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Time slips away ever so quickly.
The moment might come when kids no longer want to bond with the family. Let's face it, that is bound to happen. So parents must make every effort to foster family time more. Playing family bonding games is one strategy to establish this long-lasting companionship with kids.
It is essential to enjoy the moment with them. Family bonding games are supposed to cultivate relationships with sincerity. You don't force the bonding time. Neither should you be motivated by fear that kids might grow apart.
And more importantly, family time games must cater to their interests. They should add long-term value to their lives, leaving them with memories and lessons they can use as they grow older.
That said, we have collected the 5 best indoor family bonding games you can play. So let's check them out and play on!
5 Best Family Bonding Games that Build Relationships
1. Board games against boredom
We kick things off with a classic. Playing board games is a great bonding activity for the family. Aside from cultivating their competitive nature, it is a great avenue to talk with them. If you wish to keep their screen time under the recommended period, board games must be a staple choice!
Without phones getting in the way, families can connect better through communicating with each other. Talk about your lives and happenings as the game goes. This simple small talk strengthens the relationship.
On top of that, family bonding activities like that sharpen the mind. It inspires better cognition and analytical skills among the players.
There are many board games you can choose from. From the nail-biter game Uno to the classy-classic Monopoly, all the way to the exciting Jenga! These are all terrific activities that families can do together.
But we at TheSTEMKids recommend games that bank on strategy. Either STEM board games or entrepreneurial games like Moonpreneur. The game is acceptable as long as it encourages them to use their brains.
A few notable examples are:
This board game focuses on a person’s journey throughout life, guided by good-decision making. A means you can use to instill good life choices among children especially when they grow older.
Who wouldn’t know this classic? Scrabble helps them develop better vocabulary and expand their word-arsenals. If your kids are young, try to level with them to give them an even playing field.
This rather not-that-well-known board game focuses on dexterity, agility, quickness, and reflex. How quickly can you solve the puzzle indicated by your card, using the provided puzzle pieces?
An unorthodox addition to the list of family bonding games. This suspenseful mystery board game is an appropriate choice for teens. It uses strategy to identify who the suspect is and the attack weapon they used. A fun detective game for everyone.
2. Play your cards right!
Aside from board games, another superb game for family bonding are card games. No, not those card games you see in Vegas. But quick and fun family card games that take no more than 15 minutes to finish.
Suppose you are looking for quick games to warm the family up. Possibly before a family meeting or before delving into some serious talks. These card games are perfect options. But there is no restriction if you want to play the game all night and build real connections with the children.
Card games are great, and here are some examples you might want to consider playing:
This game encourages the imaginative side of children. Remember that learning is not only those you receive through lessons. You can learn important concepts through the practice of creativity. Create a Story uses these traits to cultivate your children's imagination. It might surprise you how vast their thoughts are as you go along the course of the story.
If you are looking for a quick dose of adrenaline and quick analytical thinking, Spot It! is the perfect option. This game allows the family to think and analyze quickly the similarities between cards to score a point. Even young kids can be swift enough to pull it off. This quick-turn game sends families rushing and laughing at this game.
Whether kids or teens, even parents and grandparents, have fun with this exciting card game. Sleeping queens is a simple strategy game where everyone is on a race to wake up four queens. There are interactions among the players throughout, which facilitates better bonding.
3. The Conundrum Circle
The title of the activity sounds a bit harsh, but it isn't. This family bonding activity is a natural relationship builder. It does have its way to foster better kinship within the family. It is done through a simple question-and-answer format type of deal.
The mechanics are simple:
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The family should form a circle where everyone sees each member.
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Determine among yourselves who starts asking questions first. You may do this by drawing lots.
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The first person gets the privilege to ask a question that the people along the circle will answer one after the other.
- When everyone is done answering, the person next to the questioner gets to ask.
The question may be anything light-hearted and funny, like "when was the last time you farted so bad?" or a bit more serious and leading like "if you can change one thing from a person within the circle, what would it be?"
This game focuses on initiating conversation within the family, using a game format. At times we overlook the importance of small talk and shrug off the essence of deep family communication.
We created this family team building to cater to these needs. Cultivate better relationships that will remain intact even after years.
4. Where’s Waldo?: The STEMscope Edition
Where's Waldo is a top-rated series among the kids. The unique art style and concept might be the reason behind it. The book features full-page sketches, and all you have to do is find Waldo from among the dozens of people there. Talk about a diamond-in-the-rough type of deal, huh?
One game that the family can enjoy indoors is the combination of this famous book and our very own STEMscope pocket microscope. The steps are simple, set a timer to identify who finds Waldo the fastest.
Waldo is near microscopic, standing at an average of 0.05 sq. inches. In this case, the STEMscope portable gadget can help significantly with this task, especially for children. It can be hard to look for Waldo, but our magnifying toy helps make it easier.
Flip the book open on the first page and let your kids have at it. Set the timer and find Waldo on the page using our microscope for kids. Once they're done, the next player does the same to the next page. Tap into their interest better by giving a prize to whoever finds Waldo in the shortest amount of time.
Family bonding games may be as simple as this one as long as it helps develop closer ties. And this sort of game is appropriate for younger audiences.
Besides, STEM toys like that are not a one-time toy for this game. It is a portable microscope that kids can use for their scientific discoveries. They aid kids to appreciate nature better and uncover its unseen beauty.
5. Guess the specimen?
STEM toys transform kids' perception of science from a boring subject to a fun and interactive activity. This way, kids enjoy science and the logic-based facts behind it.
Kids grow older every single day. And the science classes get a bit more challenging with every passing year. Not to mention the boring manuals and modules that go along with them. Exposing kids to STEM toys can prepare them for the increasing scientific difficulty.
Family bonding activities like "Guess the Specimen?" are science-based games to learn and bond with kids. The game uses the STEMscope microscope as a primary tool to identify what specimen is mounted. Parents may also buy the SciSlides microscope slide kit to do this, where there are already pre-mounted samples. Otherwise, you may collect leaves, small flowers, and other things outdoors so children can guess what they are using the microscope. A reward for every correct answer would be splendid to motivate them.
It is a simple activity, but their learning from on-hand exploration and discovery is unmatched. So parents should maximize the dynamism of kids by letting them discover stuff. Do not enclose their worlds to screens or stiff manuals. Instead, allow their adventurous spirits to thrive using scientific exploration.
Bond with your kids now!
There are many bonding activities and games to enjoy with the family. Make sure that your bonding time not only initiates better relationships. But all the more, instill learning and leave invaluable lessons for kids. This way, your bonding will yield two results:
- Improved kinship and transparency among the family
- Enhanced intellectual through strategy and analytical skills
Our science gadget has got your back if you are searching for toys that can play both these parts. These scientific toys are great for encouraging independent learning among the young. In addition, parents and grandparents can bond with kids by guiding them throughout the process. Help your kids see science from a new light. Who knows, your investment in their science learning might yield fruitful career paths.
The STEMscope Portable Microscope is one scientific toy that paves this way. Enjoy 15% OFF from your purchase if you grab the item now!
Ready to bond with kids through science?