Image: Shutterstock
Dinner with family is the most satisfying moment when you spend quality time with each other after a hectic day, discuss what happened, and relieve the exhaustion. You can make such gatherings even more memorable by playing family dinner games together and making the mood cheerful and light at the table.
Our post brings you a list of the best dinner games that can maintain a vibrant atmosphere and let everyone have utmost fun. Pick the games you think are suitable for your family. You may even improvise these games as per your requirements.
21 Family Dinner Games
Make dinnertime fun with these family dinner games. Most of these require no preparation and are guaranteed to create some happy times during any reunion.
1. Gratitude alphabet
This is a great game for young children to learn the letters of the alphabet while also learning about gratitude. Gratitude is a trait that must be ingrained in children from a young age so that they appreciate the little things in life.
In this game, you have to select a letter of the alphabet, and the whole family has to think of things they are grateful for. For example, if the letter is B, you can say things such as, “I love Bananas,” or “I am grateful for the Bread on my plate.”
2. Storytellers
Image: Shutterstock
This fun game will keep your family laughing for a long time. Each member must add a sentence to the story. By the time the last member adds their sentence, the story will be hilarious and absurd.
For example, you can start with the sentence, “Once upon a time, there was a cat.” The next person can say, “It went over the hills in search of food,” and so on. You can set a time limit or keep going until one of you finishes dinner.
3. 3, 2, 1 questions
Ask these three questions to learn more about any guest or family member at the dinner table. The questions include
- What are the three good things that happened to you today?
- What are two good things you hope to do tomorrow?
- What is the one thing you are grateful for?
You can change the questions according to your preferences. Ask questions such as “What three good things did you do for others today?” or “What one thing will you do tomorrow to help others?”
Quick tip4. Word association
This game can yield some funny results and keep you all in a good mood. The first member says any word that pops into their head. Then, the next player says the word that comes into their head the moment they hear the previous word.
For example, if the first member says ‘DOG,’ the next member says, ‘PLAY,’ and so on. No one should stop to think for a word. If they do, they are out of the game. You have to say the next word immediately.
5. Good and grit
This is a sure way to make young children and teens share about their day without being prompted. For this game, each person has to narrate a good experience and a bad experience.
This game gives your family members a perspective on the different things each person experienced during the day.
6. Impromptu speech
Image: Shutterstock
Give each person a topic on the spot and ask them to talk about it for 30 seconds without thinking about it. You can select any random topic and watch as each member tries to talk their way through.
They cannot take a break. If a person pauses too often or uses fillers such as “uhm” or “ah,” you can tell them to stop and give the next topic to the next person.
7. What made you say?
Here is another game through which you can indirectly make your children share about their day with you. Ask them, “What made you say …?” The last word could be anything from “Cool” to “Huh.”
It is amazing how much information you can glean from your family by asking this easy question. You can go around the table, asking each person the same question with different last words.
8. Compliment
Don’t we all forget to give compliments to each other amidst our busy schedules? Ask each family member to compliment another person at the dinner table. Compliments positively influence both the receiver and the giver.
You can also encourage your family members to come up with their own compliments and make everyone feel more special.
Quick tip9. Jokes
If you have someone in your family who loves jokes, play this game at dinnertime. Each person has to share a new joke about their family members. You could even grade the jokes in a casual way.
You can make rules for the tone of the jokes. For example, you can ban vulgar, racist, ableist, or sexist jokes at the table so that everyone in the family feels included.
10. Name the movie or book
Image: Shutterstock
Each family member says a popular line from a book or a movie that everyone at the table is familiar with. The other members should guess the name of the book or the movie from which it is taken.
This is a good way to know how much your children pay attention during a movie viewing or book reading session. It can also encourage your children to read more books or watch quality movies.
11. What are you proud of?
This game is a good way to boost your family members’ self-confidence. Ask them this question at least once a week. They can share things they did over the week for which they feel proud.
You must make your children realize that no act is small. Helping others, rescuing an animal on the street, or simply finishing their chores can make them feel proud of themselves.
12. Conversation cards
Conversation cards serve as great conversation starters not only during family dinners but any get-togethers. You can get these cards from online stores or brainstorm with your family and make the cards yourself.
These cards include a question on each card. There are a variety of topics you can include so that everyone has something to talk about. “Do you think pineapple on pizza is good?” or “If you were to win a million dollars in a lottery, what would you do?” are some examples of the questions.
13. Would you rather?
“Would you rather?” is a popular game to play with people of all age groups. Regardless of whether your children are young or teenagers, you can easily make up age-appropriate questions to ask them.
Make a list of would-you-rather questions to ask each member or let everyone make one up on the go. “Would you rather have pizza or pasta? ”or “Would you rather be younger or older?” are some examples of these questions.
14. I spy
I spy requires nothing but a keen eye. It is easy to play this game anywhere, and it keeps everyone entertained. Each player selects something around the room and says, “I spy something _____ (a color).” The others have to guess what the object is.
As you progress, you can change the descriptions. For example, someone can say, “I spy something square,” or “I spy something heavy.”
15. Song time
Image: Shutterstock
If your family loves music, they will love this game at dinnertime. All you have to do is to be up to date with popular songs. Hum any song that you like, and the others have to guess what song it is.
