Tag: family-friendly games

4 Ideas For A Fun Family Night In | Nixplay

Can’t Go Out? Here are 4 Ideas for a Fun Family Night In!

Who says you can’t have tons of fun from the comfort of your own home? Sure, going out can be exciting and provide you with a much-needed change of scenery, but given the current climate and safety precautions people are taking, staying in is becoming more and more common- especially among families. With all the adjustments taking place, such as students adapting to remote learning and parents getting used to working from home, it’s nice to have a night in to look forward to at the end of the week. With a little creativity, there are plenty of ways to make a family night in feel like a family night out. Keep reading to gather some ideas on how to make your next family fun night a success.

1. Camp Out, Living Room Style

Camping in the great outdoors is an old family tradition for many, but why not create a new one by bringing the campsite to your living room? Pull out those sleeping bags, pitch a tent and get your favorite scary stories ready to tell around the fireplace or a faux campfire. Speaking of campfires, is there even a point if you don’t have s’mores? With all the prep work you’ve been doing to make this family night in perfect, grabbing the ingredients to make these tasty treats may have slipped your mind. Have no fear, with an app like goPuff, you can order all the fixings needed to make the perfect s’more, and maybe even an adult beverage or two. You can even  have them delivered to your living room so you don’t have to miss out on any of the fun! Not only is camping out living room-style a great way to spend quality time with your family, but it also guarantees you’ll avoid any stormy or rainy weather – as well as hungry bears ransacking your tent after you’ve fallen asleep! 

2. Get Creative in the Kitchen

Going out to eat, especially if you have a larger family, can be quite costly. It may also be tough for everyone to agree on where they want to go based on different tastes. A family night is the perfect time to gather around your favorite cookbook and get creative in the kitchen with your crew. Whether it’s making an old family recipe like Grandma’s famous chocolate chip cookies, or trying something completely new like sushi from scratch, the kitchen is a place where memories are made. Assigning each family member a task ensures everyone is included, as this makes the final product that much better. It’s likely you’ll have many laughs and may even make something totally inedible, which is why it’s important to keep a frozen pizza or two handy just in case! But however your culinary creation ends up, it’s still a bonding moment you’ll remember for years to come.  

3. Take Game Night to the Next Level

Sure, board games and card games are fun and will keep your family entertained, but why not take things to the next level by creating a scavenger hunt?? This will take a little extra prep work but it’s sure to make a lasting impression on your family. It’s totally up to you when it comes to how creative you want to get, but the more thought you put into it, the more exciting it will be. Begin by creating clues based on areas in or around your home. Be sure these clues are tailored to the ages of your family members. For example, if you have little ones, you’ll want to make things more basic, but if you’ve got teens or adults participating, you’ll want your clues to be a bit trickier. You can break up into teams or make it every person for themselves. Either way, whatever prize you choose should provide the winner with bragging rights for a while, or at least until the next hunt! If you’re looking for inspiration on how to plan your family scavenger hunt, check out this article.  

4. Have a Dance Party

When in doubt, dance it out! This idea may sound crazy, but you’d be surprised at how much fun you can have while dancing. Cutting a rug has many benefits that stem beyond breaking a sweat. Not only are you getting some cardio in, but you’re supporting your mental health as well. Dancing helps to boost your mood and is one of the most inclusive activities you can partake in. A dance party at home provides you with an opportunity to learn about other cultures as well. For example, you may want to explore the world of salsa dancing or learn the Viennese waltz. There’s also nothing wrong with getting down to a little hokey-pokey every now and then. Whatever your interest, moving your body to music is a great release for everyone in your family. If you want to invite a couple of friends over to include them in the fun, check out these social-distance approved dances on YouTube. 

These ideas are just a few of the ways in which you can take advantage of this time together – and with a little creativity and some help from the internet, the possibilities are endless!

Want to make sure it’s a night to remember?

Regardless of the current climate and safety precautions, we’re taking to protect our families, staying home doesn’t have to mean being stuck at home. There are so many fun activities you can plan for family members of all ages and priceless memories to be made. Want to make sure these precious moments can be looked back on for years to come.? Don’t forget to get snap-happy with your camera when spending time with those who matter most. A few pictures and videos can make the world of difference when creating memories, and a Nixplay digital photo frame is the best way to savor them forever.

Organize and digitize your photos with Nixplay
7 games to play now

7 Family-Friendly Games You Should Play Right Now

With all the time we’re spending at home, now’s the perfect opportunity to brush up on your games. Whether you’re on the search for a quick game to pass the time or an immersive simulation, you’ll have a fun time with these picks:

1. Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Platform: Nintendo Switch

The timing of the release of Animal Crossing: New Horizons could not be better: with most folks staying at home due to a global pandemic, the game offered a welcome relief from real-world stress. Players have spent dozens of hours on the game beautifying their islands, collecting rare items and creatures, and getting the best animal villagers–and it’s about time you join in the fun. 

2. Sid Meier’s Civilization VI

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, macOS, iOS, Macintosh operating systems, Linux

If world domination has always been one of your life’s goals, this game is for you. In this turn-based strategy game, you will be tasked to turn your early settlement into a world power by founding new cities, amassing a formidable army, engaging in trade and diplomacy, and discovering new technology. There are also game expansions available should you require a more difficult challenge.

3. Overcooked!

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows

Imagine: You and your friends preparing a range of dishes and serving them to customers. Oh, and parts of the kitchen are moving or disappearing, your customers are getting impatient, you’ve run out of clean dishes, and whatever was on the stove is now on fire. That’s normal in Overcooked, the most chaotic cooking game this side of the Onion Kingdom. It’s up to you and your family to work together to become the best cooking team the game has ever seen.

4. Minecraft Dungeons

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows

The latest Minecraft game will have you exploring several dungeons with monsters, puzzles, traps, and treasures. Use whichever armor and weapon you want to accomplish your goals. The gameplay is simple enough and the graphics are charming, making this a great multiplayer pick for kids.

5. Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield

Platform: Nintendo Switch

Sword and Shield is the latest addition to the ever-expanding Pokemon world, introducing 81 new creatures to catch and train. Set in the Galar region (a place inspired by the United Kingdom), its new features include “Dynamaxing” and “Gigantamaxing”, which make Pokemon grow to a tremendous size; and Poke Jobs, which allow Pokemon to complete requests to gain experience points or special items. It’s definitely not the Pokemon game you grew up with–and that’s a good thing.

6. NBA 2K20

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS, Google Stadia, Microsoft Windows

Basketball fans shouldn’t miss NBA 2K20, which lets you go on the court with real-life and customized players and teams. There are several gameplay options, meaning you’ll never get bored: You can play using your favorite NBA team, create an all-star team with your favorite players, control a single character in MyCareer mode, or face other players online. It’ll take some time to get used to the technicality of NBA 2K20, but don’t let the challenge deter you: As they say, this is why we play.

7. Just Dance 2020

Platforms: Wii, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Google Stadia

Just Dance is one of the most fun ways to burn calories. The premise is simple enough: you’ll just need to copy the on-screen dancer’s choreography using your controller to rack up points. Before you know it, you’d have spent a couple of hours dancing in front of your screen. Now, if you’re a bit uncoordinated, the more complicated tracks might prove challenging. But that’s what makes it more fun, don’t you think?

Don’t forget to take pictures of the fun times you’ll have with your family while gaming! Display them on a Nixplay Smart Photo Frame so you’ll have new moments of the past few months to keep close to your heart. 

Marianne is Nixplay’s Web Content Editor. Her hobbies include exploring new places, playing table tennis, and cuddling puppies. Send her a message at marianne.salazar@nixplay.com.

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