Family movie night has fast become one of our favourite ways to spend time together. As a family of 5 – with a 9 year age gap between my youngest and oldest child – it can sometimes be difficult to find common ground, but not so with family movie night.
Family movie night is a core part of our Slow Sunday ritual
and it’s a fantastic way to come together as a family and relax before the bedtime routine.
Here are five reasons why you should make family film night a regular part of your routine.
Quality Time Together
Builds Stronger Relationships
Encourages creativity and imagination
Movies can be a great way to encourage creativity and imagination in children. By exposing them to different worlds, cultures, and characters, they can broaden their horizons and develop their imagination.
Opportunities for discussion
Family movie night can also provide opportunities for discussion and learning. You can use the film as a starting point for conversations about important issues, such as values, relationships, and life lessons.
Affordable entertainment
Family movie night is an affordable way to have fun and enjoy quality entertainment. With streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+, you have access to thousands of films at a low cost.
As British expats living in Austria, we decided to sign up to all three streaming services. If I was to just pick one, it would be Disney + because the films and documentaries featured have broad appeal.
Start a Family Movie Night Tradition
Schedule it:
Choose the movie:
Have each family member take turns choosing the movie for the night. This will provide an opportunity for everyone to share their favourite films and for the family to watch a variety of genres.
If you have a large age gap, like we do, ensure that the films chosen are suitable for the youngest family member. Common Sense Media is a good resource to use when researching films.
Snack time:
Prepare a special snack or treat for each movie night. This could include chips, candy, or other favourites, and will add to the excitement of the event.
The snacks you choose will again depend on the age of the family members present. It’s best to avoid anything that could be a choking hazard around young children, especially when the room is dark and you can’t see what they are putting in their mouths. Be cautious with popcorn, hard candies, marshmallows, chewing gum and hot dogs with very young children because they can cause a choking hazard.
Make it cosy:
Discussion time:
Special themes:
Invite friends:
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