The person who fails to guess the right song has to sing a song aloud. You can even add karaoke sessions if your family loves singing.
Quick tip16. Famous person
Each person at the table has to select a famous personality for themselves. The person they choose must be familiar to all the family members. Do not reveal the name of the famous person in the beginning.
Each person should behave like the famous person they have selected throughout dinner time. In the end, guess the person each one is impersonating. It is similar to charades, but with a twist.
17. Two truths and a lie
Each member has to share three things about their day. Out of these, two should be truths, while one should be a lie. Then the other members have to guess the lie. This is a classic game that will help your children open up about their day. It will also help develop their imagination as they think about a lie that will fool others.
18. Word chain
This is another word game that will be a hit at the dinner table. All you have to do is pay close attention. It is a great tool to develop your children’s vocabulary.
You may start by saying a word, and the next person has to say a word starting with the last letter of the word you said, and so on. No person can take more than five seconds to think. You could even set categories for each round.
19. ABC game
Image: Shutterstock
This game is similar to the word chain game. In this game, you have to say words in alphabetical order. For example, if you start with A for apple, the next person says B for ball, the next person after them says C for Cat, and so on. Try saying these words fast for more fun.
If your children are tweens or teens, you can say words that end in alphabetical order. For example, you say chiA, the next player says comB, the third says attiC, and so on.
20. Doctor
Children love playing with medical kits and pretending to be doctors. This game will give them a chance to become real doctors for a short while. For this game, one person who becomes the doctor has to step out of the room, and the others should discuss among themselves and decide on a disease each.
The doctor has to come in and ask questions to each ‘patient’ and diagnose their ailment. The first ‘patient’ who gets their ailment diagnosed correctly becomes the doctor for the next round.
21. Guess the ingredients
The person who has cooked the meal should list the ingredients they have used in each dish. Keep this list away from the other players. The other players have to taste and smell each dish and tell the ingredients present in them, right down to the different herbs and spices.
You can even blindfold the players and let them guess the ingredients. This game helps develop children’s senses of taste and smell and increases their appreciation of different flavors and smells.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How can I encourage my family to participate in family dinner games?
Choosing age-appropriate games, explaining the rules clearly, setting a positive tone, offering incentives, and making it a regular event will encourage the family to participate, making the games more enjoyable for everyone and creating a fun and engaging family tradition.
2. How can family dinner games be used to build relationships?
Family dinner games can encourage open expression of thoughts and feelings, create shared experiences, encourage laughter and fun, work together as a team to complete a task, and build new dinner-time routines, which can foster deeper connections and create lasting memories.
3. How can family dinner games be adapted for families with members who have special needs or disabilities?
To adapt family dinner games for members with special needs or disabilities, modify the rules to simplify or accommodate their abilities. Provide visual cues and alternative communication methods, and create a comfortable sensory-friendly environment. Encourage teamwork and embrace flexibility and patience. These adaptations foster inclusivity, allowing all family members to participate and enjoy the games together.
4. How can family dinner games be used to encourage creativity and imagination among family members?
Engage in storytelling games where each person adds a sentence to create a collaborative narrative and inspire imaginative thinking. Incorporate drawing or doodling activities on placemats or paper to unleash artistic expression. Play word association games or create impromptu skits to add fun and innovation. Making family dinner games a platform for imaginative exploration can nurture creativity and strengthen family bonds.
5. How can family dinner games be adapted to include family traditions or cultural practices?
To include family traditions or cultural practices in dinner games, you may consider theme-based games, traditional storytelling, recipe exchanges, cultural trivia challenges, and incorporating customs and rituals. These adaptations foster cultural appreciation, intergenerational knowledge transfer and strengthen family bonds. By infusing games with cultural elements, family members can celebrate their heritage, deepen their connection to traditions, and create memorable experiences.
6. How can families with limited time or resources incorporate family dinner games into their routines?
Opt for quick and simple games that require minimal setup. Choose games that can be played while eating, such as conversation starters or “Would You Rather?” questions. Use online resources or smartphone apps for ready-made game ideas. Dedicate a specific monthly day or time for family game nights to ensure regular participation.
Adding some excitement to the dinner table, such as family dinner games, is a fantastic idea. After a long day of work and hectic schedules, there should be joy and laughter when family members finally gather at the dinner table. As the members amuse themselves with various games, the enthusiasm flows easily. So, experiment with word association, jokes, discussion cards, and a variety of other games, and make them a dinnertime tradition. Spending time together having fun at the end of the day can ensure that no matter how the day would have gone by, family members will revel in each other’s love and retire for the day with a grateful heart.
Infographic: Family Dinner Games
Family dinners are always a good way to spend quality time with our loved ones. In addition to the never-ending talks and sharing of food, we bring you a list of games you can include in the itinerary of your family dinner to double the fun. So, read on and pick the best from the lot. Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
Get high-quality PDF version by clicking below.
Download Infographic
Key Pointers
- Play the “Gratitude Alphabet” game before beginning your dinner.
- Gather yourself around the most narrative family members, as they are remarkable storytellers.
- Even the time at the dinner table could be fun when you play “Guess The Ingredients,” “Word Chain,” and “Would You Rather?
Gather around the dinner table and have fun with your kids! Here are ten games you can play with your family to make dinner time fun!
