We're going to buy more board games...
By katsmeow1213
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
United States
January 2, 2013 2:58pm CST
Do you enjoy playing board games as a family?
Well we've spent a lot of our free time lately doing absolutely nothing. We'll watch TV or play games on the computer or video games or whatever. That always makes me feel kind of blah.
So last night I was complaining to hubby about the blah feeling I get when we don't do anything. Sunday I tried hard to get him off the couch to go do something with the kids.. and finally I managed to get him to go play outside with them, and that was nice, but mostly all we've been doing is a whole lot of nothing.
So I told him, some of the kids got a few games for Christmas, and we've yet to play with them. It was just about 9pm. We'd sent the kids to bed already, but decided to get the older 3 up to play Jenga with us. We played till about 10pm and we all had fun. The kids laughed their heads off for that hour, and it was good, quality family time. We don't seem to do enough of that anymore with the kids always glued to an electronic and hubby on the TV and me on the computer.
So after the kids went to bed hubby and I started talking about other games we'd like to get and play with the kids, like Life, Clue, Pictionary. We might even start with a plain old deck of cards and teach the kids gin, rummy, crazy 8's.
What are your favorite board or card games to play as a family?
4 people like this
21 responses
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
4 Jan 13
We actually don't really have any board games at our house because it is only the four of us and my husband doesn't like to play board games at all. However, I do have to admit that I love board games. In fact, we went to my mother's house on New Year's Eve after dinner and we played board games from the time that we got there until after the ball dropped.
We played Scribblish and also a sentence building game that my mother and I had picked out at Kohl's just before Christmas.
I think the idea of having more frequent family game nights is a great idea.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160883)
• United States
3 Jan 13
We seem to only play when we visit my brother and dad. We play a card game called "Hand and Foot" but it would not be good for kids, it takes too long. We play "Golf" with cards and even young kids can learn that. We had a lot of fun playing "Logo" but again, not good for little kids. We played Wahoo growing up, and Chinese Checkers. Kids that are old enough to count by fives can learn to play dominoes. Yes, playing together is great.
@GardenGerty (160883)
• United States
3 Jan 13
I think the little ones could learn Golf, I may have to find the rules for you.It only uses six cards and you do not hold them in your hand. They can play picture dominoes as well. I agree the older ones are ready for just about anything. Apples to Apples is good too. I am trying to think of what else we played at Thanksgiving as we all laugh incredibly long at some of the games.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
3 Jan 13
I've played hand and foot, it's a lot like Canasta. I've played Canasta online. But you need like 6 decks of cards for hand and foot. I think the older ones could figure it out. With the kids ranging from 15 to 5 it's going to be hard to find games we can all play together. The little ones want to play things like go fish.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (93739)
• United States
8 Jan 13
I was addicted to CandyLand when I was a child. I loved that game! As an adult I like Trivial Pursuit, although I think I'm the only one in my family who does. I got my mom the CSI boardgame once, but I don't know if they ever played it. My mom had a thing for Yahtzee. And I could never turn down a good game of Uno. 
@lilybug (21107)
• United States
3 Jan 13
My kids have several games, but we really do not play them very often. We have Uno, Connect Four, Memory, and Blink that they have gotten in recent years. We also have several games that used to belong to my grandpa. Those are Battleship, Jumanji, Monopoly Junior, Gargoyles, and some GI Joe board game.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
3 Jan 13
My mom had a lot of games the kids would play when they'd visit her, but they haven't been over there in a long time.
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
3 Jan 13
We've tried to play games in our house but things get left all over the place and unwanted so they eventually get lost and swept off the floor into the trash. If I do buy games it's second hand so I'm not out alot since I know how things will be anyways. The kids do love playing war and you can buy two decks at the dollar store for a buck so I don't mind playing that one with them. They do love doing puzzles but again pieces everywhere. I just wish they'd put things away when they are done.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
3 Jan 13
We have that problem too.. but the older kids are a little better at keeping the games picked up, and if we play as a family then I am there to ensure it gets picked up and put away when it's done. Then we put it away somewhere the little ones won't get into it.
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
2 Jan 13
It sounds like you all had a great family night! I want my family to start doing the same. Watching a movie together as a family while eating popcorn and then play some board games together...
The games I have always loved is Scategories (which I dont know if they have anymore), Sorry, Trouble, Life, Candyland, and Monopoly. Some of those we might have to wait on until the kids are a little older... But I definitely want to start having a family night.
Life gets away too fast and stress, bills, etc always gets in the way of enjoyable moments. I know one night we played hide and seek with our kids and we all had a great time!
