Unplug your Family with Fun Family Games

Written by Marcia Lynn McClure

Being together as a family is important. Just playing with your kids can be a relaxing and bonding experience for the whole family. Here are some fun family games I've enjoyed with my kids at different stages in their lives.

When my kids were little, my mom used to put a blanket on the floor, dump out some pinto beans, lentils, red beans and lima beans . . . sit my kids in the middle of them, and simply let them play! Sometimes they'd sort them, or make little stacks, or line them up, etc. Whatever they did, they loved playing with the beans! She'd do the same thing with an old tin full of buttons that she had. Or a jar of marbles! Of course, this was when the kids were old enough not to stick everything in their mouths, or when she had the time just to sit and play with them. My point is . . . just play!

Even as they get older we need to play with our kids! When they're little, it's Barbies, ponies, army men, and Hi-Ho Cherry-O! As they grow it might be Monopoly Jr, mudville (that's the one where dad takes them in the back yard and makes roads and rivers and a little town with dirt and a hose), and bikes. They hit the teen years and it's Balderdash, basketball, etc. But whatever the age . . . I think it's important to play. I recently purchased a really cheap set of wooden Pick Up Sticks! I cannot tell you how much fun my 15 year old and I have had just taking twenty minutes or so here and there and playing!

So . . . I thought I'd list a few fun family games and other activities we like to do in our family. I would LOVE to hear what you do! I'm always looking for new ideas for things to do as a family . . . fun things! So please do share!

Monopoly: I never liked Monopoly as a kid . . . it was way too long and no one ever wanted to play with me and even when I played I would get bored! However, five or six years ago my daughter converted me by means of a delightful new version of Monopoly . . . Disney Monopoly! The properties and game pieces were so bright and colorful and way fun that I loved it! Furthermore, she taught me that you don't HAVE to finish in one sitting! If we would get tired or run out of time, she'd simply write everything down . . . how much money each player had and which properties they owned. Then, when we had some more time . . . we'd finished! So, my suggestion is this . . . A Christmas Story Monopoly, Boo-Opoly, Pixar Monopoly . . . grab a novelty Monopoly and see if your family enjoys it!

Balloon Batting: My kids still like to do this . . . even though they're all grown! Blow up a balloon and stand around batting it to each other and keeping it from touching the floor! Simply and fun!

Nertz: Some people call another version of this game, "Double Solitaire." But we call it "Nertz." Everyone (4-6 players is best) has a different deck of cards. Whenever and ace comes up, it is placed in the middle during the frenzy of playing! If you want instructions on this one . . . let me know!

Sorting: This is something we do (especially me) when stress is a little high. We sort something. It's as simple as that. Maybe it's the change jar, maybe it's our marbles, or just a little bag of skittles we're sharing. Just sit down and sort . . . just for fun . . . just because it's a mindless way to relax and have some non-demanding fun.

Talking: We love to sit around and talk! We can just sit in the same room for hours and hours, telling stories, laughing and just being together! In truth, this is favorite thing now!

In the end, I just like to "unplug" my family. No video games, computer or TV . . . just interaction and fun together.

Romance at its finest! Escape into adventure, mystery, clever dialogue, engaging characters and captivating kisses. Void of explicit sex, enjoy books by Marcia Lynn McClure.

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Marcia McClure
Romance
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