Last month my niece celebrated her fifteenth birthday with a 50s party with friends. Halfway through the party, my mom and I crashed the party dressed up in 50s outfits and provided some entertainment. The teens loved it (I was so nervous they’d just roll their eyes), and I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time.
“A joyful heart,” says Proverbs 17:22, “is good medicine.” Though the psalmist was likely referring to joy deep down inside, I think the same applies for laughter. Laughing is good for you too. Mayo Clinic says it boosts your immune system, relieves stress, and it can cut pain.
You may have had a family movie and popcorn night, but today I thought it would be fun to create a Family Game Night. Use these ideas to create new family memories. A family that laughs together stays together.
PLAY – Twister with a Twist
Start your family game night with one of these versions on Twister.
Musical Dots – Play the music as everyone walks around the dots. Everyone can only step on dots. When the music stops, everyone can take one more step. Then spin the Twister spinner. Whoever is standing on the color it lands on is out! Last person to get out wins.*
Truth and Tell Dots – Whenever someone lands on a certain color, that person answers a specific question.
Green – share a funny experience that happened to you
Red – tell the person working the spinner something you like about them
Yellow – say one thing that makes you feel happy
Blue – share one thing you’ve done that was so awesome you’d like to do it again
Don’t have a Twister board? No problem. Create your own board game version with long pieces of string or rope and colored paper plates or card stock circles. For an outdoor version, spray paint circles on the lawn.
MAKE – Edible Twists
What a family game night without snacks, right?
For both options below, you’ll need one sheet of puff pastry thawed for 20 min (a roll of Crescent roll dough works too), one egg whisked, salt, and either cinnamon & sugar or your favorite grated cheese and pepper.
Cinnamon sugar twists
- Roll sheet to 14×10. Cut in half to make 2 rectangles then brush each one with egg mixture. This helps the dough stick together when you twist it.
- Sprinkle them lightly with salt (pastry dough is too bland without it). Then cover generously with cinnamon and sugar or brown sugar.
- Put egg sides together and then use a rolling pin to press the rectangles together.
- Cut into ½ inch strips then twist each strip like a corkscrew.
- Place twists on a lightly greased cookie sheet and bake for 10-12 min. at 400 degrees.
Cheese twists
- Roll sheet to 14×10. Cut in half to make 2 rectangles then brush each one with egg mixture. This helps the dough stick together when you twist it.
- Then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Generously cover with finely grated cheese.
- Put egg sides together and then use a rolling pin to press the rectangles together.
- Cut into ½ inch strips then twist each strip like a corkscrew.
- Place twists on a lightly greased cookie sheet and bake for 10-12 min. at 400 degrees.
CREATE – Balloon Twists
While the cinnamon sugar twists are baking in the oven, create silly balloon hats or creatures for your family game night. The only thing you’ll need is long balloons, also called sculpture balloons, twisty balloons. You can find them at Hobby Lobby, Party City, Michaels or Amazon.
Swan, heart and flower balloon hats
Dog balloon
Having a family game night is just one way to add a little laughter into your life.
What are some other ways you’ve discovered?
*Thanks to Capital Community Church for this variation
© Carol Garborg, 2020
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