Work in progress as ever. I will add links to other guides. Happy to include any thing extra

My game night is just family and friends do I need to care about inclusion?
What tips should I follow for my ‘kitchen table’ games night?
What about a family games night?

The aim is still to ensure everyone has a great time (winning is not required, fun is the goal!)
If you know your players and location well a number of tips aren’t required but there is still a few simple things you can do to help your game night go well.

Playing at home is great you have far more control of the setting, noise, heat, light compared to playing in a pub or village hall, but with it comes more social pressure and with control comes the ability to please / displease people.

The answer is always communications, kindness and empathy.

Family game night (Playing with only family members)

Choose the right game!
Discuss and agree house rules?
Agree social rules?
Be mindful of learning styles?
Any accessibility issues.

Games night at home (with family and ‘strangers’)

If you are playing in someone else house or you have guests.

Discuss and agree house rules?

Family game night (Playing with only family members)

Choose the right game!

Chose a game that the majority enjoy and if there isn’t consensus, ensure the person who is ‘willing’ playing the game they don’t want to play gets to chose a game a soon. Do consider how you chose what to play.
A rote? Select some and give vetos? Names in a hat? Keeping it fair can help keep your games night alive

Discuss and agree house rules?

House rules grow over time, be mindful of what they are, and WHY they exist? This is very important if a new person joins the game night, discuss and agree what house rules are in play.

Does the house rule exist because one of the younger children have issues with losing or making fast decisions? Are they still relevent?

Does the house rule exist because a player has trouble holding cards, or with short term memory issues. These should stay and even be reviewed and update if you can provide more help. Card Holders, open discard piles, breaking the rules to allow folks to look at their cards or in the bag of tokens.

Review and agree social rules?

Similar to house rules these grow with families. Game nights are supposed to be fun for all, are their social constructs limiting this? I.e. mandatory family weekly game night. Does one person do all the preparing and teaching? These are easily overlooked as ‘things have always been that way’ as your family changes and grows.

Social rules will include things like distractions like mobile phones, background noise and TV. Taking breaks.

ASK your family come up with the rules together, being mindful of things like neurodiversion where distractions and stims can help with concentration and focus.

Be mindful of learning styles and how to teach?

People learn in different ways, at different speeds and with different enthusiasm. Some folks hate learning new things. If you have reluctant learners follow our guide on how to teach games, have the rule sorted in your head, do a practice round, have the game set up first.

Considering do a learning turn and resetting.
Alternate classic familiar games with brand new games – ideally if one person in the house loves learning and buying new games

Any accessibility issues.

Consider if there are changes you can make to the games rules or any aids you can buy to make the games night more comfortable. Card holders, changing the light or seating area.
In the case of game rules, they rules may say you can never check your discard pile or look in your bag of tokens. If you have a player with poor memory consider adding a house rule or being more relaxed about it.
Some players are strict about 100% actual rules, have a converstation and agree to change the rules where everyone agree.

Games night at home (Playing strangers and / or family)

If you are playing in someone else house or you have guests.

Agree the social rules, the aim is the make the guests comfortable and to make hosting easy.
We have an open house the guests are invited to make their own hot drinks, use our oven for frozen pizza for food (to avoid take aways) store food and any specific drinks in a designated cupboard between events. They also know to bring slippers as our floors are cold.

If some one is visiting for the first time it can be worth letting them know in advance so they know what to expect. Don’t go full Airbnb rules 🙂 But inviting guests to bring their favourite specialist tea bags and slippers so they are comfortable is great.

We encourage our guests to be confident with their food and drink, as the alternative is either ask constantly or worry you forgotten to ask.

This is no different to setting expecations for a public games night!
Start and finish times, food ‘costs’ and expectations, parking, venue rules and accessibility issues (Do you play in a basement!?)
For first time guests let know as much as you can in advance.

Discuss and agree house rules?

House rules grow over time, be mindful of what they are, and WHY they exist? This is very important This is particularly important if you are adding an new person to an establish group or family group.

Be mindful of social cliques and in jokes

Adding new people is wonderful but if the group is established be mindful to include them and not exclude them. Avoid or explain in jokes, bring them up to speed and invite them to take part socially, find out more about them.


Recommendations:
The Board Game Family By Ellie Dix | World of Books GB (We have a copy in the library)