Family Games

We are big fans of Minute to Win it games at our house. Another holiday or party means we have another excuse to play! So we came up with some awesome Minute to Win It Thanksgiving games to help us celebrate and create family memories.

Some of these games are hilarious. My kids thought the Pumpkin Pie Game was pretty awesome because they got their fill of whipping cream and candy.

The games can be played a couple of different ways. You can create teams and have a member from each team go head to head against each other or you can play as individuals in a “beat the clock” type of fashion.

These fun family games for kids and adults are such a great way to celebrate the holidays. Kids of all ages and grown ups from parents to grandparents can participate. If you’re inviting friends to your Thanksgiving get together, these challenges also make great ice breakers. If you’re looking for more ideas, you can also adapt some of our Minute to Win It Christmas game ideas to give them a Thanksgiving theme.

Minute to Win It Thanksgiving Games:

To create your own Minute to Win It Thanksgiving themed challenge, you can pick and choose from the games below or do all of them. I’ve listed the full list of supplies as well as listing the supplies needed for each game so that it makes it easier for you to plan your own party.

You’ll notice that the materials needed are inexpensive or things that you already have around the house. I was able to get all of the supplies for ours at the dollar store.

Supplies needed:

• pie plates
• candy pumpkins
• whipped cream
• pumpkin seeds
• straws
• paper plates
• turkey baster
• balloons
• feathers
• spoons
• optional: candy corn

Pumpkin Pie

Supplies needed:

• pie plates
• candy pumpkins
• whipping cream

The object of this game is to retrieve all the pumpkins out of your pie. To set up, place candy pumpkins on the bottom of each pie plate. Cover with whipping cream. Each player sits with their hands behind their backs and has to find the pumpkins and move them out of the pie using only their mouth.

Turkeys of a Feather

Supplies needed:

• feathers*

In this game, players need to attempt to keep their feather in the air for a full minute by blowing it up. It’s harder than it sounds. If a player’s feather touches the ground or a surface, they are out of the game.

This is a good one to play in a large group because you can have many people playing at one time.

*We tried to play this game with Thanksgiving coloured craft feathers, but they were too heavy for it to work properly, so I suggest using the lighter wispy feathers.

Pumpkin Seed Suck It Up

Supplies needed:

• pumpkin seeds
• straws
• paper plates

To set this game up, pour some pumpkin seeds onto a paper plate for each player. Set that down next to an empty plate. To play, each person puts a straw in their mouth and attempts to transfer all the pumpkin seeds to the empty plate in less than one minute. If you’re playing head to head, then then the person who transfers all of their pumpkin seeds the fastest is the winner.

Pumpkin (or Candy Corn) Relay

Supplies needed:

• spoons (one for each person participating)
• candy pumpkins or candy corn

Place one candy pumpkin (or candy corn) on a spoon. Have players race holding onto their spoon with one hand (you can allow younger kids to use both hands). If their candy drops off, they are eliminated or have to start back at the beginning.

The rest of our candy pumpkins got eaten by one of our kids before this race (just being real!), so we used glittered pine cones which were the most Thanksgiving themed item I could think of on the spot!

To make this game more challenging for adults, you can create a bit of an obstacle course. Or you can race in teams, handing off the spoon and candy to the next person in line. This is my favourite version of the game. It creates a fun atmosphere with team members cheering each other on.

Turkey Basting

Supplies needed:

• turkey basters
• balloons

Give each person a turkey baster and balloon. The goal of this Minute to Win It challenge is to get the balloon across the table lengthwise using only the air from the turkey baster. You are not allowed to touch the balloon with the turkey baster. This can be played to beat the one minute timer or played head to head with the winner earning one point for their team.

If you don’t have a long table, you can mark a start and finish line on the floor using masking tape and try to get the balloon across the finishing line along the floor.

Looking for more ideas for family fun or resources to help you connect with your child? Join our free 5 Days to Better Family Connection email series.

