picture of a family playing a board game

Netflix vs Board Games: Family ‘Night in’ Essentials for a Cosy Success!

Nights at home suddenly become much more desirable once wintertime rolls around. The drop in temperature means many families prefer the warmth of their homes to the great outdoors, cosy with a fluffy blanket, a mug of hot chocolate, and their favourite television series.

But what else is needed in order to achieve the ultimate family night in? Here we’ve put together a list of suggestions to help you make this winter the best one possible with your nearest and dearest.

Comfortable clothing

It’s important that everyone feels comfy and cosy during this special night in. Adults could treat themselves to a soft lounge set and woolly socks, and purchase cute children’s pyjamas for the little ones.

In addition to clothing, everyone should have a blanket and fluffy pillow, especially when it comes to movie time (but more on that below!). Humans enjoy being cosy as it encourages feelings of security, warmth, and contentment, so, make sure your choice of clothing is spot on, as it’ll contribute to the overall comfort of the night.

Entertainment

Netflix or boardgames? Have both! A successful family night at home calls for various means of entertainment to guarantee everybody has a good time. You should make sure there’s at least one activity that directly relates to somebody’s biggest interest.

For example, if there are any movie buffs in the family, dedicate a couple of hours to their favourite film, and then everyone can discuss their thoughts once the credits start rolling. In a similar way, if anyone is interested in football, you could watch the highlights of their favourite team on YouTube and maybe have a silly dance-off for any twinkletoes in the family.

It’s crucial you ensure there’s something entertaining for everybody throughout the night. Not only is it important we show an active interest in the hobbies and passions of other people in our family, but it’s also a great way to bond and have fun on a cold winter’s night.

Food

Everyone is going to need some fuel amid all the fun and excitement! Give yourself the night off from cooking and make a call to your favourite takeaway restaurant. If you’re a fan of Chinese food, just imagine golden fried rice, crispy vegetable spring rolls, salt and chilli chicken with a kick – did your stomach just rumble?

Treat yourself to all your family’s best-loved dishes and lay each one out on the dining table. If you would like a more structured and formal mealtime, everyone should take their seat at the table. Alternatively, as this is a special treat on a special night, let people eat on their laps in front of the television.

Learning experiences

Just because you’re learning something new doesn’t mean you can’t still have fun with it. One of your chosen forms of entertainment could contain an educational element to deliver a sense of accomplishment amongst your family.

Baking together is a simple yet effective way to tick all the right boxes. Ahead of the night, let everyone help you decide the delicious, sweet treats you’re going to bake, and make sure all the ingredients have been purchased. Cooking together strengthens bonds and creates memories that’ll last a lifetime, so, it’s worth dedicating some time to this.

In addition to baking, you could organise a fun quiz to test everyone’s general knowledge. How many lives is a cat said to have? Emma Bunton is known as which Spice Girl? Rojo is the Spanish word for which colour? When it’s time to go through the answers, everyone will have learned at least one new thing. Just make sure you have some kid-friendly questions in there too!

(Nine, Baby Spice, and Red – by the way!)

Arts and crafts

Although arts and crafts activities have been around for centuries, it’s really begun to take off more in recent years. As the community continues to grow, you should look towards crafting projects you could undertake as a family during your night in. Let’s switch on our imaginations and explore our creative sides!

There are so many artsy projects you can do with family members of all ages, including Pass-the-Drawing and layered canvasses. Make sure you have all the necessary tools and materials in advance of the night in, and let’s get crafty!

No phones or tablets

The opposite of a desired night in essential. For this one exceptional evening, everyone should go without their mobile phones and tablets to ensure the focus is entirely on spending time as a family. It’s so easy to get distracted by technology, and it consumes most of our day-to-day life, so use this as a detoxing opportunity.

Besides from watching movies and taking pictures to mark special family moments, make your home a tech-free zone. You may hear a few whines and moans at first, but with such a fantastic itinerary planned, they’ll soon forget about social media and silly apps!

We hope you have a truly special time

It appears spending quality time as a family is getting harder and harder these days. When we live such fast-paced, busy lives, it’s easy to forget about what truly matters. Grab this opportunity with both hands, and make sure you remember it forever! If it goes as well as we think it will, this could even be a new family tradition that will last forever.