TV streaming has always been the best pastime when the days of bulky remotes and limited channels ruled the living room. Back then, we used to fight with our siblings about who would control the TV and cry over it… well, at times. Those were the best days. However, right now, we don’t think it still happens that often simply because there are now a lot of ways to stream content. Anyone can watch on their mobile phone, tablet, and other mobile devices anytime they want to — and it can be a bit sad at times.
However, if you’re looking to bring back the fun of TV streaming for your family and actually allow every member of your family to enjoy your time together.
1. Prepare special snacks everyone would enjoy.
Alright, we’ll start this off with snacks. If your family is a foodie, you know that this is one of the most important parts of any movie or TV night. By this, we don’t mean popcorn or bagged chips. That’s too boring. What you can do is set up a mini snack bar with different toppings. For example, for one night, you’ll have Mexican food. Your snack bar may contain nachos, melted cheese, guacamole, salsa, sour cream, and even small soft tortillas for mini tacos. Everyone can build their own snack plate exactly how they like it.
2. Let the kids be the host.
If your family has kids, it’s a fun idea to make them host your movie night. When kids are given a bit of responsibility, they get really excited. Just let them introduce the movie or show, welcome everyone like a real host, and maybe even plan a short “program flow” before you start the stream. You can even switch it up by alternating streaming services, like Netflix, Disney+, Sling TV, Dish TV, and others.
3. Prepare games for every movie or TV show you’ll watch
Adding a little bit of play to your movie nights can be a game-changer. You don’t even have to be so extra with the games you’ll be preparing. You can just create simple games that match the movie or show you’re watching. For example, you can prepare a movie bingo or a quote it game. Of course, you also have to prepare prizes for your family members to be engaged with your game. It can be mini rewards after each game or a point collection for a grand prize.
4. Set a fun theme whenever you’ll stream as a family.
This is not a new concept, but it’s really worth trying if you haven’t done it before. Themes add an extra layer of fun and excitement to your movie nights. You can align your theme to what you’re planning to watch. So if you’re planning to binge-watch Marvel or DC movies, you can wear your favorite superhero shirt or costume. And it’s the same thing for Disney movies. You and your family can dress up as your favorite Disney characters.
5. Allow your family members to vote on which movies or shows to watch.
Since there are a lot of streaming services right now, that only means there is a lot of new and classic content to watch. Don’t just make the decisions based on what you want. You can use a simple voting system to make sure everyone gets a say. Or if you want to make it a bit more fun, you can just put random movie and TV show titles in a jar and have someone pick one.
Final Thoughts
Watching TV with your family is still one of the simplest yet most enjoyable things you can do right now. It’s like going a trip down memory lane while you remember how you and your family gather around the TV after dinner while getting excited over weekend movie nights. But of course, at the end of the day, it’s not about the movie or show you’re watching. It’s still always about the time you spend together.
