Lo-fi Entertainment: Board games & more

I love the internet and TV. I don’t know what I’d do without them. But once in a while, I really feel the need to turn them off and be entertained by something I can actually touch. Whether you just need an occasional break or are actually thinking of reducing the channels in your cable package or even shutting off cable and/or the internet to save some money, there are a lot of other ways for you and/or the rest of your household to have fun.

Board Games

The great thing about board games is the variety. They can be intellectually challenging (like trivia games), ridiculously goofy (Operation), or strategic (chess). They can involve sitting around a table, moving pieces on a board, or just sitting around the living room reading questions or challenges to each other. With a speakerphone and something like Trivial pursuit, you could even include a kid who’s away at college or a friend across town.

And don’t forget RPGs (role-playing games) like Dungeons & Dragons. Long before “gaming” became a digital phenomenon, it happened on boards with dice and game pieces and brought friends together in the same room.

Card Games

I love card games. The only problem is, some of them require a specific number of players, and for some reason you never get the right number. (I’m convinced there’s a law of physics or something that causes this.) Classics like euchre, gin rummy, bridge, and various types of poker are challenging and addictive, and be forwarned: some people take them very seriously. Games like Uno and Phase 10 are part strategy and part luck, so people tend to take them less seriously and just have a good time.

Play Acting

Encourage kids to go outside or into the rec room and pretend to be fictional characters they like. This was once how most kids under 12 spent most of their time, before video games and the internet came along.

Alternately, a whole household can get together and decide to act out a scripted play just for the heck of it. For some of you, this won’t hold any appeal at all, but for those of you who like to ham it up, it can be a lot of fun.

Cooking

More and more people are starting to think of cooking meals as a form of entertainment in itself instead of a chore. Cooking gives you a chance to be creative and enjoy an activity by yourself or with other people. It can also be great for your wallet and waist line, compared to eating out. Trying out new recipes is exciting, and the sense of accomplishment when they turn out delicious lasts for days. Just remember to have a sense of humor when it turns out all wrong.

Go for a drive

Those of you in the middle of a congested city with hideous traffic may be scratching your heads in wonder at this suggestion, but if you live in an area where you can get out of (or into) town easily for a change of scenery, getting out in the car for a little while can be refreshing. Make it more fun by playing “I Spy” or keeping an ongoing list of out of state license plates you’ve seen on your drives.

Reading

Reading books and magazines is a lot of fun on your own, but it can also be a household event. Work your way through a classic novel by having a different family member read each paragraph or chapter aloud.

Subscribe to Bohemian Revolution!
Email Post | Print This
Posted in Featured Articles, Frugal, Fun, Personal Development on March 13, 2009