5 Fun Family Games Which Rely On Creativity!

Board games are a standby favorite way to pass the time, and the multitude of options available allows for any interest or age group to be included in a family night fun fest.  I love games which tap into the creative juices of my kids, and which allow them to display their particular interests.  The unique insight of each child makes each game night a little different.  Whereas some of the most beloved and well known board games can become routine and wearing, the games featured here are reliant upon individuals and their creativity.  No two times will be exactly the same.  Further, each of the games featured here highlight different skills, allowing you to discover some great options based on the interests and abilities of your kids.  Consider these as great additions to the family game cabinet.  While some may be familiar, others may be surprisingly new and interesting.  All tap into the brain power of all participants.

Yes, this one is an oldie, but goodie! No two games are the same, but all games will delve into the vocabulary of the participants, and stretch the thinking as youngsters and parents look for the best ways to put their letters together. Your teens will enjoy the challenge of taking on Mom and Dad in a match. For the younger set, Scrabble Junior. Level the playing field by dividing final scores by ages, and the kids will find it seems much more fair...they may well win!

As adaptability goes, you can always turn Scrabble into a team event, splitting up people of similar age and ability. 

A great team game, Pictionary has been around long enough to be considered a classic, though it came out long after old standards such as Scrabble.  In Pictionary, a member of the team selects a card, and in a given amount of time, must illustrate the word or phrase indicated.  His team scores points for correctly guessing.  Not only is this great fun in a small group, but also, is adaptable to large group settings.  I have seen youth groups divide down the middle of the room, using the dry erase board as the place to draw...it's lots of fun for teens, and for adults.  I've used this in the classroom setting, breaking small groups into teams, with competition taking place between the two.  At home, a little more patience with youngsters, particularly if their artistic abilities are not yet full force.  Pictionary Junior is available for the smaller players, as well.

Much like Pictionary, Lego Creationary is a relative newcomer.  Operating on the same premise, though, the team whose turn it is must guess what is being built with Legos.  This is great for the visual or tactile/kinesthetic learner. 

Based pretty much on Charades, Guesstures also involves teamwork.  An individual selects the cards and acts out the word or phrase, while teammates guess.  Get as many as you can correct in a minute.  Again, like Pictionary, but with acting rather than drawing.  This is also a lot of fun for a large group.

Cranium has lots of creative opportunities, ranging from tracking down items beginning with a given letter of the alphabet, to  forming given shapes from clay, to finding words from a certain category (such as fruit) that begin with a certain letter.  This game keeps you guessing, and gives youngsters the opportunity to move around a little bit.  Great for squirmy little legs! 

There are many more ideas for fun family games, many suitable for group play.  These are simply a few to begin with, particularly tapping into the creative genius of the players.  From toddlers to tweens, everyone can participate to some degree, particularly if adults partner with the less literate in the bunch!