How to Plan a Family Game Night For Your Family (plus Giveaway)

Life has been pretty hectic in our home for the last few months. Robert turned 18 this past Christmas, Kayla will soon be 15, and Stephen and I are just plain busy with work. Let’s throw in our youth ministry and we have a pretty full schedule — all the time. So when we found out that we are going to be moving again, and I began packing boxes, the family spied all the board games that we had in the closet. We decided to start having a family game night again to help us slow down, and continue enjoying each other’s company. We miss that.

Since everyone is growing up and going their own separate ways most of the time, we decided that it was high time to slow the pace and create a family game night at least once a week. Here are a few tips on setting up your own game night for your family.

Make a Big Meal

Anytime we have family game night, we also make a big meal together. We get into the kitchen, which helps us to blow off the worries and stresses of the day. We pick something that is everyone’s favorite and we cook, laugh, tell stories – and just really make it a great time for all. We serve the big meal before we start playing, but we make sure that we make enough to munch on while we play games. Winning can definitely make you hungry

Turn off cell phones and the television

Because this world is so technology infused, when game night comes around, all electronics are turned off. We make sure NOT to purchase games that involve the television for that purpose — we turn everything off so that we can focus on family fun the old fashioned way!

Grab a new game

Once a month or so, we try to always find a new game. We recently got two new games in the mail to try out — Twister Rave Skip It and Twister Ringz. These are two of Hasbro’s newest games and, boy are they super fun! The colored lights immediately attracted my daughter — who loves all things neon.

Twister Rave Skip It

Skip-It® is back in 2013 with the all-new TWISTER RAVE Skip-It® game that will have players skipping as long as they can! The longer you go, the more you glow as multi-color LEDs reveal 20+ color levels as you play! Try to master TWISTER RAVE Skip-It® by getting the game to light up to reveal all four iconic TWISTER colors (red, blue, yellow and green). The fun never ends when you’re skipping your way to victory! (Requires 3 AAA batteries – not included).

Age: 6+; Players: 1; Available: Now at mass merchandise retailers nationwide; Approximate Retail Price: $19.99

Twister Rave Ringz

It’s all about the bling! This quick-action game challenges girls to twist, snap and clap to keep the beat to more than 20 different handclap games found online at PlayTwister.com. With each movement, the rings light up and change color. If you complete the handclap games in perfect sync, all rings in the game should start and finish on the same color! The TWISTER RAVE Ringz are perfect to bring along wherever your day takes you for impromptu gaming fun. Girls can check out online videos at PlayTwister.com to learn new skills and tricks! (2 electronic Ringz per pack; each ring requires 3 button cell batteries – demo batteries included).

Age: 8+; Players: 1-2; Available: Now at mass merchandise retailers nationwide; Approximate Retail Price: $7.99

Out of both games we received, my daughter’s favorite was the Rave Ringz. She and I sat and played hand games for over an hour the other day. It totally reminded me of my teenage years riding the bus with all my girlfriends, playing hand clapping games until it was my turn to get off. This truly is one of the coolest games ever.

To keep up with all the latest Hasbro news, “like” HasbroGameNight on Facebook or follow them on Twitter @hasbrogamenight.

Enter to win

One reader is going to win each of the Twister Rave games above.

To enter, leave a comment stating which of the 4 Twister Rave games you think you would like best (Hoopz, Ringz, Skip-It or Stickz).

You can get an extra entry if you Subscribe to Jen’s Journey Daily Emails (email must be verified for your entry to count).  Then come back and leave a comment stating that you did so.

You can also gain one more extra entry by following me on Twitter @jennifer_sikora.

I will end this giveaway on 3/27 at 5 pm EST

Disclosure: I was given the Twister Rave games to facilitate my review. All opinions are 100% mine and not influenced in any way.