One of my children is quite crafty and a few years ago, she went on a stint where she was making board games—creative, fun, and original board games. This is just the sort of project or activity that could be perfect for a family—how about coming up with a family-themed board game that is unique to your own family?
You can make a family-specific board game that is based on an existing one, or come up with one of your own. I remember hearing about a family that made a board game from their vacation experience—including locations they visited and some of the “problems” they faced on vacation. You could even use play “currency” from the country that you visited or come up with other creative ways to keep points. When my daughter was into making board games, she would often start with something like “Monopoly” and then build her own game around that—re-naming and making it individualized as she chose.
With desktop printing and all the technology available, you could include photos, clip art, colors, special fonts, etc. on your board game and even have the game laminated or otherwise adjusted for longevity and use. You can make your own family board game look as casual or as classy as you please—with respect for your time and your own crafty talents (and/or those of your other family members).
The great thing about creating your own family board game is that it can reflect the individuality and uniqueness of your family—you can use family members’ names, special stories and nicknames, or other things that mean something special to your family. It is also one of those family activities that can be as fun and bonding to create as it will be to actually play with the finished product.
Also: Playing Computer and Video Games Together
The Joys and Challenges of Family Projects
Why Not Make Up Your Own Holidays?