the cottage. thanks
Love Love Apples to Apples
Once every few weeks?
About once ore twice a month.
Maybe monthly. With everyone’s schedules, it’s hard to get the family together to play games.
We don’t play a lot of official games but we like to play “math” and line up dominos. Growing up, we used to play them all the time so i imagine it’s only a matter of time with The Kids.
Besos, Sarah
Journeys of The Zoo
I typically play a game as a family once or twice a week.
We normally play together on the weekends. We love Rimoli!
I used to play games with my grandchildren when they were younger-monolopy, checkers, chinese checkers and card games. I play games with my youngest daughter as well.+
I read this post on Steve Jobs and how he limits the use of Technology with his children. I think he has the right idea. Children will be much more creative and healthier if they do not get addicted to their i-pods, and it can start very early. I have seen it for myself and I do not like it. Addiction is harmful even if it is an ipod.
Not often enough on special occassions.
Not often enough! I am going to start a games night to make sure we play more!
This is my son’s favorite game to play on a rainy day ! 🙂
we like to play candyland
2 or 3 times a month. We usually play CandyLand!
We play games about once a month when our extended family visits.
Usually a couple times a month.
I play cards, Chinese Checkers and Monopoly with my grandchldren. It depends on the child and the length of the visit. My daughter and I love to play Yahtzee.6
About once a month, but I want it to be more.
We play Scrabble during holidays when we’re all together.
We love playing games and probably play2-3 times a month for sure!
my husband came from a big gaming family, it took a while for me to get into it but we play regularly now. as our girls grow up, i think we will play more often since it really helps people learn teamwork & gain confidence. besides, it is fun!
We usually play something every week or two.
We play games at least once a week!
At least once a week.
We play games about once a month.
ABOUT ONCE A MONTH
We try to have game night once a month
We try to do a game night twice a month.
WE do games every time the family gets together
we play family games mostly on Sundays
Every Friday 🙂
Me and my husband like to play games once a week and I plan on doing this with the kids once they’re old enough too!
We just had a 27 hour power-outage… turned that into a family night with board games by candlelight – very memorable!
What fun! Sorry for the power outage, though.
I really like all of those games!
We were only playing UNO yesterday, a new version. My grandchildren love playing games but you should see my grandson’s face when he has to pick up 2 cards, you’d think we were poisoning him or something. 🙂