Movie nights are the best! My husband and I used to go to the movie theaters every week before we had kids. But now with three little ones we’ve found that an at-home movie night is less hassle, much cheaper, and just as much fun! Here are some fun and easy ways to set up your movie space. Here are 14 ways to help make your weekly family movie night a fun experience that will create long-lasting memories for your kids!
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We first began our weekly family movie nights a few months ago. I was pregnant in my third trimester with our third baby, and I think just out of pure exhaustion was my initial reasoning for a relaxing family movie night. It turned into a weekly event that everyone now looks forward to!
After a busy week of work, different school schedules, sports practices, we are all ready for a fun relaxing evening to kick the weekend off right! My kids look forward to movie night all week long! Our kids see it as a reward for working hard in school and with their chores, so it’s a great way to keep them on track with what they need to be focusing on during the week.
Creating a fun weekly movie night can be as elaborate or as laid back as you want it to be, and can be as budget-friendly as well!
Here are some ideas to help get your weekly family movie night kicked off right!
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The food for your family movie night:
Our food of choice is pizza, mainly because I know everyone will eat it. Usually, I just pick up a frozen pizza at the store, but some weeks we order out. Some weeks we make our own from scratch! I let the kids be involved in choosing the type of frozen pizza, or what toppings they want if we make our own. Letting them be involved in the process makes it fun for them, and it’s such an easy and small way to let them help! Throw some carrot sticks, and cut fruit in with it and you’ve got yourself an easy meal, and an easy clean-up!
Other fun food ideas:
Nacho Bar – Who doesn’t love nachos? Layout all of your family’s favorite toppings and let the kids make their own! A great option for those picky eaters too!
Holiday Themed – For Halloween, I made Pig-in-a-blanket “mummies” that the kids thought were hilarious! During Christmas, add in fun holiday-shaped cookies that they can decorate before the movie starts!
PRO TIP: Throw a Christmas in July movie night with a Christmas movie, hot cocoa, and cookies!
Movie Night Snack Plates– Do you find that your kids will eat snacks easier than normal meals? I realized over this past summer that the kids get burnt out over our usual meals after a while. I’ve found that putting a bunch of different foods that they would normally eat on a plate or, snack board, would yield much better results. I love giving my kids “snack plates” for meals on days where I’m out of ideas! Anything can go on a snack plate; cheese cubes, deli meat, crackers, raisins, cut fruit, pickles, olives, cherry tomatoes, bell pepper slices, the ideas and food combinations are endless.
Set up your weekly movie night space
Have the kids grab a favorite blanket and a couple of pillows and find a spot on the couch or cozy up on a bean bag on the floor. This part is all about relaxing, so find a good spot to get comfy. Turn the lights off for a real movie theater experience! Add fun snacks like popcorn, Chex mix, or hot cocoa!
For a fun summer night movie, set up a backyard theater experience with an inflatable screen and movie projector! Grab your lawn chairs, big blankets, and snacks for a fun summertime movie night. Invite friends and neighbors and make it a party! Add some outdoor string lights to add a fun glow!
Outdoor parties like this are a great way to grow relationships with the neighbors in your community, and it makes fun, long-lasting memories for your kids!
PRO TIP: Set up an inflatable pool (minus the water!), throw in a bunch of pillows and blankets to make a super comfy spot for the kids!
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The Movie
Normally, I will have the kids take turns each week in deciding what the movie will be. That way each kid has a chance to choose what movie they want to see that week. During the holidays, their dad or I will pick a fun holiday movie.
With the availability of TV and movie streaming apps, the possibilities of movies are endless! Apps like the new Peacock streaming service offers shows and movies for FREE or a small monthly fee for more viewing options.
Other streaming service ideas include:
Netflix
Hulu
Amazon Prime Video
Disney+
Paramount+
Youtube TV
Side Note* We cut cable YEARS ago and just use streaming services now! If you are needing a way to cut back on your monthly bills, I highly recommend checking into a couple of streaming networks and making the cut!
I hope you and your family try out your own version of a family movie night! Let me know in the comments if you are going to try, or if this is something your family already does!
