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Elevating Family Game Night: Mindful Connections Through All-Ages Play

In our digital age (you know what I mean – the “ah-pads” and tablets), cultivating genuine family connections is more crucial than ever. Reimagine the classic family game night as a gateway to mindfulness, bonding, and joyful presence for all ages. Let’s explore how to make game night a blast for everyone on and off the spectrum, from the littles to the grandparents.

I’ll just tell you about my experience. For our family, starting with simple games that are used in therapy or school-based settings has been a good launching point (okay, let’s be honest, sometimes I found myself thinking, “More therapy?”) However, these games are designed to be inclusive and engaging, making them perfect for family nights.

Uno and Sorry! are great starting points, but they can get intense. (Ever heard someone yell “Sorry, not sorry!” while sending Grandpa’s piece back to start? Yeah, competition gets real – literally.) Sometimes we need to downshift to modified rules to keep the peace. Speaking of modifying games, my sister and I as kids used to play our own version of the game of Life on (sometimes up to five) consecutive snow days. In our world, everyone became a lawyer or a doctor that made bank, and as many kids as you could cram on your car, you’d get the bonus/write-off for. (Pro tip: now you can stack pets on! Hopefully, no one falls off… if they do, just put them back on. Five-second rule, no one gets hurt!)

Snacks and Preparation

 

Snacks are essential for a successful game night. We’ve found that creating a visual list of snacks for all players really helps. It makes for a cost-effective snack budget and keeps “food triggers” off the emotional blackmail list. This means I make sure to have Timmy’s favorite ice cream (it happens to be coconut-based) and your Diet Coke on hand. And of course, popcorn we all can share without any debates about the “why allergic?”, or all three just in case anyone’s got an allergy.

Heads up: giving all players a heads up about game night a few days early is a game-changer. We discuss the parameters:

  • What time is arrival?
  • What time will we play?
  • When will it end – meaning when will we be walking out of Jan’s door?
  • Are we playing in pajamas?
  • How loud are we allowed to get?
  • Are we going to cap the volume at 4 or 11, or should we just let it rip at the gazebo outside with walk-away breaks as needed?
  • Who needs a timer? (let’s be honest, some of us do)

We also set some soft boundaries for managing hurt feelings. You can even do a card with these friendly game night rules that someone reads aloud before the games begin. The most important question: When will we all leave our electronics on the chargers in the other room with no looking back – like for real? And of course, Will there be dessert at the end or mid-game? These might seem like small details, but they help everyone feel prepared and comfortable.

Having a schedule helps everyone, especially the grandparents who might always want to eat at six. If we’re going to accommodate that, then we make sure to have a plan for when the games begin. Honestly, building in transition time from dinner to games is crucial, especially for our family members on the spectrum. And guess what? The NTs (neurotypicals) among us also secretly want to control every aspect of Risk, so structure helps everyone.

Building Skills and Connections

We’ve found that building upon natural skills, such as math, memory, or flash card word development, can lead to some killer Scrabble battles in the years ahead. My kid used to whoop me in visual Mandarin during his non-verbal/non-speaking days, always with that “I’m hella smart, Mama!” look on his face as he tapped away on his ah-pad. It’s amazing to see how these skills develop over time.

Here’s an important tip: Don’t get caught up in the “age-appropriateness” of it all (seriously, get over yourselves!). The connection as a family is what truly matters. Learning meaningful ways of winning and losing without the world falling apart gives us all practice for when things go wrong, like difficult school drop-offs the next week. There will always be mini Uno-moments in real life, and sometimes we all need a cooling-off moment in the van to reset.

Games offer continuity with extended family and bridge the gap during potentially stressful times like holidays where the family expectations of “how the holidays are going to go” are diffused with new traditions. We can all meet in the middle over a board game for one hour, enjoying pumpkin pie with Auntie Cheryl and a safe food bowl of faux Cheez-Its for those with dietary restrictions.

For all of us, “behavior” is actually communication. Sometimes, emotional-based games can develop social skills for all of us. However, I caution neurotypical parents about imposing their worldview on their family members on the spectrum. Remember, their emotional world is moving beneath the surface just as much as yours, even if it’s expressed differently.

Here’s another pro tip: Any edition of a game that leans into a special interest or theme, like Minecraft, can be extra special. Trolls brought out a lot of our “True Colors” in their limited-edition game of Trouble. Yes, you might already have the same game in its original format, but buying it in a themed edition can mean a lot to your person. Those super “limited editions”, like Yoda Chess Pieces, can become family heirlooms almost overnight.

