Games for Gatherings

Talking and “visiting” is a great way to get to know each other but not the only way.  Playing games will show you different aspects of each other’s lives and are fun anyway, no other motive necessary.  Having a few alternatives available will keep your group from becoming restless.

Your smart phone and a deck of cards are actually the minimum requirements.  The phone offers many group game apps.  Some I like are Phrase Party (like Catch a Phrase), Heads Up! from Ellen DeGeneres, and even a Karaoke app with music and words.  A deck of cards or two provide endless possibilities.  Sometimes we can’t seem to remember what card games we might play, so here is a short list:  Go Fish, Spades, Crazy 8, Spoon, and Hearts.

Board games can be intense, goofy, or just luck.  Trivia games can be challenging, but I like them also because we talk about the questions and answers.  My husband and I are pretty good at trivial pursuit, so my son and his wife were joyous when they recently won two nights in a row!  They surprised us, but competition can be fun.  We like Aggravation (no reading required), Clue, Settlers of Catan, Sequence, and Ticket to Ride.  Monopoly of course is a classic, but it lasts too long for me.

Your family may develop a friendly competition over a particular game or set of games.  A jigsaw puzzle out on a table can also be a gathering spot for chatting and puzzling.  Have a lot of fun.

Connect with your heart.