10 Healthy Family Games to Enjoy with Your Family at Home and Decrease Screen Time

Image source: Pexels

Family hangouts, family timeout, and family games time are precious moments every family craves as a way of tightening the bond and sparking up excitement in the home. 

As a mother, I understand that the kids could so frustrate you to the point that you have no choice but to glue them to the screen. But then, it is more dangerous not to be able to monitor the kind of things they watch. This is why I decided to come up with this article that points out 7 healthy family games to enjoy with your family at home and decrease screen time.

Board Games

Image source: Pexels

There are countless board games available, ranging from classic games like Monopoly and Scrabble to newer games like Settlers 

of Catan and Ticket to Ride board games. Playing board games can be a fun and interactive way to spend time with your family while also exercising your brain.

Cooking and Baking

Image source: Pexels

Cooking and baking together can be a great way to spend quality time with your family while also teaching important life skills. You can choose a recipe together and then work together to prepare and cook the meal or dessert.

Arts and Crafts

Image source: Pexels

Kids enjoy painting! To help them explore the art of painting, there are lots of painting ideas you can engage your kids with. As a family, you can get creative with arts and crafts! You can try drawing, painting, or even making your own jewelry. There are many online tutorials and resources available to help you get started.

Outdoor Activities

Image source: Pexels

Someone once asked, “Are there outdoor activities near me”? Of course, there are lots of them! You can go for a hike, bike ride, or even have a picnic in the park. These are great ways to get some exercise and enjoy nature. Spend some time outside and enjoy the fresh air! 

Reading Drill

Image source: Pexels

Reading is a great way to unwind and relax, and it's also a great way to learn new things. You can choose a book to read together 

as a family, or everyone can choose their own book to read and then discuss it later. You can add more spice to the reading exercise by setting up a reading competition among the kids. This goes a long way to strengthen the family bonds and at the same time, develops the minds of the kids.

 

Exercise Challenge

Image source: Pexels

Get moving and stay active! There are many fun and easy exercises that you can do at home, such as yoga or dance workout. You can also take a family walk or jog around the neighborhood. Set up a fun exercise challenge, like a relay race or obstacle course, and have everyone participate. This is a great way to get some exercise while having fun together.

Puzzles

Image source: Pexels

Puzzles can be a fun and challenging activity that the whole family can enjoy. There are cool jigsaw puzzles, easy crossword puzzles for adults and kids, and even Sudoku puzzles. The interesting thing about puzzles is that it prepares the minds of the kids for problem-solving that helps them tackle the real-life situation.

Charades Game

Image source: Pixabay

Charades is a fun game that requires no equipment, just your imagination. One person acts out a word or phrase, and the others try to guess what it is. It's a great game for all ages and can be played with any number of people.

Scavenging Hunt

Image source: Pexels

If you're stuck at home on a school vacation or snow day, create your own treasure hunt with some unique scavenger hunt clues for kids. This fun activity gets kids moving as they search for a location that has an item (or another clue) waiting in its spot. The first clue leads to the next spot, and so on, with a treasure, like a toy or a treat, residing at the final destination. A self-directed scavenger hunt empowers kids to complete a task independently (or cooperatively, if playing with others). At the same time, they learn the skills of sequencing and following steps in order.

There are several types of scavenging hunts you can engage your kids with. The type of scavenger hunt you create is dependent on the age of the kids involved. Increase the level of complexity and scope of the search appropriately. Determine the type of hunt that is right for you and your kids, and then create and print out clues.

• Indoor Hunt: Indoor hunts are best for smaller kids with shorter attention spans. Easy clues can take them from room to room with a final treasure waiting at the end.

• Backyard or Neighborhood Hunt: If your kids are old enough to tackle a scavenger hunt without supervision, open it up to your backyard, or get the neighbor kids involved in a neighborhood-wide search. Bigger hunts can be tackled in teams, making sure to always use the buddy system.

• Themed Hunt: Holidays and birthdays make great opportunities for you to plan a themed hunt. Match the theme of the scavenger hunt to that of the party or holiday, and then let multiple treasures be the party favor for guests.

• Photo Hunt: Older kids can engage in a timed photo scavenger hunt where all clue items need to be photographed on their phone in a given timeframe. You can also create a hunt where clues are given as photos.

DIY Game Night

Image source: Pexels

Trust me, this game is a series of fun and will bring out the creativity of each family member. This is how this game works, have each family member come up with their own game idea and then play them all. This can be a fun and creative way to spend an evening together and get everyone involved. Here are some family night games ideas to enjoy with your family: head bouncing with a balloon, doodling with noodles, chocolate face, defying gravity, giant feet, pass it on, knock it out, tell a joke, pick and act, riddles just to mention but a few.

 

Conclusion

Remember, the key to decreasing screen time is finding activities that are fun and engaging for the whole family. By incorporating these activities into your routine, you can create healthy habits that will benefit you and your family for years to come.

I believe you have learned something from this piece. Kindly share one or two things that inspired you while reading in the comment session and give it a like.

Written by Mabel Uche

Happy reading!