Family Week Games Night

Friday 4th June

Games are a great way to bond with your family and if you're struggling for suggestions then we've got a few ideas that'll guarantee to have your Games Night rocking with laughter.

Let the games begin!

Twister

You're bound to collapse into a fit of giggles in this classic game where you're the playing piece! Nominate someone to be the referee. Everyone else gets to play. The referee spins the spinner and calls out which colour and body part it lands on. The first player must then put that body part (either their hand or foot) on a circle of that colour on the multi-coloured playing mat. The referee then calls out the move for the next player and play continues like this until everyone is on the mat. Then players must move their hands or feet around each other to stay in the game. You can only lift your body part off if you have to move it somewhere else. If you fall or if your elbow or knee touches the mat, you're eliminated. The winner is the last player standing.

Cluedo

The mystery you love to solve again and again is even more intense! CLUEDO is back with a modern twist: a soiree at a millionaire mogul's mansion turned deadly, and you must find out who is responsible for murdering the host. There's no Revolver or Billiard Room this time… but could it have been Scarlet with the Barbell in the Spa? Open up the tabloid-style instructions to get the scoop on the updated rooms, weapons, and guests.

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Great games for the whole gang!

You don't need to get away on holiday or treat yourselves to an expensive day out to have some family fun, says parenting expert Polly Beard. Just try any of these games to liven up everyday family life at home. They won't cost a bean and will banish any cries of "I'm bored!"

TAKE-OFF is a fantastic game to play around the table at mealtimes and guaranteed to get you all giggling. Everyone uses a different colour pen to write down the name of ten people you all know on pieces of paper. Include a mix of family, friends and celebrities. These names are then folded and placed in a bowl. The first player takes out a slip, says what colour the name is written in (so the author knows not to shout out the answer this go), then performs their best impersonation of the person whose name is written down. Whoever guesses correctly first, wins the slip of paper. Continue until the bowl is empty, then count up the pieces of paper and declare a winner.

TEATIME RAP will keep everyone amused too. Begin by tapping out a steady rhythm on the table. One of you then thinks up some words that can be said in time to the beat. Look at your food for inspiration and try something like, "Sausages! Sausages! And mashed potato!" The next person then repeats this line and adds one of their own like, "Green beans and carrots! Yum, Yum, Yum!" When everyone has invented a line, repeat the rap a couple of times together so that you all know it well. Then take it to the next level performing solo verses in different accents or silly voices and join together for the final accompaniment-only verse, pinging spoons on plates, making slurpy noises with a straw or trying out your coolest beat-boxing.

After supper, clear the dining table and burn off some energy with a game of TABLE FOOTBALL. Simply screw up a piece of paper and place in the centre of the table. Get into two teams at either end, hands behind your backs, and on the count of three, blow as hard as you can. Try to blow the ball all the way up the table and off the opposite end. If you do, you score a goal. If the ball leaves the table at any stage, simply place the ball back into the centre and get blowing again. Take a break if you feel dizzy.

And if the weather's good, you don't need to go far to have fun. Simply get out in the back garden and set up a WHACKY OBSTACLE RACE. Don't just think about running to the fence and back. Instead, include things like cartwheels and somersaults, a garden chair to crawl under, some over-seized wellies to hop in, a bucket of water to carry on your head, a tricycle to ride backwards on, etc. Time each racer as they complete the course, and make sure that all of you join in with it, not just the kids.

Even housework can be turned into some family fun with a bit of imagination. Try playing THE CHORE JAR for instance. Write down whatever easy chores need doing like "make the beds" or "feed the dog" on pieces of paper. Also jot down a few treats like "have a biscuit" or "win 10p". Put all the slips of paper into a jar and get each member of the family to pick one out, lucky-dip style. It's amazing how quickly the chores will be finished with a minimum of fuss, leaving you plenty of quality family time to enjoy together.