The Callahans of Ladera Ranch, California
Stephanie, Marty, Riley, age 14, and Bridget, 12Participants: 4 families; kids ages 3 to 13
Imagine a progressive dinner party where games, not courses, are on the menu: one evening, four houses, eight games, total fun. Well, maybe not total. "The dads playing Twister?" says Stephanie Callahan with a laugh. "That just got ugly after a while."
Hence the success of her neighborhood's progressive game night. Because maybe the only thing kids enjoy more than playing goofy games is watching their parents play goofy games. Given the mix of ages, the group sticks with party-type contests — hot potato, beanbag toss, and the like.
"We played this game where we dumped bags of cotton balls on the floor," Stephanie (third from right in the back row of the photograph) recalls. "You're blindfolded, trying to scoop the balls into a bowl with a ladle, but mostly you're scooping air. And the kids, for once, they're not texting or watching a movie. They're just cracking up."
Planning Tips
Have each family provide two different games and finger food for snacking. To accommodate a range of ages, choose quick games with clear winners. Try outdoor games, such as races and obstacle courses.Be creative with scorekeeping and teams. At the Callahans' parties, the moms play the moms, the dads the dads, and the kids the kids. After each game, the winner's family gets 10 points, recorded on a whiteboard taken house to house. The highest-scoring clan gets (natch) a game kit: popcorn, sparkling cider, and a board game.
