The Benefits of Family Game Night (And How to Make It Work for Every Age)
If you’ve ever said, “We should do more things together as a family,” let this be your sign to start a weekly game night.
Family game night isn’t just about laughing over a board game or battling it out in charades—it’s about building connection, communication, and joy into your household routine. In a world where busy schedules can often pull us in different directions, game night offers a fun, low-stress way to come back together.
At Intentional Household, we believe small habits like this can strengthen your family ecosystem—and they don’t have to be elaborate or time-consuming to be impactful.
Why Family Game Night Matters
Here are just a few of the benefits:
1. Strengthens Communication
Games create natural opportunities for conversation. Whether you're strategizing in a team game or celebrating someone’s win, your family learns to talk, listen, and respond to one another.
2. Fosters Emotional Intelligence
Losing gracefully, winning humbly, cheering others on—game night can help kids (and adults!) practice emotional regulation and empathy in a playful setting.
3. Builds Routine and Connection
Knowing that Thursday night is “game night” gives your family something to look forward to and creates a shared tradition that’s simple but powerful.
4. Encourages Problem Solving and Critical Thinking
From building cities in Catan to deducing clues in Guess Who, games encourage strategic thinking, creativity, and decision-making in all age groups.
5. Unplugs the Family
Game night is a screen-free opportunity to engage with one another—face to face, laugh to laugh, moment to moment.
Game Night Ideas for Every Age
For Little Ones (Ages 3–6)
Candy Land – A simple game that teaches colors and turn-taking.
Zingo! – A fun way to build vocabulary and early reading skills.
Hungry Hungry Hippos – Pure energy and laughter.
Pro Tip: Keep games short and visually engaging. Rotate between active and sitting games to match their attention span.
For Elementary Age Kids (Ages 7–10)
Uno – Fast-paced and great for number and color recognition.
Connect 4 – Quick rounds of strategic fun.
Guess Who? – Boosts deductive reasoning in a fun way.
Pro Tip: Give everyone a chance to pick the game each week to create a sense of ownership and excitement.
For Tweens and Teens (Ages 11–16)
Codenames – A clever word association game that keeps them thinking.
Exploding Kittens – Quirky, funny, and surprisingly strategic.
Werewolf or Mafia – Great for bigger groups and social strategy.
Pro Tip: Teens might resist at first—keep snacks flowing, let them invite a friend, and don’t take it too seriously.
For Adults (or Whole Family)
Ticket to Ride – Easy to learn, hard to master.
Catan – A strategy-based game that brings out everyone’s competitive (and collaborative) side.
Catch Phrase – High energy, minimal setup.
Pro Tip: Mix up board games with DIY activities like charades, trivia, or scavenger hunts for variety.
Making Game Night a Lasting Tradition
Set a consistent day and time (like Fridays after dinner).
Take turns choosing the game so everyone feels included.
Make it special—light a candle, prepare snacks, and make it feel different from the rest of the week.
Start small. Even 30 minutes of play can make a big difference.
Final Thought:
Game night doesn’t have to be perfect. Someone might cry. Someone might cheat (looking at you, dad). And someone might just show up late. But with each game played, you’re building memories—and teaching your family how to show up for each other, laugh together, and stay connected through the chaos of everyday life.
And that’s what living intentionally is all about.