Holiday gatherings are upon us. Soon we’ll find ourselves in close quarters with relatives. We may share DNA with some, or be connected through relationships. This doesn’t mean we share interests, though. It can be hard to connect with that teenage niece who won’t make eye contact with you for more than a minute. And that uncle whose political views (insert cough) are probably better left unsaid. Especially if you want to enjoy that pumpkin pie or gingerbread cookie.
Here are some classic games that have been around forever. They are fun, interactive, and easy to learn. They’re for a wide age range, so hopefully, everyone from Grandma to your three-year-old niece can participate. The goal is to have fun, make things a little less awkward, and create memories. So instead of everyone sitting around staring at their phones why not try one of the below classic games.
SPOONS
Seriously, best party game ever! I totally forgot about spoons until I went to visit my sister and her children. We were looking for a game a large group could play. After a quick search, fun memories of playing this game at youth group came flooding back.
Need: Spoons (enough for each player minus one), A standard deck of cards (minus jokers, use two decks for groups above 10), 3-13 players
How to Play: Arrange the spoons in the center of the table, or if playing on a long rectangle table line them up down the middle. Make sure Grandma or your three-year-old niece can reach them. Deal out four cards to each player. The goal is to get four of a kind. The dealer picks a card from the deck, discards one and passes it facedown to his left. That person can either keep that card if they want, but they must discard one card to the person on their left. Cards are passed quickly around the circle until they reach the dealer again. Then they are put in the trash pile. When one person has four of a kind, they discreetly pick up a spoon. After that, anyone can grab a spoon. The player left without a spoon is out. Take a spoon out. There should always be one less than the number of players. Repeat rounds until there is one person left holding a spoon.
TENZI
A dice game with multiple variations. Either order the actual version of this game or purchase sets of colored dice. Players (as many as you want as long as there are enough groups of dice.)
Need: Each person playing will need ten dice of the same color. If you buy the card game each card you flip over has a different goal to roll.
How to Play:
Version #1- TENZI
Everyone rolls all ten dice at the same time. Set aside matching numbers and keep rolling. The first person to get all ten dice the same number yells TENZI.
Version #2- SPLITZI
Everyone rolls until there are two matching groups. For example) five 6s and five 2s
Version #3- TOWERZI
Everyone tries to take their ten dice and build a tower. The first person to build their tower without it toppling WINS!
CUPS
There are different variations of this game. This version is a clapping and rhythm game.
Need: A Plastic cup for each player. A designated leader.
How to Play: The leader claps out a rhythm. For example: Start with the cup turned upside down, clap hands twice, pick up and tap it on the table three times, turn the cup over, clap hands twice, pick it up and tap it twice. Everyone else repeats the rhythm. If they make a mistake they are out. The Leader continues to clap out different rhythms either getting more complex or longer until only one person remains. The winner becomes the leader.
The Dictionary Game (otherwise known as Balderdash):
For the word-loving family, this is the perfect game. Any number of players age 6 and above who can write can play.
Need: Any kind of dictionary (sorry no digital dictionaries) Post-it notes or 3×5 notecards. Pencils or pens.
How to Play: One person is the designated reader. They chose an obscure word from the dictionary. One that most people don’t know the definition. Pronounce and spell it for everyone. Everyone makes up a definition for the word and then hand it to the designated reader. When all are turned in, the reader takes turns reading out loud the definitions. After reading through them once, read through them again but after each definition, via a raise of a hand, each person votes for the one they think is the correct definition. The Reader keeps a tally. Then the real definition is read. If anyone made up a definition close to the real definition they get two points. For each definition that was chosen the person who created the definition gets one point. Play until someone reaches ten for a short game or twenty points for a longer game. The person with the most points at the end wins. The Reader can be assigned to keep track of everyone’s points or a scorekeeper can be designated.
Four on a Couch
This is for the active families and works best with a medium to large size group. People have to be able to sit on the ground or provide a chair for those who it would be difficult to sit on the floor.
Need: A couch four people can sit on or four designated chairs to be the couch. A piece of paper for everyone and a pen. A bag or bowl to put the pieces of paper in.
How to Play: Divide the group into two equal teams. Have one team roll up their pant legs OR arm sleeves or take off their socks. Something that marks them as being on the same team. The other team remains “normal.”Ask everyone to sit in a circle, including on the couch, (alternating team members). Team A, Team B, Team A, Team B etc. Add one empty space or chair.
Hand out pieces of paper. Everyone writes their names on the paper and puts them in a bag or a bowl. If there are two people in the group with the same name they should write their middle name or last name to distinguish them from each other. Then everyone draws out a name (if you draw your own name put it back). Do not share whose name you have.
The person at the right of the empty space calls out a name. The person who has that name on their piece of paper gets up and sits in the empty space. The person at the right of the new empty space calls out a name and again the person who has that name on their paper gets up and sits in the empty space. Repeat until one team has all their members on the couch. This game is a memory game and the idea is to remember who is holding what name.
-These are just a couple of party games to get you started. Enjoy!
