Family movie night is a classic tradition that never seems to grow old. Whether your kids are toddlers, school-aged, or teenagers, there are several things you can do to make family movie night a hit.
Plan ahead.
Family movie nights are a time to be together as a family, so plan ahead. Schedule a time when everyone can come and spend some quality time together. It can also be helpful to read online reviews if you’ve never seen the movie before. You’ll want to make sure the movie is something your family will enjoy, and it can be helpful to make yourself aware of any language, violence, or sexual content ahead of time, especially if you have younger children.
Stock up on snacks.
Snacks are a must when it comes to family movie night. Take your kids to the grocery store and let them each pick out a favorite treat. Or better yet, make your own snacks together at home. Bake cookies, add a chocolate layer to a batch of rice crispy treats, create your own popcorn bar, or mix peanuts, pretzels and cereal for a delicious Chex mix!
Get comfortable.
The best part about watching movies at home is the fact that you can get comfortable. Wear pjs and snuggle up with lots of blankets and pillows. But who says you can’t be comfortable and still enjoy the theater experience? If you really want to make your movie night fun, take it a step further and design your own home theater. Choose a location in your house, whether it’s your living room, basement, or a spare bedroom. Next, determine the layout of your theater. What kind of seating options do you prefer? Will there be a bar for snacks and drinks? Will you use a projector with a screen, or a traditional TV setup? What is the ideal home theater screen size for your situation? As you begin to answer some of these questions, you can develop a theater that will make your movie nights unforgettable for everyone in the family.
Change it up.
Make your movie night a little bit more exciting by trying something new. Do fun activities together during the movie, like dancing during all of the songs. Or create an exercise program, where you do ten jumping jacks every time a character says something funny or repeats a classic line. You can also create a theme for your movie nights. Pick foods and activities that tie in with the theme of your movie, and get your kids to participate as well.
Instead of watching a traditional movie, allow your family to be the stars as you enjoy some home videos. Or add some imagination to the movie-watching experience by creating your own drive-in theater in the living room or backyard. Build your own cars out of cardboard and travel back in time to the days of drive-in movies.
Get creative.
Does your family have trouble agreeing on which movie to watch? You can use a traditional method, like holding a vote or taking turns choosing the movie, but why not get creative? Start a tradition where each member of the family has to read the book before you all watch the movie together. Or find a website that picks the movie for you, like Netflix roulette, suggestmemovie.com, or kidspickflicks.com.
Become movie critics.
If you have older children, it might be fun to discuss the movie together afterwards. Talk about parts you liked, characters that were weird, or real-life applications. You’ll be surprised at how quickly family movie night can turn into a learning and bonding experience.
Make it a tradition.
If your kids love watching movies together, make family movie night a tradition. Designate one night a week to order pizza and watch a fun film together. You’ll make fond memories while spending regular time together as a family, even when you have a busy schedule.
Movie nights are a great way for you to relax and connect with your family, especially if you all lead busy lives. Whether you set up a projector in the backyard, or watch a classic film in pjs on the couch, you can make a family movie night an experience that your kids will remember for the rest of their lives.
