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Home with Grace and Joy

Living a Legacy

Easy Ideas for Family Meals and Game Time

January 11, 2023      8 Comments

close up photo of monopoly board for family game time
Family Game Time
Photo by Ylanite Koppens on Pexels.com

When the kids were still at home, it was important to us that we ate our meals together at the table. As they got older and had activities, we had to make a few exceptions. However, for the most part, we had our family meals at the table. We also enjoyed playing games together. Eating together and playing games are some of the easiest ways we can spend enjoyable time with our families. I would love to share some easy ideas for family meals and game time.

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The Importance of Family Meals

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Several years ago I read some research on the importance of families sitting down together (at the table) for family meals. I wish I could find the statistics to share with you. Although I do not have the exact numbers, I remember that drug use and giving in to peer pressure amongst youth sharply decreased when families shared family meals at the table several times a week.

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I recently read an article from familychristian.com. The article explains the importance of family meals, and it also gives you ideas for conversation starters. Click this link to read, “Why Eating Together As A Family Matters?”

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Easy Family Meal Times

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Family Meal Time
Enjoying Family Meal Time

Family meals should be enjoyable for everyone in the family. With that being said, here are a few tips and ideas to keep in mind:

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  • Keep all table conversations on positive notes. Do not bring up any problems or trouble at the table.
  • Ask each other about their days. Even teenagers tend to open up at mealtimes.
  • When possible, make preparations together.
  • You might let each person pick a meal a week or month.
  • Obviously, everyone should gather around the table.
  • It does not have to be fancy. In fact, sandwiches, corny dogs, or whatever you have is just as great at the table as it is elsewhere.

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Enjoying Family Game Time

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Granny Joy and girls having family game time
My Mom “Granny Joy” Playing Candyland with the Girls

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We love playing games together. Some family members can get very competitive when games are involved! When the kids were small, Jay taught them that you don’t always win. LOL! There were some great lessons in our game times as well as other benefits. Just from my observation (nothing scientific), here are some of the benefits I have seen come from family game time:

  • Families have fun together.
  • Conversations naturally happen.
  • Memories are made.
  • Healthy competition is learned.
  • Thinking skills are developed – strategic thinking, word skills, higher level thinking, etc.
  • Social skills are developed.

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We still play games on occasion when the family all gets together. However, when the girls come to visit, it is almost a must. They love games, and you have to have snacks while your play! A couple of their favorites are pictured below. Notice how worn out the Trouble box is now.

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Train Double 12 Dominoes Game for Family Game Time
Train (Double 12 Dominoes)
Trouble Game for Family Game Time
Trouble

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Here are a couple of others I enjoy.

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Boggle Game for Family Game Time
Boggle
Banana Grams Game for Family Game Time
Banana Grams

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I tend to like the word games best, and Jay likes anything with strategic thinking. There are so many games to choose from these days, with all sorts of topics. You just have to find the ones that fit your family best.

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New Favorite Game

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A few weeks before Christmas, a friend of ours posted that her son did woodwork, and she shared his Etsy link. Oh my goodness! When I went to his site, I was so impressed. We immediately ordered a game for my daughter and her family. When it arrived, I ordered a game for the two of us. This was how we spent our New Year’s Eve – playing WaHoo. Before he puts it in the comments, yes, Jay won all four games!

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Wahoo Board Game for Family Game Time
Personalized Wahoo Board

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I have already had people ask for a link to order a personalized game like this. He makes these as well as many other items and games. If you are interested, contact Jared Tredway on Etsy here at this link. You will definitely enjoy it!

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Family Meals and Game Time Challenge

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I would like to challenge each of us (myself included) to spend more meal times at the table, and more time with the family in game time. I would also love to hear about your family’s game time favorites. Please tell about it or share pictures in the comments. I love new ideas!

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Click here to read an earlier post, “Kitchen Table Memories.” You have to hear the song at the end of the post! It is amazing!

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I hope something in these easy ideas for family meals and game time was helpful to someone. Let’s keep having fun and building memories with our families!

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Have a Grace & Joy-filled day!

Susan

disclosure: affiliate links are used on this page. Thank you for supporting Home with Grace and Joy. When you purchase an item, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.

“When I am filled with cares, Your comfort brings me joy.” Psalms 94:19

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  1. Margie says

    January 13, 2023 at 1:31 pm

    Thank you for sharing. I enjoy all of your posts. Our son, daughter-in-law and their 5 children all sit at the table to have their meals. One of the kids says a prayer before eating. They all play games together.

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    • sdsikes says

      January 13, 2023 at 1:42 pm

      That is so wonderful! I love to hear this!!

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  2. Linda says

    January 13, 2023 at 5:12 pm

    As our kids grew and had jobs with differnet hours and left for college our schedule changed it wasn’t alwasy dinner and games any more but we had time each day together. Now we have meals and grandkids.

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    • sdsikes says

      January 13, 2023 at 5:19 pm

      Same here! Precious time!!!

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  3. CoCo says

    January 16, 2023 at 9:26 am

    Yes to gathering around the table! It’s so important. I’ve learned a ton about our family from lingering after each meal. It’s one of life’s best gifts! We play “Roses and Thorns” at the beginning of each meal. It definitely helps to open up the conversation but also helps us gauge how each one of us are really doing. Hugs, CoCo

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    • sdsikes says

      January 16, 2023 at 9:27 am

      I haven’t heard of Roses and Thorns! Sounds interesting!

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  4. sdsikes says

    January 25, 2023 at 8:03 am

    Thank you so much! What a blessing!

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  1. Whimsy Home Wednesday 14 - Mornings on Macedonia says:
    January 25, 2023 at 8:01 am

    […] choice this week was Home With Grace and Joy’s post on easy ideas for family meals and game time. Which I am sure we can all use these great ideas! I know I always struggle with what to make for […]

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Welcome! I believe homes and families should be filled with grace and joy! As I think about my life, I can see how my grandmother and my mom poured these beliefs into our home. How fitting that my grandmother's name was Grace and my mother's name is Joy. I hope to share the impact "Grace and Joy" have made on my life and in my home!

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