It is estimated that parents have 3000 hours of intentional time with their kids each year. The Kids Team knows that those hours are vital in the social, emotional, physical and spiritual development of your kids. In 2019, we want to encourage and challenge you to find rhythms in your home that are engaging, creative, fun and allow for natural conversations about faith and Jesus. Every month a staff member from the Kids Ministry Team will share an idea from their family rhythm that will guide you in making those 3000 hours a year a little more intentional. Join us each month by sharing how you incorporated the month’s challenge in your home. Post your family experiences to social media using #mhcfamilychallenge for chances to win prizes and encourage other families to join the challenge!

GAME NIGHT FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST

Week 1 – Teach your kids a game from when you were young
Week 2 – Have your kids teach you a game
Week 3 – Learn a new game
Week 4 – Play a game outside

Think about the last time you sat down and played a game. Has it been in the last month? Last year? Two years? Maybe not even since you were a child? There seems to be a correlation between the rise of technology and the decline of games. I don’t mean the games on all our devices…but I’m talking about board games, card games, and with-other-people games.

While growing up, playing games was one of the holiday highlights and a memory whenever we visited my grandparents. Siblings vs. parents, brother vs. sister…there was always some sort of board game or card game battle going on.

We would bust out a deck of cards and sit on the bed talking about our day or even pack up Trouble for short road trips. There were always opportunities to play, but more importantly, to connect.

Games create conversations, family traditions, teamwork & help build confidence. Playing games teaches you to work through feelings of self-doubt together, reduces stress, along with developing reading and providing a boost in brain development in kids
Why should you organize a family game night?

Family time is one of the most important aspects of building a strong and loving family bond. The more time that you can spend together as a family, doing a positive activity and working together, the stronger your family bond will become. If you haven’t created a family game night in your home, it’s never too late. Even once a month makes a big impact!

Why put off those amazing conversations, the fun teamwork, the laughter and the giggles any longer? Start a new family game night tradition for your family and be prepared to be in awe of how much stronger your family bond feels almost instantly.

Here are 5 helpful hints for games:

1 // 15 fun games to play with a deck of cards: Golf, crazy 8s, phase 10, uno, spoons, old maid, California speed, kings in the corner, go fish, war, hearts spades, three thirteen, rummy, push rummy, nerts,
2 // Games for parents with teens: Catan, Yahtzee, Monopoly, Scrabble, Boggle, Sushi Go Party
3 // Top rated family night games: Hedbanz, Clue, Googly Eyes, Phase 10, BopIt, Bean Boozled, Break Free, Pictopia, Exploding Kittens, Game of Life, Watch Ya Mouth, Jenga, Pay Day, Guesstures, Apples to Apples
4 // Charades, Monopoly, Scrabble, Cribbage, Upwords, Chess, Twister
5 // Scavenger hunt, Minute to Win it Games

Post favorite memory from August game month: Winner will receive a gift card to Target to pick out a new game as a family.
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KELSEY ERICKSON