The coziness of the fall season is a great way to bring the family together, especially as evening draws in earlier. The chilly air and chaoticness of the impending holiday season may have you seeking activities that don’t involve going out so much. We have a few fun ideas for you and your family can enjoy together all from the comfort of your own home.
GAME NIGHT: A bonafide classic that is in need of a comeback. Some of the best family memories come from playing games with each other. I will always cherish the first time I beat my dad at Monopoly. Surely, you’ve collected some board games to be used. It’s never too early to introduce children to the facts of Life or engage in the capitalistic Monopoly systems. If you were a hipster or a youth group kid in a previous life, chances are you’ve got a Settlers of Catan box somewhere in your closet? Or maybe you’re the video game kind of family. Put on some Super Mario Kart or Super Smash Bros. ORRRR anyone up for something more active like charades? Whatever you decide, bonding over games is a great way to spend the evening.
BONFIRE: There’s a tendency to think of bonfires as a summertime activity. At least I think so. But like, it’s in the fall and winter when it makes far more sense. I mean, BRRRR. It gets chilly out. But bonfires are a great way to come together, whether it’s making smores or telling stories or enjoying breathing in the smell of soot. Okay, perhaps not the last one. But hanging out by the fire is part of our primal design. People have swapped stories and connections over the light of the fire.
MOVIE NIGHT: The sound of popcorn popping, the warmth of a cozy blanket, the comfort of having family next to you as you take in a movie. Sure, we can watch content nowadays on our phones and computers whenever. However, what’s often missing is the connectivity. It’s one thing for everybody to have seen something individually and talk about it, and another to experience it together. It’s a great way to bond and make memories. In the words of AMC Theatre’s patron deity and actress Nicole Kidman, we watch movies, “Not just [to be] entertained but somehow reborn, together.” The only question really is what movie to watch. For that answer, be sure to stay tuned for our upcoming blog about great fall films for the family.
THEME NIGHT: So, if you still have a little magic in you from Halloween this is a fun one to try out. So, is there a popular series or movie your family enjoys? Say, like Star Wars, Harry Potter, or maybe Marvel? Well…why not build a night around it? Dress up in your coordinated Halloween costumes, make some themed snacks, play themed games, and then take in a movie. For example if you want to go the Potter route (which is by far the most fall-time friendly of the bunch) put on your Hogwarts robes, follow some butterbeer or pumpkin juice recipes (maybe even make it an activity for the kids to join in making), play a game (there’s a lot out there from trivia, to Uno, even a loteria!), and take in a movie. There’s a lot of ways to put a wonderful evening together themed around the stories you and your family love.