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
2 Jan 13
We do movie night a lot.. but I don't think watching movies is really spending quality time together. You're all just sitting there quiet watching a show. Playing the game was fun though because you talk, you strategize, you think. We teamed up and did kids against parents, then boys against girls, then back to every man for himself. The kids loved it.
I just stopped at the store and they want $3.50 for a deck of playing cards!! They must be out of their mind! I'm sure I can find some at the dollar store for $1.
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
3 Jan 13
That is true, there isn't much talking going on while watching movies...Although my kids usually end up talking through most of them anyway (their little yet, Lol). But the games are fun and we would all have an awesome time I know that already!
We got our deck at the dollar store so I hope they have them near you too. That much money on a deck of cares? They ARE out of their minds! 
@poppoppop111 (5731)
• Canada
7 Jan 13
I love board games and love playing with my daughter. I love clue, scatagories and boggle. My daughter is 9 so just starting to get good at spelling and she can now keep up at boggle since its a timed word game. She bought me cranium for Christmas and that one is a lot of fun.
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
3 Jan 13
Our favorites are "life" and "Battleship" but I want to get the game "Yatzee" (sp?) because I remember playing that a lot as a kid. Unfortunately I have found that the more people, the more fun and only my son and I have the time,energy,or desire to play more often.
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
7 Jan 13
We have a collection of games, and we don't play them nearly enough. We used to play Apples to Apples a lot...
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
3 Jan 13
You are so right as most games seem to be done on their own and they need family interaction. I actually bought the twins a deck of playing cards each and we are playing the old fashioned game of snap, go fish and gin rummy. They so enjoy it and it teaches them to accept defeat and to cooperate with each other. So when they go back to school I plan to make a Friday evening a game time for us.
@bluespygirl (2112)
• Philippines
4 Jan 13
Sounds like FUN!
I am thinking to buy some board games after you had reminded itso that my kids will may be be detached from their cell phones even for a while. I mean, we do watch televsion together but they are with their cell phones again. I am asking them to limit their time on it.
I am thinking to buy scrabble and maybe Pictionary. Thanks for sharing this, now I am thinking
@squallming (1775)
• Malaysia
4 Jan 13
Hi there. When I was still with my family, I would try hard to get some board games to play with them as well. It is really some quality family time that we should be spending together. We played blackjack, Chinese Chess, snake ladder, animal chess, monopoly and many more. It may seem boring to some but once you started playing with your family members, sometimes you won't be able to stop. 
There were times that we played monopoly from morning till night which after that everybody managed to have a great sleep. 
There were times that we played monopoly from morning till night which after that everybody managed to have a great sleep. 
@Ambebe (42)
•
3 Jan 13
It may sound boring to others but we love playing chess (with different kind of rules) the first one who loses wins. We got a lot of laugh with that. A monoploy game that we made ourselves, instead of buying it. Cards not just for ordinary card game but using it for the game "find the killer". It really is fun and exciting. :)If you want to learn about it just reply to this post. :)
@sizzle3000 (3036)
• United States
2 Jan 13
My family was raised around games. Our favorite ones to play right now are Skip-Bo and Uno. My daughter and I like playing Racko occasionally. All these games are not only fun but they keep your mind active which is only another reason I like these games. My daughter's husband is new to most of these games so he's still learning.
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
3 Jan 13
I grew up playing board games and so my kids did too...now as an adult I do like more then the older games we used to play like monopoly...that was always the kids' favorite. I love one called Sequence....it a board game using cards. I could play that all the time...then I also like Cranium....and Trival Persuit...
@mariaperalta (19073)
• Mexico
2 Jan 13
Board games are alot of fun, my son an I played agravation, monopoly and my favorite scabble for many year sin the usa and here in mexico. They are great family time for us. Also I have 5 or 6 here, for the kids to play in the corner of my cafe. While their parents are on the computers. Take care there. Have a great day there.
on the computers. Take care there. Have a great day there.
@greenthumb018 (595)
• Philippines
3 Jan 13
oh good times! I remember playing Monopoly with my family and mom always prepares something to eat. The only gadgets available that time were Super Mario and Brick Games so it's not that addictive. It's good that you're bringing back these board games because it's really fun to play with the family. We always yell with happiness with Visionary and Mad. We even have the Snake and Ladders, Mastermind and Scrabble.
@Jeannie50 (4)
• United States
3 Jan 13
I love playing board games, or any game. Most of the time I will play cards with my grandkids, high card wins, or line a deck of cards in rows, face down and match pairs (consintration) Last weekend my son and grandson and I played monopoly. When my husband and I were dateing, we often spent time at his parents kitchen table, playing board games.