You may also want to check out some of our other Minute to Win It Games:

Minute to Win It Christmas Edition

Minute to Win It Family Fun Night

Dollar Store Minute to Win It

Minute to Win It Camping Games

Want to make your camping trip even more memorable? Our family loves Minute to Win It games. They are great for large group gatherings, parties, family connection, and laughter. On our recent camp trip, we tried out some Minute to Win It camping games.

Because I didn’t want to pack a lot of extra supplies, I tried to come up with games that would use what we already had with us or small inexpensive items. These are all easy to set up and easy to play for all ages.

Minute to Win It Camping Games:

If you’d like to create your own Minute to Win It camping challenge, you can use all or some of the games below.

I’ve provided a list of supplies used to play all of the games as well as broken them up per game to make it easier for you to plan. As you can see, there are very few supplies needed to create a lot of fun. As you’ll see from the list, many of these are things that you likely already have with you when camping.

Supplied needed:

• golf balls
• watermelon
• playing cards
• rubber bands
• empty cans
• chopsticks
• graham crackers
• chocolate
• marshmallows
• balloons

Note that due to the nature of some of the supplies such as the balloons, elastic bands, and marshmallows, adult supervision is required.

Caddy Stack

Supplies needed:

• 3 golf balls (or 6 if you are playing head to head)

The object of this game is to stack 3 golf balls on top of each other. The balls must remain stacked for 3 seconds to win. You can either play head to head or individually. If playing head to head, the first one to complete their stack and have it stay in place for 3 seconds is the winner.

Card Ninja

Supplies needed:

• watermelon
• deck of playing cards

To set up this game, slice a watermelon in half and prop it up on a picnic table or other flat surface. Have each player stand at a distance from the watermelon and throw cards one at a time in an attempt to get a card in the watermelon. The object of the game is to get one of the cards to stick in the watermelon in under a minute.

You can determine the distance away that the players have to stand based on their age. If you’re playing with a large group with many ages, you can allow younger kids to stand closer if you like.

Rapid Fire

Supplies needed:

• rubber bands
• 6 empty pop cans (12 if playing head to head)

Set the cans up in a pyramid on a flat surface such as a folding table or picnic table. Give each player elastics. The object of this game is to knock over all 6 cans using elastics in under a minute. Again, you can determine how far away players must stand depending on age.

If you want to play this game head to head, set up a second stack of cans a bit of a distance away from the first. In this version, the first player to knock over all the cans is the winner.

S’more Fun

Supplies needed:

• chopsticks
• graham wafers
• chocolate
• marshmallows

Give each player a set of chopsticks, 2 graham crackers, a marshmallow, and 1 or 2 pieces of chocolate. The object of this game is to assemble a s’more using only the chopsticks in less than a minute.

When the timer starts, begin with one graham cracker, top it with the chocolate piece(s), then a marshmallow, and finish with the last graham cracker.

In the head to head version of this game, players race to be the first one to assemble their s’more using the chopsticks.

Defying Gravity

Supplies needed:

• balloons

Blow up the balloons. You’ll need 3 if doing this individually or 6 if you’ll have people competing head to head. The goal of this one is to keep all 3 balloons in the air for 60 seconds without having any of them touch the ground.

If two players are competing at the same time, you can either declare the winner the person who keeps all 3 from touching the ground for the longest or give a point to each player if they both complete the challenge in one minute.

You’ll need a bit of space for this one, especially if there are two people playing at the same time. Some campsites may be large enough (ours was quite large) or you may need to complete this in a field or open space.

All of these Minute to Win It camping games work well for large groups such as at a camp, day camp, family reunion, youth group, or party.

Looking for more ideas for super awesome family fun or resources to help you connect with your child? Join our free 5 Days to Better Family Connection email series.

