This has become a pretty popular concept recently. For Gino and I, that's been a way of life since we first met. It was a Wednesday night in September or 1985. For the next 6 years or so Wednesday night and Saturday day was Games Club at SCSU. We played role-playing games, board games, miniature games. We forged friendships with people that have lasted decades. For years after leaving college we hosted a game night at our place every Sunday night. We ordered pizza's or we grilled, and we gamed. Those times are some of my fondest memories of the 90's and 2000's.

I want to encourage you to do the same thing! Whether it's a way to increase time with your kids, or a way to spend time with friends, it is time well spent. It doesn't have to be complex, and with a little planning, it can be a success for everyone involved right from the start.

Let's break it down into a few easy steps. First, who is participating? Family or friends? You'll want to choose the games you have available based on knowing those people. If it is you and your children you need to look at the skill level of everyone involved, the last thing you want is tears because the game is just too complex for your littlest participant. Or a teen bored out of his mind at yet another game of Candyland. Do the people like high strategy games, or is more of a "beer and pretzels" kind of crowd. "Beer and Pretzel" games are the ones that are simple to play, quick, and allow for a lot of visiting while playing, Mille Bournes, Liar's Dice, Farkle and Flux are great examples of "beer and pretzel" games.

Next, you'll need to know when you are doing it. Does your family have a night that's free? Or do you need to make one. Friday and Saturday have the bonus for most people that they don't have to be up too early the next day, so if it goes late, it's not that big of a deal. But maybe Tuesday night is your night. Pick one and hold firm, that's what  happens on that night. It's not a night for casual playdates or grocery shopping.

Are you going to be starting early enough that a meal is going to be part of the evening? If so, this is the night for simple meals. Something from the crockpot, or ordering pizza or some style of take out. No one wants to be the person stuck in the kitchen making dinner while everyone else is at the table gaming! On a related note, tonight's the night for paper plates as well. Don't make dishes take time away from game night. Or maybe it's going to be after dinner and you'll just want a snack. Keep it simple, chips and dip, veggies and dip or hummus, string cheese, pizza rolls. Nothing that needs to be assembled or babied in the kitchen.

We don't have a lot of games.....You don't need a lot. You can spend a small amount for some basic gaming supplies that will get you a large variety of games. Playing cards and dice will offer thousands of games! Bored with regular scrabble, try team scrabble, it let's those younger people partner up with someone else and feel great about participating. Yahtzee pads add to those dice. Play single games, play the entire page at once, or play where you start at the 1's spot and go right down the sheet in order, no chance, you roll for the next line and you make it or you don't. A cribbage board is a gaming stock item, but don't forget backgammon for a nice change of pace from checkers. I'm betting you have all of those games in your house! But if you'd like to see what's new, just head to the store. Here's a great option if you're unsure about what might be a good fit, plan your family game night to happen at Paddy's. Just remember that Friday night is not a good night, we have the Magic tournament that fills us up. Stop in and browse, ask us questions. Best yet, sit in the back and pick a game off the library shelves to try before you buy. Make that a regular part of your game night. Decide on a frequency, say every other month, or even once a month, to have game night at the store, order dinner in, and try one or two new games. Then decide which ones you want to add to your library to play again and again at home.

We've answered who, what, why, where, and one of the when's. The second when is NOW! Don't wait until summer, don't wait until school, don't wait until baseball is over, or until the dance recital, or until after that business trip. There is always something else starting or ending. Pick a date in the next two weeks, look at your games, and make the commitment to the time together.