Cool Mom Picks: Bringing back family game night

Bringing back family game night

Winter time is the perfect time to gather the family around the table for fun and games.

Curated by Cool Mom Picks on December 27, 2012 1:29 PM

Pictionary for the 21st century

Board games have a lot to compete with these days. Ever tried to get your older kid to put down Angry Birds in favor of Monopoly? That's why I'm thrilled to find this interactive (albeit battery-free) board game that's not boring in the least. And my kids agree.

A fabulous toddler game when you need a break from Candyland.

If you'll be doing some packing before you hit the road this summer, chances are you don't want the kids to help too much, lest you end up with six pairs of socks and no pants in their suitcases. So try channeling their I can help! persistence into a game in which you have to pack away your clothes before they spill all over the place.

Bananagrams go Hebrew. We're kvelling!

While bananas are not normally something you find associated with Hanukkah, this year we have good reason for you to reconsider- Bananagrams have gone Hebrew.

Let's give em something to talk about

If you're not familiar with TableTopics, it's such a fabulous little secret weapon to have around the house for those holiday weekends in which the throngs of relatives descend upon you. I mean, uh, honor you with their presence.

Memory meets Modern Art

We played lots of board games in my house growing up, and with a 4 year age difference, there were few my sister and I could both make it through without quitting (we in fact have never completed a game of Monopoly to this day). One of the few games we both loved however was Memory.

Awkward Family Photos - The board game that made me laugh until I cried

Aside from that time I won Scrabble by placing VULVA on a triple word score, I don't generally get excited over board games. But the other night, I laughed until I was wiping tears off on my husband's t-shirt.

Angry Birds are back. Only this time, in person.

When my kids first discovered Angry Birds, I admit that it didn't take me long to join the legions of lovers. There is something about the smug little faces and the clueless looking swine that gets me every time. But, there is this little problem called "too much screen time." Enter, Angry Birds, the board game.

Board game boredom no more

My kids are always coming up with some crazy games from our board game graveyard, and anything else they can find in my craft cabinet. So I figure, why not let them put their creativity into action by letting them invent their own board game?

Collaborative board games means everyone wins

When I first became a mother of two, my own mom introduced me to the concept of collaborative board games. Think less "I did it!" and more "We did it!"

Ubisoft Just Dance 2 - they could call it Just Embarrass Yourself 2. And we'd still love it.

I have waited three months for the Ubisoft Just Dance 2 for Wii to come out. Three months! Because three months ago, the better part of the Cool Mom Picks team monopolized the display model at the Blogher conference, challenged our friends at Mamapop to a dance-off, and embarrassed ourselves for all the internet to see.

Wii has one better option for family game night than Modern Warfare. Good thing.

We are an unapologetic game-playing household for sure, whether it's the kind on the teevee or the kind in the box with pieces that end up under our couch. As far as the video kind, we're always looking for options we can either play with our kids, or at least play while our kids are around without scarring them for life.

Great games to take along on your late-summer trip

There's nothing like a few days too hot to venture outside or too stormy to be safe to make me rethink my decision not to send the kids to camp for the whole summer. But, since I've saved a gazillion dollars in keeping them home, I figure I might as well spring for a few new games.

Get sentenced to family wordplay

Family game night getting a little stale? Gather round for a whole new game of speed, literacy, and I'd say, hilarity with this dandy little game I've found right here for you mamas of older kids.

Family game night goes deeper with Family Matters

Look, I'm going to be honest: When I read that Family Matters is the family game for ages 8+ that helps your family get to know each other better, I steeled myself for my daughter rolling her eyes and my son sliding underneath the table, declaring his boredom

Children's first games - For when you just can't face another trip to Candyland

I want to be the mom who sits on the floor and plays board games for hours with her kids, but I usually start losing interest right around the same time my son tries to see how far he can hurl the dice.

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