In the heat of summer, we are often looking for fun ways to entertain ourselves and stay as cool as possible at the same time. We also want to take advantage of the season and host a gathering. But knowing what to do – other than a picnic and outside games and activities – can be tough. What we really want to do is escape the heat and the mosquitoes but do something different than just a movie night.
It’s easier than you think – and maybe more fun than you can imagine – just grab your Game Box and get started!
A Game Box is a collection of games that you, your family, and friends enjoy playing. These can be board games, card games, or even games played with dice. And there are other games, such as Charades, that won’t literally be tucked in the game box, but are still available. And every Game Box should include at least a few of the old-fashioned games to make things even more fun!
Old fashioned games give you an opportunity to stroll down memory lane and can act as a reminder that fun doesn’t have to be related to technology. Instead, it comes from skill, chance, and a lot of interaction with others.
These are a few of the games you might want to include in your Game Box – both newer games and a few old-fashioned ones tossed in for good measure!
Jacks
This is a game played with metal 6-pointed playing pieces and a rubber ball. The object is to bounce the ball, scoop up a set number of pieces (depending on the round, this could be anywhere from 1 piece to 10), and then catch the ball before it bounces again. It may seem easy, but it can definitely be a challenging game! We often think of Jacks as a kids’ game, but I challenge all of you adults to see if you still have the skills it takes to play.
Now, let’s see if I get this next game right… “When two mibsters arrange ducks in an X pattern…”
I would love to count the hands that know exactly what I just said, and what is about to happen. I would imagine the ones that could, wouldn’t be under the age of about 50, or maybe even 60 years of age. But I know of three men at church who would be wanting me to hurry up and finish the sentence, because they would know ‘the game is afoot’. The game of Marbles, that is. Thanks to Bro. Nathaniel, Bro. Harry, and Bro. Travis, (three original ‘mibsters’ – or marble players) I got an introduction to this age-old game, with a promise of learning more – that is, if I cough up a batch of Peanut Butter Cookies as payment.
Marbles is a game that no one can really pin down for a start date but have been found in places like Egyptian tombs and collected under the wings of the Phoenix, right before he rose from the ashes of Pompeii. It wasn’t until 1884 that these glass game pieces, referred to as mibs or ducks, were massed produced. From that moment, the game of marbles has been a favorite for many a young man. There are even Marble tournaments played by those same boys – who are now full-fledged adults – being played around the world today.
Dominoes
This is one of the most versatile games you can have in the Game Box – with almost 100 different ways to play. A standard game and Mexican Train are the two most common ways to use dominoes. But they can also be used to play Concentration, or as stacking blocks to see who can build the tallest building.
Backgammon
Backgammon is an old strategy game. The board is often contained in a case that closes. When opened and laid flat, the case becomes the board. Each half of the case has twelve triangles (points) -six on either side. You begin on the other player’s home court. The goal is to get all your playing pieces around the board to your own home court first. It takes some close focus to keep from ending up on the bar and causing your men to start back from the beginning!
Cards
You don’t have to have a fancy deck to play an unlimited number of games with cards. Even Solitaire has more versions than can be counted! From one player to 10, cards are a great addition to any game box. And when you get them out, think about playing some of the older games, such as Go Fish, Poker, War, and Blitz.
You can also find individual decks that are designed for a specific game, such as Old Maid, Crazy Eights, and even Uno.
Checkers & Chess
More than likely, you didn’t need a reminder to keep the games of Checkers and Chess in the Game Box – you already have them. They are probably two of the most common board games and deserve a listing of their own.
Both chess and checkers are board games that require strategy. Checkers is an easier version, designed for two players and uses two different color chips. Chess, on the other hand, takes longer, as each move has to be carefully thought out, and the other player’s future moves considered. Where checkers has chips, a chess board consists of pawns, bishops, knights, rooks, and a king and queen.
Each chess piece is limited to the amount of ‘power’ it has and the moves it can make. This is a perfect game to have on hand to pass the hours during the inclement weather of winter, or to escape from the harsh heat of summer.
Dice Games
Keeping a selection of dice in the Game Box is almost a given. There are so many games you can play with dice, including Liar’s Dice, Yahtzee, and Bunco. But another fun game to play is Farkle.
Farkle is a game played by 2 or more players, six dice, and a lot of laughter. The goal is to have the highest score at the end. Although it isn’t a familiar game to some, it is still fun to play.
Pig is an older dice game, played with just one die. But you need paper and pencil to keep score, as the winner is the one who reaches 100 first. That can be a lot of rounds for just one die! Considering it can be played with up to 10 players, it may take some time to see who wins!
Board Games
Before I listed board games as a great addition to the Game Box, I just had to see how many were available. According to Quora, there could be as many as 100,000 different games. Considering I might be able to come up with five or six in my Game Box, I think I may be lacking.
Still, I have a few of the old favorites. Candyland, Trivial Pursuit and even two versions of Monopoly – the original and Farmopoly. Both are fun to play, and when the kids are here, we have been known to play well into the night.
Okay. Quite a few of these games, like Backgammon, checkers, and chess are for two people. But that shouldn’t stop you. Instead, you can set up several boards and have tournaments. As each game is completed, have the winners compete against each other, until you are down to just one game. The rest of the players can encourage and cheer for those in the final round, or just play the games with each other until a winner is announced.
Now that you know what to play, here are a few tips on how to stock your game box.
Having at least one or two age-appropriate games in the Game Box will ensure that even the younger children will have something fun to do. As for teenagers, it may be time to pull up games of strategy and let them work on their thinking skills while still having fun.
And if you are home alone, all you need to play Solitaire is a deck of cards. And there are approximately 150 ways to play, so you can stay busy for days! A great challenge would be to play one or two different games every day, and try to learn how to play all 150+ games.
If possible, make sure you have more than one deck of cards, a couple of sets of dice, and at least two sets of Jacks. This way, other groups can play different games, or you can play games that require more than one deck or set.
Keep a notebook and a pad of paper, along with pens and pencils to keep score. For some games, a small calculator might also come in handy.
And just in case a freak storm brings a power outage, keep several flashlights and a couple of battery-powered lanterns in the box. Don’t forget to add extra batteries as well.
Part of living a simple life is to find ways to slow down, relax, and enjoy time with our friends and family. One of the best ways to do that is to have a game night. Find a game that everyone enjoys playing, or even introduce them to an old-fashioned game that can invoke favorite memories. And if you add a meal, you may discover that Game Night will start appearing more and more frequently on your schedule.
Are you ready to change mosquito bites for a day of fun? Then it’s time to pull out the Game box. And don’t forget to pull out the lemonade and a batch of homemade cookies. Those just make game night that much more fun!
