Games & Activies to Play for a Big Family Reunion
Planning activities for a large-scale family reunion can be vital to its success. With all of the unfamiliar faces in attendance, some family members might be reluctant to socialize. Scheduling games and other icebreakers will help promote interaction and conversation, making it easy for even the shyest relatives to become involved.
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The Identity Game
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This activity is designed to initiate conversation between family members. Write down the names of famous people on a series of index cards or sheets of paper. Tape a sheet of paper to each family member's back without letting him or her see the name. Each person must ask "yes" or "no" questions of the others in an effort to guess the name on his or her back. As a variation, you can also use the names of places or monuments instead of famous people.
Get Acquainted Bingo
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As a variation on the classic Bingo game, this activity will serve as an icebreaker and conversation starter. Create a series of Bingo cards, and fill the spaces with human characteristics such as "Has green eyes" or "Is over 50 years old." Give a card to each family member. In order to win, players must seek out people who match the traits on their boards. To help increase mingling, you can specify that a single person can't serve as more than two spaces on a player's card.
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Scavenger Hunt
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An old standby for large gatherings, the Scavenger Hunt is a simple way to get everyone's participation. The preparation isn't difficult: create a list of items for the hunt, then hand out one copy to each team involved. The first team to return with all of the items wins. You can get the family to aid in the maintenance efforts by putting garbage items on the list, such as soda cans or plastic spoons. This variation is helpful toward the conclusion of the reunion when you're cleaning up.
Traditional Games
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You don't have to overthink your family reunion activities to have fun. The classics are still enjoyable, and best of all everyone knows how to play. Games like Duck, Duck, Goose, Musical Chairs and Tug-of-War don't require much explaining or preparation. Sack races, egg tosses and three-legged races are engaging as well. Not only are they fun to participate in, they're fun to watch.
Children's Activities
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With a large family reunion, there's no doubt you'll also have a large amount of kids in attendance. Planning games and activities that will keep the children busy will allow the adults to converse and relax. Sidewalk chalk, crayons and coloring books are useful supplies to have on hand. You can also expand into a full craft table. Cover the surface with butcher paper and provide paint, markers and other craft supplies for the kids to test their creativity.
Things to Remember
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To keep your activities running smoothly, there are a few guidelines to consider. Choose games that are simple learn and don't make your family members feel uncomfortable. Stay in control and never force anyone to play. Plan your activities ahead of time and be prepared for some improvisation. A variety of available games will stimulate maximum participation and promote fond memories of a successful reunion.
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References
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