25 Exciting Games for All Ages and Interests

Looking to spice up your family game night? Here are 25 exciting games to entertain all ages and interests:

Mind Games

  1. Connect Four ($13.99)
    • Low-pressure cause-and-effect and pattern recognition
    • The yard-sized version is great as well! They even have miniature table-top versions for not-too-sensory restaurants
  2. Zingo ($21.46)
    • A fast-paced version of Bingo that helps younger children practice reading and matching skills
    • Pushing the dispenser is surprisingly satisfying on a sensory level, like a Pez dispenser or fidget spinner
  3. Balderdash (price varies)
    • Pushes everyone’s executive functions
    • Simple, often slays all players
    • You can also do it in teams
  4. Gravity Maze ($27.99)
    • Falling Marble Logic game
    • Winner of the 2015 “Toy of the Year” Award
  5. Beat the Parents ($14.95)
    • Go head to head in this high-stakes, fun-filled family challenge & trivia game!
    • A family showdown… the stakes have never been higher. Kids’ wager, parents’ wager…
  6. eeBoo Simple Math Lotto ($19.99)

Memory and Matching Games

  1. Spot It ($9.99)
    • A fan favorite, as you can tell by the photo
    • Also doubled as a chair leg holder in our household while it was being repaired
  2. Frozen Memory Game Cards ($24.43)
    • A fan-favorite for Frozen fans!
    • Confidence building for a kid that’s been “therapied-out”
  3. eeboo I Never Forget a Face ($17.99)
    • A more detailed facial recognition game
    • Won the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio’s “Best Toy Award”
  4. Hasbro Simon Memory Game (Normally $21.99 – On Sale for $19.68)
    • A classic, and great for any age

Physical and Active Games

  1. Hasbro Hungry Hungry Hippos ($19.84)
    • A therapist introduced this game one summer and incorporated it into our routine after summer camp, before dinner. It gave us an instant game slot in our daily schedule.
    • Unlike some cause-and-effect toys or electronics that keep us in our own world, this game encourages interaction.
  2. Freeze Tag (FREE)
    • Fun and free, especially before being expected to sit at a Thanksgiving table for hours.
  3. Musical Chairs (FREE)
    • Activates all sections of the brain for all of us who need to stop thinking about work and the sensory symphony of the neurodiverse brains
    • Don’t knock it – doesn’t have to be Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, my kids love some good Kendrick Lamar!

Fine Motor Skills Games

  1. Hasbro Operation (Normally $19.99 – On Sale for $18.89!)
    • Kids get to be the doctor, poking and prodding the adults this time. Plus, it involves tweezers for hand-over-hand “surgery” and has a fun buzzer.
    • It’s a great shared experience.
    • Personal anecdote: My son is obsessed with Operation. A TB test visit at a doctor’s appointment sparked his special interest in the human body. This led to a library of detailed medical books and games that he now owns. The interest even resulted in an anatomical model for Christmas last year!
  2. Yeti Spaghetti (Normally $17.99 – On Sale for $5.99!)
    • This game combines spaghetti, a yeti, and some low-pressure occupational therapy. It’s also ridiculously fun!
    • It’s a good game for adults too – even grandmas or aunties who’ve just babysat for a couple of hours might enjoy it!

Card Games

  1. Uno ($4.97)
    • It’s a classic
    • BONUS: Dos ($8.99)
  2. Taco vs. Burrito: The Card Game (Normally $24.99 – On Sale for $15.98!)
    • The battle to build the wildest, weirdest meal is on!
    • Great to pair with an actual taco night!

Social Skills and Emotional Learning Games

  1. Didax Social Skills Board Games (Normally $64.99 – On Sale for $32.84!)
    • Hey, not just for our neurodiverse friends! We all could use some brushing up on our social skills and MOUNTAIN of emotions, right? 😅
  2. Emotional Roller Coaster ($39.95)
    • An anger management game, learn about your feelings along the way. Easy does it… 😅
  3. Thoughts and Feelings: A Sentence Completion Card Game ($17.95)
    • Therapeutic fun… a sentence completion card game!
  4. What Should You Do? A Game of Consequences ($19.99)
    • A game of consequences
    • Players face everyday dilemmas and learn that there are consequences for every choice
    • You can use figurines for some of their favorite toys to act out the scenarios!

Classic Board Games

  1. Hasbro Candyland ($12.99)
    • A good first/introductory game for all little ones
    • Not a very long game
    • Building block for board game concepts + basics
    • Can be modified for adults with adult “treats” – candy never hurts for adults, too!
  2. The Game of LIFE (Disney Parks Theme Park Edition) ($49.99)
    • All of the fun without having to get a season pass to every single Disney theme park!

Unique and Specialty Games

  1. Organ Attack (Normally $34.99 – On Sale for $19.99 with coupon!)
    • Trust no one… all body parts at risk! Hang onto your heart!
  2. Tell-A-Story Nursery Rhyme Kit ($29.99)
    • From Lakeshore Store (The store for teachers)
    • Beginners build literacy as they read and act out favorite nursery rhymes
    • This can also encourage an organic family playbook

Additional Notes:

  • Many games can be adapted for different age groups or to include adult variations.
  • Consider incorporating games into regular family routines for consistent bonding time.
  • Remember to match game choices with your family’s interests and developmental needs.

Conclusion

Game night can become an institution in your family. It’s a building process, and at first, it might seem like a farfetched idea. But those little moments of Uno while waiting in line can grow into a family tradition, much like getting your fantasy football fix with the cousins. (Who knew that Pass the Pig could become your go-to Fourth of July pre-BBQ connection?)

We should all accommodate each other. There are winners, there are losers, and there’s a bunch of great plays in between. But what truly lasts are the memories. We cherish those windows of time where we, as a family, are fully present and free from electronic distractions. Between the hours of 7-9:30, with 9:30 (gluten-free-ish… and/or regular) strawberry shortcake in the winner’s circle, game night puts us all on ‘Do Not Disturb’.

What are some of your family game night traditions? Tell us down below! 👇

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