Be sure to check out all our other Minute to Win It games:

Minute to Win It Family Fun

Dollar Store Minute to Win It

Christmas Minute to Win It Games

Our Family Fun Nights are memorable events.  We love playing family games and these evenings give us a chance to build memories together. I wanted to share some of our favourite family game night ideas. Family game night creates lasting memories because they foster a sense of belonging. In the busy hubbub of life, it is so nice to have tech-free, face to face time with your kids. Quality time can be created right at home.

Creating a family game night tradition won’t be something you’ll regret. The years you have with your kids at home go by in a flash. Laughing together strengthens the bonds.

If you were to invite your kids to an evening of talking with their parents and tell them there were no phones allowed, you wouldn’t likely get a very positive response. But once you start regular a family game night, your kids will be asking you when the next one is!

Ideas For The Best Family Game Night

1. Minute To Win It Games

One of our most memorable Family Fun Nights was our original Minute to Win It party.  We played Face the Cookie, Stack Attack, Movin’ on Up, Junk in the Trunk, Suck it Up, Penny Hose, Keep it Up, and Yank Me.

There was a lot of laughter. I challenge anyone to play the Junk in the Trunk Game with a straight face!

We had so much fun on our first Minute to Win it game night that we decided to create another one.  That time, we chose a Dollar Store Minute to Win It theme.   We played Puddle Jumper, Chocolate Unicorn, Ponginator, Hanky Panky, Ball Drop, Breakfast Scramble, and Elephant March.

These family game ideas are funny and everyone can play. The supplies were so inexpensive and didn’t take long to set up. It was another memorable evening.

Click here for all our awesome Minute To Win It Games:

• Minute To Win It Games Printable
• Christmas Minute To Win It Games
• Dollar Store Minute To Win It Games

2.  The Flour Game

We also get a kick out of The Flour Game. This hilarious game requires only two items and one of them is probably already in your kitchen. This one is just plain old good clean fun. Well, clean may not be the best way to describe it! The messy faces are worth it though.

It’s a great time for all ages. If you’ve never tried it, this is a good one to start with. It’s easy to set up. The rules are easy to understand. And a face full of flour is universally funny!

3.  What’s In The Bag Game

Another classic game at our house is What’s In The Bag Game.  For this one, you only need one item. In this game, the kids often have the advantage. That’s a good equalizer. On other family game nights when the older ones may have an easier time with whatever the activity is, this game evens those odds.

Our neighbour taught us this game. We have played it at everything from just a Sunday afternoon at home to my daughter’s Sweet 16 with over 25 people. It is always a hit.

4.  20 Questions Game

I love this personalized version of the game 20 questions from Teach Mama. It gives a Headbands type of spin to it and allows you to use pictures of people you know or are familiar with. It would be easy to create themed versions of this game such as a Disney theme or famous families theme.

5.  Lego Game Night Ideas

Invite your family members to a Lego Build Challenge Minute to Win It Style. The ideas are easy. Chances are, you’ve got some lego pieces hanging around the house. Why not put them to good use?!

6. Nerf Gun Family Game Night

My kids would go crazy over this Nerf Target Prize Game from Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls! You could mix it up by changing up the prizes.

7.  Twister

How about making your own holiday themed twister game? You can find everything you need at Pint-Sized Treasures to make a Valentine’s Conversation Hearts Twister, a Snowman Twister, or a Pumpkin Twister for Thanksgiving, Hallowe’en or Fall.

8.  Board Games For Family Game Night

Family game night ideas don’t have to be complicated. You can create lasting memories sitting around the kitchen table with a bowl of popcorn and a board game or puzzle.

I love how our family has a culture of playing board games together. Sunday afternoons, you can usually find us sitting at the table playing Settlers of Catan, Splendor, Sequence, Ticket to Ride, card games, or some of our other favourites.

