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One of the ways we keep our kids all tight and friendly around here is a weekly family night. Sometimes we go out. Sometimes we stay in. There is almost always a treat involved, and the kids love it every time. This past week, for our Family Activity Night, we took the kids bowling, and it was one of our best family nights yet.
Here are the 5 reasons we decided bowling was a great Family Night Activity:
Now let me just say that I haven’t been bowling in years, a lot of years. When the employees asked who needed bumpers, I turned them down on principle, but that was a poor decision. I came in dead last. Do you have any idea how embarrassing it is to lose to a 3-year-old in bowling? At least he doesn’t get it. My 6-10 year-old girls started walking along side me, offering tips and helpful suggestions. Grrrr, but thanks for caring.
The kids were excited from the moment they received their shoes, to selecting just the right ball, and then walking across the wood floor and letting their ball fly, literally. Sorry fellow bowlers. We only lost the ball to a neighboring lane once, and a very cool employee was right there to retrieve it. I loved watching the kids lean the direction they hoped their ball would roll as it stubbornly continued down its wayward path, and then staring expectantly at the ball return waiting for their weapon to appear.
My husband and I watched with partially hidden giggles while the kids tried out different forms and strategies. My 6-year-old proved to be quite intense about her method. I loved that they were having fun while being active and hefting weighted balls across the floor.
One of the reasons we haven’t gone bowling often is because of the expense. As our family grows, the cost does as well. I was concerned about paying for games, shoe rentals, and possibly even food. You can imagine how I was excited to learn that our local bowling alley, offers a family package on weeknights. For under $50 a family of 6 is equipped with shoes, balls, and 75 minutes of game time. The package included dinner as well, so while they waited for their turns to bowl, our kids were feasting on pizza, breadsticks, and soda.
Another reason bowling makes such a great Family Night Activity idea is that it is indoors and open all year long. If it’s raining, the bowling alley’s open. If there’s snow on the ground, you can stay warm and still get active at the bowling alley. If it’s way too hot outside, the bowling alley is air conditioned and you can move without worrying about the heat.
So pick a night this year and take your family bowling. Make memories, take pictures, and don’t be embarrassed to request the bumpers.
*FatCats Bowling Center provided our family with this fun night in exchange for our review. The opinions and stories expressed are all ours, even the part about my losing to a toddler;) We appreciate their generosity, and we encourage you to visit them for your next bowling trip if you live near their locations in UT, CO, ID & AZ.
18 Responses
my family loves going bowling!!
We had such an amazing time. I can’t believe we don’t do it more often. Clearly I need to 🙂 Maybe we’ll do a full month of bowling for family night.
I have not been bowling in so long but I would love to do this as a family outing when my daughter gets old enough.
The only one that didn’t bowl was the baby. Even the 3-year-old thought it was a good time. Apparently bowling is great fun for the entire family.
You’re so right! Bowling is a great family fun night. We took our little guy when he was turning two years old and he LOVED it.
It took my toddler’s slow moving ball forever to make it to the pins, but he had a great time 🙂 Thankfully the girls were eating pizza and drinking soda from the family night package so they didn’t complain.
I have been thinking about taking my kiddos bowling for ages, but it never seems to happen. It’s supposed to rain this weekend – perfect time to do it! Thanks for the inspiration 🙂
Do it! It’s great fun. Happy Memorial Weekend!
We always go bowling with our church youth group, and it is so much fun! The fact that I suck at it is just a bonus!
There was a church group there next to us, and some of their youth had never been bowling before. It was fun to watch.
Although I totally stink at bowling, it is a really fun activity to do with family members in all age ranges. Cute pics. 🙂
Thank you. It was perfect for the entire family. Even the baby had a good time watching things make noise and fall down.
YES! Bowling is so much fun for the whole family 😀 We always have such a blast when we go!
I love bowling night! A “rock-n-bowl” place recently opened in Stillwater, and it’s great for family and adult nights. We’ve been a couple times and it is so much fun. It’s great competition, and pretty humbling as well 🙂
Amy, I had to laugh out loud when you mentioned that you lost which included your 3-year-old. It also seems like a great way to spend some quality family time. My husband and I were just talking about how we’d love to take our kids bowling at some point. We also have a 6-year-old. I’m sure they’d have a blast.
Yes. Bowling isn’t my top skill, but we had the best time. 🙂
My wife and I went bowling on our first date and have made it a point to get our kids bowling as well. I like that you mentioned how affordable it can be if you choose a good night and get discounts. This is something we try and do every couple weeks.
My kids are huge bowling fans, and it does make a great date night.