by Katarzyna Radzka

Created on: May 11, 2009

The traditional family structure is ever changing. This change has also brought on more responsibility outside the home and less time spent with your loved ones. Less and less we see the family as individuals and not as one unit, a group that works together. We forget that those who we live with, our parents, our children, our grandparents, brothers and sisters, should be people we spend time with not just share a roof with.

Organising family games nights is a great way to have some fun with the people closest to you. Here are just some of the important things we gain from having a regular family games night.

Family games nights allow you to bond with your loved ones. Most of the time we are too busy to do things together and interact. Going to the cinema takes time, heading out for dinner to a restaurant is expensive, and everyone has their own hobbies and interests. By having one night a week or one night a fortnight dedicated for a family games night, will help you form a stronger bond.

Get to know your children better. Even though many families live under the same roof, they don't really know each other. They spend time at the dinner table or in the car on the way to school and lack the quality time they should have with their parents. Playing games together helps parents see how their children learn, react to different situations and provides an idea of what they do and don't enjoy doing, as well as their abilities, mentally and physically.

Create communication. It's normal for kids to disagree with parents. Long ago what the parent said was the law, now we are aware that two way communication is important. If you can communicate with your children and they can communicate with you, your relationship will be much stronger. A family game is also an opportunity to teach your children to communicate effectively and to negotiate. This also works for you and your partner. Sometimes you are just too tired to have some fun. A set games night helps you keep the fun in your relationship.

Trust building. The more time you spend together, the better you will know each other and be able to talk with one another. All of these factors build trust and within the family unit, trust is integral. If we can't trust the ones we love, then who can we trust? Through different games, we can work on extending that trust and working together as a team.

If that's not enough, there's always the fun factor. With the stresses of daily life, both at work and at school, it's important to take some time out for a good day or night of fun, away from lecturing about homework that needs doing, or bills that need to be paid.

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