Looking for a way to connect the generations next time your family gathers? Before the adults go to the TV and the kids go to their phones (and no one interacts!) try this game and share something of real value —- simple family stories.
It’ll cost you nothing, the memories will be priceless, and you’ll feel good knowing you have brought some well-being to your family — researchers have found that knowing family stories was the single best predictor of a child’s emotional health and happiness. And, it’s good for adults too.
I have 2 games for you — choose one or play both: What’s the Story? or 2 Truths and a Lie. The object of both games is the same: tell stories among the generations!
All you need is your extended family, some paper and pens. Scissors optional.
“What’s the Story?”
- Print this Story Starter sign up sheet or create one of your own.
Story Starters are questions such as: How did you meet your spouse? Were you ever in the newspaper? Who were you named for and why?
- Divide everyone up into two teams — Adults vs. Kids — you decide who makes the cut for each.
- Everyone on the Adult Team signs up for one Story Starter where they have a story to tell.
- Cut or tear apart each Story Starter along with the name of the Adult Teammate who claimed it and place those strips of paper into a bowl. Only the Kids Team will draw from the bowl.
- Everyone on the Adult Team jots down their story on a piece of paper.
- Oldest person on the Kids Team goes first and she:
- Draws one Story Starter from the bowl,
- Reads the Story Starter and the name of the Adult who claimed it, and
- Tells all she knows or can guess about that Adult’s story.
Example: Susan is the oldest on the Kids Team. She draws and reads aloud “How I Got My Nickname – Uncle Dobbin”. Susan tells what she knows or she just flat out guesses (which could be funny) about how Uncle Dobbin got his name.
Uncle Dobbin then tells the story of how he got his name.
*Make a video or audio recording of these stories. You can just use your phone. I use the audio recording app italk. Sometimes I find the audio recording is less intrusive and people can feel more natural. Of course, tell everyone in advance that you are recording!!!
- The group collectively decides on the scoring. The maximum score per round is 5 points.
- The Kids’ Team gets 1 point for each part of the story the guesser gets right, up to a max of 5 points.
- The Adult Team gets 5 less the points won by the Kids’ Team – so if the Kids’ Team gets nothing in the story right, the Adult Team gets all 5 points.
- Play continues in the same manner as above with the next oldest person on the Kids’ Team drawing from the bowl, reading and guessing. Play continues in reverse age order until all Story Starters have been drawn by the Kids’ Team. Tally the score and find the winning team or play another round, this time with the Kids claiming the Story Starters!
2 Truths and a Lie
- Give everyone a slip of paper and a pen.
- Tell everyone to write down 3 things about themselves – 2 must be true and 1 must be a lie, in no particular order. Let everyone know that they should be prepared to tell the story behind what they write!
- Pick one person to start as Reader. The Reader reads their list of 3, but doesn’t tell which is true and which is a lie.
- Pick a Moderator to run the vote. The Moderator goes through the Reader’s 3 statements one-by-one and has everyone else vote by a show of hands as to which one is the lie.
It’s more fun if you exclude the Reader’s spouse from the vote or have them vote privately – otherwise the group will just follow their vote.
- The Reader reveals which one is the lie and then tells the story behind one of the statements. The stories should be limited to a few sentences.
*Make a video or audio recording of these stories – see suggestion above!
- Scoring: Everyone keeps their own score. Voters get 1 point for correctly guessing the lie. The Reader gets 2 points if none of the voters guess the lie.
- Play continues until everyone has had a turn as Reader of their 2 truths and a lie and the voting is complete. Tally the score and find a winner!
For more about family stories and well-being read this New York Times article.
