Join us for Family Game Night - Friday, May 23 2025
You’re invited: Join us for a fun family night *in* full of board games and other games!
Join us for a fun family night *in* full of board games and other games! Bring your favorite (please label with your name) or we have a few to share. Art projects and other fun activities will be available too.
Child care will be available and dinner (Rudy's) will be provided.
Please RSVP: https://forms.gle/HcRZyftEYWTdtyJ86
There’s something magical about putting away phones + iPads, switching off the TV, and pulling out a favorite board game for family game night. With game night, you and your loved ones can take a break from mindlessly scrolling through social media or sitting silently through a movie or TV show.
Think back to the last time you divided your family into teams for a rousing game of Pictionary, a limb-twisting round of Twister, or a nail-biting game of Jenga. Can you picture the smiles? Can you hear the belly laughs? We’re smiling just thinking about it!
Now, consider the consequences of disconnection due to technology. One study conducted by the Pew Research Center found that 46% of teens blame phones for distracted parenting, pulling their parents’ attention away when they’re trying to talk to them. Meanwhile, Internet matters research shows that 63% of parents say screen time negatively affects their children’s sleep and health.
The Power of Play: Benefits Beyond Fun
Carving out time for play isn’t just about taking a break from day-to-day stressors like work, school, and responsibilities at home. It’s about creating both the physical and emotional space needed to celebrate the “wins” and acknowledge one another’s unique talents and special traits. Here are some of the benefits of family game night that go beyond the simple action of playing a game.
Strengthening Family Bonds and Communication
When you remove distractions like phones and tablets, you open the door for stronger family bonds and better communication. Game night can become a sacred time everyone looks forward to — an evening reserved just for immediate family and dedicated to promoting teamwork and cooperation.
The laughter, shared challenges, and playful banter make everyone feel included, strengthening family relationships in ways that isolated screen time cannot. With family members plotting their game strategies and giving subtle nonverbal cues, everyone wins!
Enhancing Cognitive Skills and Emotional Well-Being
Research shows huge benefits for children whose families engage regularly in game night and other bonding activities, including:
Larger vocabularies
Better peer relationships
More positive perceptions of the parent-child relationship
Better emotional health and life satisfaction
Greater motivation in school
Higher reading scores
It’s easy to understand why. The problem-solving, critical thinking, and strategic planning involved with many games rival the work of a Fortune 500 company *wink* — just ask anyone who’s ever outsmarted their parents at a game of Monopoly!
Whether you’re building words in Scrabble or engaging in online games like virtual escape rooms, playing games as a family is a great way to melt away stress, boost moods, and get everyone laughing, talking, and feeling the love.
