Board Game, Anyone???

Photo:  Flickr

I did a quick inventory of all of the board games our family has accumulated over the past 13 years.  Like you and your family...we have HUNDREDS of dollars worth of games.  From Chutes and Ladders to Battleship to Monopoly - and everything in between!!!  I can honestly say that I can distinctly remember certain times we played these games.  It's always so much fun to clear off the table and just spend time with your family playing a board game!

Photo:  Board Games by Peter Griffin

I think we're always trying to re-invent the wheel when it comes to entertaining our kids.  We spend hundreds of dollars on bouncy places and skating and stuffed animal building and amusement parks and bowling and pottery making.  And there's nothing wrong with those places.  They're a ton of fun!  But sometimes...I think we have to remember...that our kids just want to spend time together as a family.  It makes them feel secure.  And how great is it that you can grab a board game for as little as five or ten bucks?!?!?  And honestly...I think everybody has just as great a time - EVEN better!!!

Photo:  childrenshealthnaturally.wordpress.com

This weekend, we played Yahtzee...and Sorry...and Trouble.  We laughed and laughed and laughed.  And you know what?  There were great opportunities to teach them how to handle winning...and losing.  I remember we had to explain to Cooper that just because he had to put a zero on his Yahtzee score sheet...didn't mean it was okay to pout.  It's a game!  "Have FUN playing" we said.

Oh...and if you deal with the problem of everybody wanting to play a different game.  No worries.  We each brought a different game to the table.  Then we scribbled the names of the games on pieces of paper.  We drew to see what game we played next.  That eliminated pre-game bickering!!!

Photo:  mysonhas2brains.blogspot.com

The only problem - I got my butt kicked.  A LOT!!!  Even worse...I was beaten at my absolute favorite game - SORRY!  I already re-scheduled a re-match at the kitchen table with my eight-year-old.  So just know that at 2:30 this afternoon - I'll be fighting for a little retribution!  Wish me luck!

What's your family's favorite board game?  Comment below.  All joking aside - turn off the television and the phones...and play a game with your kids.  They'll remember it FOREVER.  :)

~ Kristen