Family Board Games:

Watch Ya Mouth Family EditionHasbro Pie FaceGoogly Eyes GameQwirkleKer PlunkBlokusJenga Classic GameTroubleHedBanz5 Second RuleSimonUNO Card GameDutch BlitzSuspend Family GameApples to Apples

9. Fun for the Whole Family

Done is better than perfect! Instead of waiting for the perfect time and circumstance, plan something simple that both the younger kids and older kids can enjoy. Here are some simple ideas that can be thrown together at the last minute.

• Scavenger Hunts (Our kids’ favourite is the Put Away Scavenger Hunt. I like it too because it only uses household items so there’s no extra cost, it’s easy, and has no clean-up!)
• Bingo
• Christmas Movie Bingo
•  Charades (instructions and free printable charade cards)
• Make an easy treasure hunt with clues. Have the first person read a clue and all work together to find the prize so that everyone is a winner.

10. Play Family Trivia.

Invent your own questions about your family and family culture. Examples would be things like:

• When is grandma’s birthday?
• Where did we go on our last vacation?
• Where did your parents meet?
• What was your mom’s maiden name?
• What does our last name mean?

Then have the first person to draw a question answer. If they don’t know the answer, allow the next person to take a guess.

Track points on a sheet of paper. You can even offer bonus points for funny or creative answers.

What is one of your family’s favourite games to play?

Looking for more ideas for family fun or resources to help you connect with your child? Join our free Parenting Wins email series. 

Our neighbour Christie introduced our family to the Bag Game years ago and it is always a hit on family game night.  This easy game requires exactly one item and can be played anywhere. It can be played with large groups or small groups and with people of all ages.  It seriously does not get simpler or better than The Bag Game!

We have played the Bag Game both outside and inside. We once played it with an empty cereal box because we didn’t have a paper bag to use. It is a great boredom buster on a snow day and an even better ice breaker at group events or a game for youth.

As long as you have a paper bag, this game costs nothing and couldn’t be simpler to set up. We always save paper bags now from stores or take-out at restaurants just for this purpose.

Our family loves this activity. There is always much hilarity that ensues as everyone stands around watching the person whose turn it is. There is laughter and cheering. Sometimes, there are some attempts to distract the person, especially when it comes to siblings!

How to Play The Paper Bag Game

Materials needed:

• paper bag or cereal box

Instructions:

1. Place an empty paper bag on the floor.
2. Standing on one foot, each player must take a turn to retrieve the bag using only their mouth.
3. Once the bag is successfully retrieved, that player tears off the piece of the bag that their mouth touched.
4. In this way, the bag slowly gets lower and lower to the ground.
5. Once a player’s raised foot touches the ground or one of their hands touches the ground, they are eliminated from the game.
6. The last person remaining in the game is the winner.

You will want to play this in a fairly large area so that everyone has room to manoeuvre. We have found that everyone develops a bit of their own style in this game. Some put their other leg way up high and use it as a counterbalance. Some crouch low to the ground with their whole body while others bend their upper half down. One of our sons places one foot on top of the other before crouching down.

The Bag Game Variations

For younger children or those with mobility issues, you can play the game exactly the same way but allow both feet to be touching the ground.

You can choose to have some players be allowed this exception while others play with the traditional rules of the game.

Another variation is to allow each player three strikes per turn or per game wherein their raised foot or one of their hands can touch the ground twice without that player being eliminated.

We have a large family and we enjoy finding family games that we can all do together.  This one has quickly become a favourite.

You’ll notice from the blurry pictures that this is an active game with a lot of movement. There can be some pretty funny contortions, particularly when the bag gets down really low. There have been times in our competitive family when all that was left of the bag was a single piece of paper laying flat on the ground and our son managed to retrieve it!

The Bag Game is an easy activity for large groups with a variety of ages and abilities. It can be played at youth groups, camp, family reunions, Christmas parties, birthday parties, retirement celebrations, or in a classroom.

Looking for more super cool ideas for family fun or resources to help you connect with your child? Join our free 5 Days to Better Family Connection email series.

Click here for more fun family games:

Dollar Store Minute to Win It Games

The Flour Game

Minute to Win It Games