We’ve shared a lot so far about the benefits of family dinners, but in order to really experience them fully, there’s a secret ingredient you need to add: Fun.
Family dinner is more nourishing, more protective, more calming, and more beneficial when everyone enjoys being together for mealtime. Making dinner fun for everyone is one of the most important things you can do for your family, but it’s also one of the easiest things to overlook.
This week, we’re encouraging you to relax. Worry less about how, when, where, and getting everything just right. Laugh more, play more, and explore new ways to enjoy each other’s company. Over the past 2 weeks, you’ve figured out how to get everyone to the table; now, it’s time to make sure they want to keep coming back for more!
Step One: Get in the Game
Set the table for fun with some dinner games! The best activities for an enjoyable family dinner are easy, require little to no setup, are mostly non-competitive, and can be done anywhere – around the table, on a picnic blanket in the backyard, at a restaurant, on the sidelines before soccer practice….
Where to start?
Our two most popular dinner games are Rose and Thorn (or Rose, Thorn, and Bud) and Would You Rather? Many families we’ve worked with throughout the years use Rose and Thorn as part of their nightly dinner routine, starting the meal with a round before they move on to other conversation topics or games. If you’ve never tried it, this is a great way to start breaking the ice.
Would You Rather? is a fun and hilarious way to keep everyone engaged during a meal, and it works for almost all ages. Since the hardest part of the game is coming up with the questions, we’ve got collections of Would You Rather? scenarios you can use:
- 110 Would You Rather? Questions
- Holiday-themed Would You Rather?
- 20 General Would You Rather? Icebreakers
Watch our friend Judah play with his mom!
More games and activities
Here are some more of our favorite dinner games for different ages and stages. You can find even more on our Fun page!
For Toddlers and Preschoolers:
For Early Elementary:
For Late Elementary/Tweens:
For Teens and Adults:
What About Technology at the Table?
The question of whether, and how much, to allow the use of devices during family dinner has become one of the most popular topics on families’ minds. There’s no one right answer, but we always encourage parents to think less about “how much” to allow devices, and more about “why and how” to use them.
For some families, devices at the table are a distraction. For others, they can be important – either as a necessary communication tool, or as a compromise that brings reluctant teens to the table when phone bans fail. If you do find phones or tablets taking a seat at your family dinner, try to use them to help facilitate connection with the people who are present in the room, not to talk to others who aren’t. For example, you could:
- Put a tech-related twist on “Rose and Thorn” by having each person share photos or memes that represent the highs and lows of the day;
- Give each person 90 seconds to find a funny short video to share with the whole table;
- Have one person bring up a photo that represents a family memory, and ask everyone to guess what it’s from or help retell the story of that moment;
- Or challenge everyone to put their phones face-down in the middle of the table for as long as possible. The first one to break down and reach for their device has to do the dishes!
Get more fun ideas, expert advice, and guidelines for families to consider on our Technology at the Table page.
Step Two: Tame the Tension
Getting everyone to loosen up and have fun together may be easier said than done. Sometimes, without meaning to, families invite unwanted tension to the dinner table that makes it hard to relax and enjoy each other’s company. Common reasons for table tension include bringing up sensitive topics; focusing too rigidly on table manners and rules; or having unrealistic expectations of behavior that don’t match up with kids’ ages or developmental abilities.
To help minimize conflict and get everyone in the mood for fun:
- Start by checking out this article by Dr. Anne Fishel on taming the tension
- Consider your stance on table manners and rules
- Try ideas like X Marks the Spot or Waiter, Waiter to help fidgety kids participate in dinner without forcing the concept of “sitting still”
- Learn more in our video about managing fidgety kids and setting reasonable expectations at dinner:
Step Three: Explore More!
Beyond simple dinner games, it can be fun and exciting to try more involved activities together when you have some extra time. Some families might enjoy cooking challenges or games with an element of friendly competition. Others might benefit from creative activities and themed dinner experiences. And don’t overlook the importance of playing with your food! Researchers in Finland found that when kids were allowed to experience food with all five of their senses — including touch — they were more likely to choose fruits and vegetables than they were if they weren’t allowed to use all their senses to explore foods.
Cooking and Food-Related Challenges:
- Blindfolded Smell Test
- Iron Chef: Family Edition
- Ingredient Race
- Grocery Store Scavenger Hunt (regular and teen editions)
- The Price Is…?
Competitive Games:
Play With Your Food:
Creative Activities:
Themed Dinner Experiences:
Step Four: How Did it Go?
Check in with your family. Which activities did they enjoy this week? Which ones would they want to do again? Do they have other ideas for games to play, or ways to make dinner more fun for everyone?
Week 3 Bonus Content:
- Set the scene for a fun, connected family dinner with our Tips for Making Dinnertime Special
- Want to take dinner on the go? Get ideas for outdoor mealtime fun with our Family Picnic series
- Stay connected with loved ones who are far away! Our virtual dinner toolkit has lots of fun ideas you can use when you’re not able to be together.
- Want to share the fun? Our Community Dinners at Home guide has inspiration for sharing dinner with your neighbors and making new (or closer) friends.
- Looking for ways to keep holiday dinners fun for everyone? We’ve got plenty of games and activities you can use during festive seasons on our Thanksgiving and Holidays pages.
- Get sensory-friendly games and activities for family members with ASD, ADHD, or other developmental or learning differences, so dinner can be fun and welcoming for everyone.
Introduction
Make the Commitment
Make it Work
Make it Fun
Make it Matter
