Unplug and Play: Family Games That Get Everyone Laughing

Regarding your family gatherings, do the adults do one thing and the kids do another? Do the kids play together, or do they play on devices separately? Those darn phones!

At our recent family meals, I’ve started engineering ways to get not only the kids playing together but the entire family involved. My objective has been to find activities that the youngest, age 5, through to the oldest, age 73, will participate in. The most challenging crowd is our teenagers!

Every other Sunday, my brother’s family and my family head to my mom and dad’s for Sunday dinner. In the past, the adults would sit on the porch while the three teens and one tween headed in different directions. The youngest would be by my side, pulling my arm and asking if I’d play chess with him. 

It gnawed at me that we, as a whole family, didn’t do anything together as a unit. 

So, at our latest gathering, I invited everyone to play BINGO. I purchased the BINGO game from Amazon for $19.97, and earlier in the day, I spent $15 at the Dollar Store finding silly gifts. The gifts were wrapped and on the table for all to see. 

Dad volunteered to be the moderator, calling out the letters/numbers. Nate, our teen who doesn’t like participation, agreed to play. And Mom, who yelled out that BINGO was so dull, said she’d play too. I got 100% buy-in. 

The result was an hour of laughs, anticipation, and excitement. One participant got so excited he pooped his pants (I won’t name names, and I’m not kidding). And even though the Dollar Store prices were silly, winners spent time bargaining and trading at the end to secure what they thought was the best prize. 

Other quirky activities for families of all ages:

• “Minute to Win It” Games: Set up a series of silly challenges using household items. Each person gets one minute to complete tasks like stacking cookies on their forehead, moving Oreos from their forehead to their mouth using only facial muscles, or bouncing ping pong balls into cups.
• Family Olympics: Create a backyard obstacle course or a series of ridiculous physical challenges. Award medals (made from cardboard and string) to the winners.
• Blindfolded Taste Test: Blindfold everyone and have them guess different foods, drinks, or spices.
• Charades with a Twist: Instead of movie titles or books, act out family in-jokes, childhood memories, or embarrassing moments.
• DIY Photo Booth: Set up a backdrop and props, and let everyone take turns taking silly photos.

In a world dominated by screens and individual entertainment, losing sight of the simple joy of connecting with loved ones is easy. By introducing a bit of quirky fun into your family gatherings, you can create lasting memories, strengthen bonds, and remind everyone that laughter is the best kind of togetherness. So, ditch the devices, embrace the silliness, and rediscover the magic of family fun!