Dec 23

Dec 23 5 Family Games For the Holidays

After all the food is consumed and the gifts opened, my family has a tradition of gathering in the living room to play a game. All of us are highly competitive, so we try to pick a one that guarantees both maximum laughter and cutthroat fun. Here are 5 simple games sure to vanquish those obnoxious cellphones:

Pictionary

Don’t dismiss this classic—just spruce it up. My twin sister had the brilliant idea of bringing home a large white board from her 6th grade classroom. There is just something about watching your mom try (and fail) to illustrate "when pigs fly" on a giant white board that is sure to give your whole family the giggles.

Cranium

This is one of the cleverest board games I have ever played. Cranium caters to multiple intelligences so that each no one ever feels left out. This game borrows from some of classics, including Charades and Pictionary. Hum, sculpt, perform and draw your way to victory.

Catch Phrase

Similar to Charades, the goal of this game is to get your team to guess a word as quickly as possible by issuing clues. The game comes with a little “wheel,” and when the timer speeds up, so does the insanity. If Catch Phrase can make late night TV more entertaining, it's sure to jazz up your holiday party.

5 Second Rule

Can you name 3 U.S. Astronauts? Duh! Super easy...but can you do it in 5 seconds? They tick off faster than you might imagine. This ridiculously simple game is great for impatient groups that don’t want to bother with a long set of rules.

Apples to Apples

This game is great for big groups. A full list of instructions can be found HERE, but the basic premise of is to predict what your family members are thinking, and match that thought. You can even make your own cards.

Bottom Line

Love these classic games but tired of the same old clues and word lists? Check out TheGameGirl. She provides tons of free Pictionary, Charades and Catchphrase word lists.