5 Great Family Games You Can Play All Year Long

Family games are a great way to have fun and connect with one another. Scrabble has been around the longest amongst the five games mentioned, and has stood the test of time. The other four games came on the scene years later. My family plays all five. The one we play the most together is Phase 10. The one we play the least is Scrabble, and the one we have never played together as a family is Guesstures. Blurt is in the middle ground.

Scrabble takes a lot of thinking, and challenges you to come up with words by using the letters you are given. Guesstures is a high-speed game like charades. Blurt, allow you to blurt out an answer before your opponent. Questions are read, and someone answers the question with the correct word. Blurt is simple, quick and fun. Phase 10 is all about endurance, can you stick around until the end. Phase 10 can go on for about two hours, and it is worth the wait. Blokus Trigon is a game of great strategy and focus. You have to come up with a plan to outwit your opponent. Every time we play a board game, I always end up saying, “why didn’t we do this a long time ago”, “why did we wait so long”.

The power and benefits of playing board games is phenomenal. You have a chance to get together for no reason. You get to laugh, and enjoy each other’s company without nagging or complaining about one another. – The educational games help students with their school academics.  Blurt is a good example of a vocabulary building game.  One person reads the question on the card and the other players have to think quickly to be first with the correct word.  Blurt sharpens your ability to use your brain.  When you don't know the answer, you learn a new word which you can add to your vocabulary. 

Teamwork is another benefit of playing games together.  Guesstures build team work, comradarie and bonding.  When your team wins, you slap high five and you may even give each other hugs.  Group hugs are common in team games.

Weekends are a great time to play family games.  I especially enjoy a snowed-in (in Michigan we do get snow) Saturdays, when we are stuck in the house because the snow is too deep to drive or leave the house.  Quiet cool Fall days suit me just fine too.  Spring days are a delight to hang around the house on a Saturday just to enjoy the beginning of a new season.  And lazy Summer days when no special occasion birthday or graduation parties are going on. Frankly, any time you can get together with family and friends seem to be the right time for family games. 

The most important thing about playing games together is the act of being together.  In our busy world of hustle and bustle, the gift of family is one of the greatest gifts you can have.  Treasure your family and friends.  Take time to be together and share moments that you will remember for a lifetime.  Your kids will appreciate every moment of time you give to them, and they will return it with a warm smile, a hug, a "thank you", and an "I love you" when you least expect it.

The next opportunity you get, call a group of friends together to enjoy time together. If some of your friends are short on family members, they would appreciate a call from you. Invite them over, and ask them to bring their favorite dish to share.

Sometimes playing games can be awkward at first, but once you get started, it is amazing how the excitement fills the room. People can really let their hair down when they play games of any sort. The usually quiet people can get the loudest. You would think there is a big reward for winning. I know some people who are extremely competitive and will do almost anything to win.

The power of winning is indescribable. You feel high. You feel like you have achieved something, and yes you have. You ever watch the Television Game Show contestants -- that's how excited families and friends get when playing games in the privacy of their homes. I'm getting excited just writing.

Do me a favor, and share your favorite game with me in the comments.

I want to know what you play in your town or country!