Next time you need something super easy to entertain the kids for family fun night have an indoor camping party. This is so easy to do and the kids LOVE it! Now of course, I would prefer if every family actually went camping, but I know their are plenty of people that it is just not their thing.
So why not give your children the experience of camping without leaving home? All you need is a play tent or even better make your own fort. My children have always preferred to make their own forts for the indoor camp out. Using almost every chair and blanket in the house they have created large indoor tents for sleeping or just hanging out.
If you use a play tent, see if the kids can set the whole thing up themselves without any help.
For the first part of the family fun night the kids can create the tent. Toss a bag of clothes pins their way to help clip on the blankets and sheets to the chairs. Next up, outfit the tent. Grab some sleeping bags and a few pillows. Each kid can set up their space.
Now time for some spooky stories. Grab a flashlight and takes turns telling some good old fashioned ghost stories.
Don't forget a "fireside" camping treat. You could make smores without a fire. Just assemble the ingredients and toss it in the microwave to gently heat it up. Or wrap them in foil and put them in the toaster.
How about a Minute to Win it themed camping activity? Walk around outside and gather a bunch of small twigs. Put them on a tray. Open up a bag of marshmallows and scatter them around the room. Place a bowl on a table. The object is to poke your stick into the marshmallow and bring it back to the table to remove it using another stick. Place the marshmallow in the bowl. You can not use your hands to pick up or remove the marshmallow off of the stick. See how can get the most marshmallows in the bowl in one minute. Don't want to toss the marshmallows around the room? Just put them on a large tray on a different table than the bowl.
Need more game ideas? Read a previous blog post about games to play around the campfire that require no materials.
The younger kids will simply enjoy sleeping over on the floor in something they created themselves.
Check out more family fun night ideas.
Most of the time, you will find our family playing cards, games or a team challenge for a family fun night. Occasionally though we will grab the ipad or the iphone and start playing a group game. Here are our favorites (this post contains affiliate links):
1. Family Feud - great team game for old and young. The older ones type in the answers but the younger ones can definitely shout them out. We don't go in order we just work together to get them all.
2. Heads Up - best iphone group game EVER! Kids version is the best but sometimes that gets too easy.
3. Word Charades - try and get the group to guess the word at the top without saying the other words. We modify this game to keep everyone involved. Just take turns and see who can get the highest score. For the younger ones, you are allowed to say the words at the bottom of the card.
4. 94 Seconds - Work together to see how many category words you can get correct in 94 seconds. Again, we modify the rules by saying the category and the letter out loud so everyone can help. One person types in everyone's answers.
5. Life or Monopoly - At home we absolutely play the real board game. But in the camper with tight quarters or the car, the video game is perfect.
What is your favorite apps for family fun night?
On the rare occasion that we are all home for the entire night, I get excited. As our children get older, it can be hard to have everyone together all evening. When those nights do happen, we like to make it fun (and since I am a cheapskate - economical too). Here are some of the things we do when we are all together:
1. Family cooking wars - see who can create the best edible treat with different ingredients that you have in your pantry or fridge.
2. Card Games - read my 5 best card games to play with the family. We are a card playing family for sure so this activity gets picked the most.
3. Category Games - Perfect activity for family game nights. Younger children can be on a team to help come up with different words in the categories. Older children or adults can record the answers. These games are fun and challenging for all ages.
4. We love to play Set the Record! - This game is great because children of all different ages may be able to hold the family record. Time for the kids to beat the adults!
5. Memory Games - Download the Memory Challenge packet or try this classic from when I was a child. One person gathers small items from around the house and puts them on the tray. Place the tray in the middle of the table. Everyone studies the objects on the tray for 30 seconds. Cover up the tray. Each player has one minute to write down on paper all of the objects they can remember from the tray. Compare your answers. If you are playing with young children who can not write, have the children close their eyes. Remove one or two items. The children open their eyes. Can they remember what you removed?
What is your favorite, cheap family fun game night?
