Remember sitting down with the family for a night of board games? Whatever happened to this simple form of entertainment? There was once a time when you could spend $20 on a board game and enjoy years of entertainment. While classic board games may bore many of today's families, it's important to remember that board games aren't what they used to be. In this week's blog, we'll discuss how families can bring back family night with exciting board games.

Classic Monopoly and Life used to be quite entertaining, and still entertain younger children. Unfortunately, these games have lost their luster for older children. That doesn't mean that family game night has to be a big bust. The market is loaded with classic board games that have been given a makeover. Not to mention all the new games that are truly interactive, such as Scene It.

That's not all though. For families who have gaming consoles, board games can even be enjoyed on the TV. Games, such as Monopoly and Battleship, are available at affordable prices. Most of today's current consoles allow for at least 4 players, giving families the chance to enjoy video games together.

If you're worried about price, don't be. Not only do these games offer hours of entertainment, you can often find them used at yard sales. A great way to enjoy video games is to subscribe to a game rental site. For around $25 a month, your family can have two games out at a time. This is a wonderful way to try games before investing in them.

To round out the night, why not bake up a few pizzas and prepare ice cream sundaes? When you enjoy family night at home, you can afford to do more. This week, why not have a little fun with the family and purchase a new board game? You'll experience hours of enjoyment for an affordable price.

The decision to cut out or cut back on television and video games for young children might not be an easy one for your family to make. When screen time plays a big role in your family time, eliminating it can leave both children and their parents wondering what to do to fill the void. Making TV time and video game time family fun time, however, benefits your children and your family in more ways than you may realize.

Family fun time doesn't have to be a chore. Instead, make family fun time the time for your family to engage in something you enjoy. Select a game or a puzzle that everyone can enjoy. Play the family favorite Monopoly with a twist; Zappos Monopoly includes favorite Zappos brands that teenagers will recognize and adults will appreciate. Or if you have a house filled with little ones, consider purchasing a Melissa and Doug alphabet puzzle. Not only will you be spending time interacting with your children, but there's an educational component as well. Family fun time with puzzles and games is a great alternative to screen time.

If a family fun afternoon or evening with games and puzzles isn't your style, consider getting everyone in your house motivated and going outdoors. Enjoy the fresh air, go for a walk, take the little kids to the playground or consider a bike ride or a low-impact hike. Be sure to purchase comfortable and well fitting shoes for your children before you head out; consider New Balance Kids as one option to get you started with the youngest of children.

Whatever you do, you won't regret turning off the box and doing something with your children. Whether you decide to get outside and go for a walk or grab a board game and see who's got what it takes, spending time interacting with your children without television and video games can benefit everyone.