{Guest Post} Family Fun Night

Written by Marie Hunter

Having a regular family fun night is a great way to make sure your family doesn't get bogged down in the stress of everyday life. After all, your kids are some of the most important people in your life, and you want to make sure you take the time to enjoy them and let them enjoy each other and you. Instead of having yet another movie night at home with microwave popcorn, get creative and try out some new agendas. Next time you want to plan a family fun night, consider some of these activities that will be a blast for all of you!

Campfire and Games
Whether you build a campfire in your backyard, head to the beach, or go to a nature site with fire pits, a campfire is always a great way to facilitate a fun evening. Put the electronics away, gather everyone around a blazing fire, and have some good old-fashioned family bonding time. Toss out all of your rules about limits on desserts and let the kids chow down on s'mores and other treats as you play campfire games, tell scary stories, or even sing together, if that's something your family enjoys. If the mosquitoes get too bad, head back inside and play some board games to finish out the night.

Active Excursions
When your kids are the sort who have tons of energy, it may be best to choose something active you can do as a family on your night out. The kids will love getting to try new activities and let some of their energy and competitiveness out in a fun setting. Consider a family trip to the bowling alley, ice skating rink, batting cages, or a laser tag facility. Using restaurant coupons for an after-activity meal helps reduce the cost of taking your whole family out on these sorts of excursions. Finish off the night with a trip to an ice cream parlor or just pick up a gallon of ice cream and some toppings for sundaes at home!

New Food Adventures
Food-centric family nights are always fun ones, so whether you cook in or eat out, splurge on delicious food your kids will love. If they're adventurous when it comes to food, consider trying out an ethnic restaurant. If you order a few dishes and share them all "family style," you can each get a taste of the new foods and get some ideas for things you may want to try preparing at home. You can also toss out all expectations of kitchen cleanliness and get everyone involved in preparing dinner and dessert at home. Let the dishes soak in the sink overnight and take care of them in the morning, because family fun night is about fun, not cleaning.

Whatever you decide to do for family night, make sure it's focused on fun, not disciplining or teaching your kids. It's OK to let loose every once in a while and overlook minor infractions. Help your kids be on their best behavior by talking with them to set expectations before you start your family fun night, and then get them involved in whatever activity you're doing. They'll be so busy having fun that they forget to act out!

 About the author: When Maire isn't lost in reading the latest hot novel, she is planning her future vacations to tropical places. She also loves taking care of her cat, Walter, and her Scottish Terrier, Pete.