One of my favorite things about fall is our weekly family movie nights! Here in the Northeast the sun sets around 5:00 p.m. and the nights get colder, which means we spend more time inside. Every Friday night we shut off our phones and snuggle up for two hours on the couch to laugh, cry and sometimes learn.
Kicking off our movie night tradition during the spooky season gives us the perfect excuse to pull out our favorites, and maybe find a new one. I am always looking for something that isn’t too scary, but still has Halloween vibes. My kids have different tolerance levels for spooky, so it’s always tricky to find something that isn’t too dark, but also entertaining. I always check our movie choices online at common sense media to know what to expect.
Our family movie night is more than just a budget friendly activity, it’s an opportunity to bond as a family. Snuggling with our kids in a cozy space strengthens trust and feelings of security. Siblings aren’t in competition for being the best at anything while engaged with a movie and might even tolerate sitting near each other. An educational benefit is that movies can transport us to new cultures, create curiosity and open discussions with our kids about what’s right and wrong in our world.
Movie nights at home are a more affordable option for families than going out to the theater. I love our local theater, but not every family can afford movie tickets plus concessions. And don’t get me started about the souvenirs and merchandise in the larger corporate theaters. Staying home can be more affordable. Now with so many streaming options we can watch almost any movie we want.
The highlight of any movie night experience is the snacks! We have done simple bowls of fresh popcorn to hot appetizers for a dinner and a movie. It depends on how we feel that week. The most requested snack option in our house? A popcorn bar where everyone can add their own special toppings. It’s a crowd pleaser and easy to set up!
Choose your night! Decide which night works best in your family’s schedule to spend time watching a full-length movie.
Select a movie! Find out which channels and times movies are offered, select two movies, and ask the family to vote which one to watch! (P.s. you can also borrow DVDs from your local library for movie nights).
Grab your snacks! Make a fresh bowl of popcorn and toss out some toppings to let everyone create the ultimate snack bowl, offer a charcuterie board for everyone to pick at, or just have everyone rummage in the pantry for whatever they are in the mood for.
Choose your location! Typically, we like to set up inside with cozy blankets and pillows, maybe grab our favorite wooly slippers. But I keep dreaming of a movie night in the back yard with a cozy fire and s’mores. There will still be lots of blankets, just maybe not super close to the fire pit.
