The Bottom Line, Ministries Christian News, Articles, & Poetry 
When I was a kid, things were much different. You see, cell phones didn’t exist back then and we made it through our days just fine. Now I’m not here to knock owning a cell phone. They do serve an important purpose by opening up the possibilities with communication. They’re great for if you’re stranded, need to make an important phone call while on the go, or even as a GPS. However, things have gotten a bit out of control. Kids, and even many adults, have forgotten how to enjoy other forms of leisure because they’re too busy texting or yappin’ on the phone.
Today I want to challenge our readers to turn off their cell phones, tablets, and computers for just one night in exchange for a family fun night. I want to challenge you to spend some face-to-face time with your family. However, I don’t expect you to do this on your own and I’m going to go over some possibilities on how to have a successful family fun night.
Snacks
So you’ve decided to try family fun night. Pizza anyone? I’m not talking about just any pizza with random toppings your kids don’t like. Make sure they have what they like, even if it’s a greasy triple cheese pizza without the crust. It’s only one night, but they’ll remember it for months to come. Also be sure to pop some popcorn, grab some 2-liters, and stock up on Little Debbie snack cakes. You may even consider putting out a create-your-own sundae bar, so that everyone can have the ice cream dessert they desire. This is going to be fun!
Games
Don’t hold back! Pull out the Go Fish, Old Maid, Monopoly, or even have a few rounds of Bingo with prizes. Don’t forget to share in conversation while you’re playing, even if it means taunting your young opponents. Kids hear “smack talk” all the time at school and they’re going to know you’re being playful. It’s actually a great way to relate to kids.
For those of you who have kids that have a general understanding of the Holy Bible, there are some various card and board games out there that can help transform your night into a family devotional. Some such games that have bible editions include Trivia, Pictionary, Apples to Apples, Scrabble, Guesstures, Cranium, and Outburst. You can even be creative and make up your own game!
Stories
Who doesn’t like a good story. Challenge your kids to see who can tell the best ghost story. Even better yet, make a story together by having each family member tell parts of the story for a given amount of time, and then move on to the next family member. Continue doing this until you have completed your story. You may even want to record this so you can go back and relive the silliness of your story afterwards.
Family Share Time
To top off your family fun night, have some family share time. Talk about recent events, cares, concerns, and happy things going on in your lives. This is a great opportunity to connect with your kids and find out what’s important to them. Since you’ve been having such great fun, there is a good chance that they’ll be willing to open up to you and tell it all. Who knows, you may even learn some things about your kids that you never knew before.
Final Thought
Friends, family is so important. I can’t say this enough. Please take some time to have positive interactions with your children. This is not only a necessity, but it is a gift. You see, many children don’t get the opportunity to spend time with their parent(s). When this happens, it hurts the next generation as well, since the previous generation has not developed the skills necessary to foster a good relationship with their kids. So set aside some time and try having a family fun night. You might just find yourself having one on a regular basis. Thank you for reading and God bless.
Psa 127:3 Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward.
What is your favorite family fun night activity?
