“I’m bored” is a phrase that parents hear 100 times a day (if not more) – and the phrase alone may be enough to send a shiver down your spine. Thankfully, you’d be pleased to hear that if you’re running out of activities to keep your kids entertained, there are plenty of options available – many of which you don’t even have to leave your home for. For example, you could plan a movie night! 

Movie nights are a great, inexpensive way to bond as a family. This is because you’ll spend the entire evening side by side, watching your favorite movies and indulging in some delicious snacks. 

With that in mind, here are some top tips for planning the perfect movie night with your kids!

 

Turn your lounge into a cinema. 

The first step towards planning a successful movie night is setting the scene. You can make this a bit more fun for all involved by turning your living room or lounge into a cinema. For example, you could set up a projector, so you’re sat before a bigger screen, or hang up some classic movie posters throughout your home. 

 

Let everyone choose a movie. 

One of the biggest challenges associated with hosting a movie night is deciding which film(s) to watch – especially if your kids have different interests. For example, your teen might not want to sit through Frozen and Frozen 2 back-to-back. However, this can easily be remedied by letting everyone choose a movie or letting two people choose a movie – with the others getting the first pick next time, depending on how much time you have. If you’re open to anything, use a random movie generator. 

 

Put together a program & hand out tickets. 

Part of the joy of heading to the movie theater is getting to grab your tickets and choose what movie to see – but thankfully, you don’t have to miss out on this fun when hosting a movie night. For example, you could chat ahead of time to decide what movies you want to watch and print out your own program or schedule. You could even make your own cinema stubs and tickets! 

 

Stock up on snacks. 

Movies are best enjoyed on a full stomach, so be sure to have plenty of snacks to hand throughout. For example, you could make your own popcorn at home for a delicious (yet somewhat healthy) snack or raid the candy aisle at your local store. If you have a particularly sweet tooth, this could be a great opportunity to participate in a spot of baking beforehand. For example, cookies and cakes will also go down a treat. 

 

Get comfy. 

Whether you’re watching a comedy or an animation, it's important that you’re comfy. And as your home is your safe space, this means you’ll likely be a lot comfier here than anywhere else. However, you can elevate the experience for everyone by making it a pyjama themed movie night, complete with endless piles of pillows and blankets. You could even build a pillow or blanket fort and watch the movie from inside there! 

 

Serve up some delicious food. 

While you can’t have a movie night without popcorn and candy, you could take this to the next level by serving up some delicious food for your family to enjoy during the movie – focusing on food that’s easy to eat while sitting on the sofa, such as tacos! If you’re looking for some culinary inspiration, check out this delicious pork tacos recipe at Jerkyholic.com.

 

Let your kids talk during the movie. 

In movie theaters, silence is expected – but there are many benefits associated with letting your children ask questions and talk about what they are watching. This is because it helps them to think creatively and analytically. For example, you could ask them what they think will happen next or who their favorite character is. This also ensures that everyone is paying attention! 

 

Turn off your phone. 

Whether you’re guilty of scrolling too much time on social media, or simply spend more time than is necessary glued to your phone, use the movie night as the perfect excuse to unplug for a little while. Set your phone on, do not disturb (or better yet, turn it off), and let yourself live in the moment. This is a great way to ensure you’re actually watching the film and engaging with your family, as opposed to doing everything from behind your phone screen. You’ll also find that it's a welcome break from your phone!