Survival Tips for Parents - Tabletop Games Night

There's nothing quite like gathering round the table, game pieces everywhere, dice flying off the sides, and the kids either plotting their next move or sulking because they didn't win. Ah, family game nights – pure chaos, and I'll let you decide if it's pure magic.

 If you're thinking about diving into the wonderful world of tabletop games with your little ones, here are a few tips to make it a cracking experience (and save your sanity).

Pick the Right Game before you pass Go

Sounds obvious! Honestly, it makes all the difference.

On this point, I could write a whole post alone. Why not come check out our library at an event near you and try some different types of games!

Doing some exploring on the internet or asking friends for recommendations is definitely time well spent for finding games that fit your family.

Intention

Have a look at your intention, for example, is it to have some 1 2 1 time with one of your children, for children to play by themselves or a game to be played by the whole family.

Ability

What ages is the game for? Don't be too hung up on this point. If you're not used to playing games, your children will not be practised in sitting down and playing them either. Easy quick games could be a great start.

Once mastered easy, fun games, you can take the skill from that game and move on to a game with the same mechanics in a more complex way.

A great example is a junior version, then work up to the adult version.

Basically, game designers don't reinvent the wheel; play an easy game, and you will find a more challenging game with the same mechanics to master next, already knowing how to play most of it. It makes life a lot easier and makes the kids willing to play a different version of a game they already love.

If you pick a game that's too complicated or too long, you'll spend half the night explaining rules and the other half wondering where you went wrong in life.

Play to your Strengths

You can find games on any subject, from Who's Poo to Kings and Queens. Not only can you match their interests to suit, but why not try out different game mechanics?

Games of 100% luck may be super fun to play for some people; however, if you have a budding strategist who would beat everyone in a game of probability and high strategy?

Do you have people who move a lot? Perhaps a stacking game and building blocks, or spinning the plate in Susi Dim Sum, work better for them. 

From game to shout-out words to trading cards, what type of game suits your family?

Does the age range make competing or struggling with winning or losing?  

A cooperative game where you are all working together to kill movie monsters may just be the trick.

When Going into Battle, one needs to take their Armour

Set time aside to familiarise yourself with a new game. Take time alone to set a solo goal of just setting the game up, or invite a friend for coffee and play a round with another adult.

Reading the rules or knowing how it's set up really helps keep the fun when introducing a new game.

Watch the Video

The simplest things make the most difference…. Hop on to YouTube and watch other people explain the rules for you.. better still get the children to….. Can they teach you how to play the new game?   

Light and breezy

Remember, it's about having a laugh, not raising the next grandmaster. Let them bend the rules a bit, or make a few up (we all do it, and sometimes a game just plays better with different rules, who says the rules have to be followed) 

Examples;

Make silly voices for the characters.

Celebrate the little wins (even if it's just rolling a six)

Leave a rule out

Add rules, such as an option to ask a friend

or 1 go at asking Alexa

The more relaxed and fun it feels, the more they'll want to keep playing.

Nobody enjoys a "rules lawyer" who grumbles over every missed step. Save that energy for your grown-up game nights!

Short and Sweet

Kids have the attention span of kids– it's just science. Choose games that wrap up in 10–20 minutes tops. If the game drags on, you'll lose them to snacks, fidgeting, and eventually full-on rolling around on the carpet.

Start small and quickly. You can always play "best of three" if they're up for more from a quick game.

Get the Kids Involved

From setting up the board, shuffling cards, and choosing which game to play – let them be part of it.

It gives them a sense of ownership and excitement.

Bonus points if they start suggesting new games for the family to try!

Snacks. Always Snacks.

Never underestimate the power of a well-timed biscuit or a handful of crisps. Hungry kids are grumpy kids, and grumpy kids do not make good game buddies: stock up, my friend.

Just maybe steer clear of anything too sticky. No one wants jammy fingerprints on their prized Catan cards.

In short: Think about how the games are played, and with whom. Keep it simple, keep it silly, and keep the snacks flowing. Tabletop games are brilliant for bonding, having a laugh, and creating the kind of memories you'll all look back on fondly (even if you did lose at Guess Who? five times in a row).'

Now, kettle on, game box open – and may the best player be the one to laugh the most.