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    Home » Sponsored » Netflix » Creative Family Movie Night Ideas

    Creative Family Movie Night Ideas

    Published: Feb 29, 2016 · Modified: Apr 30, 2018 by Bren

    Family Movie Night is one of my favorite ways to spend time with my kiddos. Check out these easy ideas that will make your next family movie night a huge success.

    Disclosure: Netflix provided me with a streaming device and service in return for writing about their service. The opinions and free printables in this post are my own. #StreamTeam This post uses affiliate links. They don’t cost you a thing and help us bring you creative projects. Read more in Policies & Disclosures.

    Looking for a way to bond and spend time with your kids? Start a family movie night tradition. Our family has had “family movie night” or “family night in” for years. I love that I can still capture my teenager’s attention with movies and tasty treats! Get 8 great tips for hosting your own family movie night plus lots of fun family movie suggestions.

    Growing Up Too Fast

    I never thought this day would come and yet I knew it was inevitable.

    The first time I saw my son he was a tired and bruised baby resting in an NICU bassinet. We were both worn out from a long and difficult labor. I was terrified by the amount of love and concern I had for this new little person.

    Fast forward 13 years and the inevitable has happened… my little man cub has become a teenager! (Can I still call him my man cub now that he is a inches taller than me?

    YES! It’s a mother’s prerogative!)

    I’m no longer terrified of the mechanics of motherhood – of knowing how to feed him, of his breathing when he sleeps more than 7 hours in a single stretch, of keeping him to warm or too cold – but I am still terrified!

    I’m terrified of his increased independence,  of increased time with peers, of him grown up more and more until I am just an occasional phone call in his busy life.

    Terrifying!

    I still have a few more precious years when he loves to hang out with the whole family and I plan to make the most of all the hugs, talks, and evenings spent together.  Each week we carve out at least one special evening to spend time together.  It’s a night the whole family loves…

    Family movie night!

    Our family has had family movie night or family night in for years. On a Friday or Saturday night we make dinner together and then “picnic” in the living room while we watch a movie or television show. I love that I can still capture my kids’ attention with entertainment and tasty treats!

    Ever wanted to host your own family night in? These creative family movie night ideas sponsored by Netflix will help you create the perfect evening.

    1 – Prepare your movie night dinner or snacks together as a family.

    Cook as a family and you have the perfect opportunity to talk with your kids before the movie rolls. Pick an easy recipe that kids can help prepare (bonus: you also teach them to cook!). On family movie night we love to dine on homemade soft pretzels or homemade pizza with fruits and vegetables or a fun treat such as caramel popcorn or five-minute cupcakes.

    Recipe for Homemade Soft Pretzel Bites – A favorite junk food indulgence is soft pretzel bites: tiny pillows of salty, soft, chewy dough that tempt your taste buds. Make them at home for better-for-you junk food treats that are also easier on the wallet. Homemade Soft Pretzels
    BrenDid Homemade Pizza House Breadsticks Recipe Pizza Dough Homemade Pizza Sauce Pizza House Bread Sticks
    Homemade caramel corn is a delicious sweet treat. This easy version uses only sugar, butter, vanilla, cream, and salt to make a creamy caramel sauce. Vegan caramel recipe also included. Homemade Caramel Popcorn
    Love cupcakes? You’ll enjoy making these quick microwave cupcakes that are full of chocolate peanut butter flavor but contain no refined white sugar! They are topped with an easy peanut butter magic shell sauce and mini chocolate chips. Add a scoop of your favorite ice cream and you are in dessert heaven! Easy Microwave Cupcakes & Peanut Butter Magic Shell

    2 – Pick a family movie night theme!

    A fun theme is an easy way to make movie night extra special. Think about your kids’ interests and go wild! We have hosted many fun theme nights, click on the links below for all the details and free printables!

    Love this idea! Throw a 1980s Movie Night for your family with free printable movie ticket invitations, an easy homemade caramel corn recipe, and a great list of the best family films from the 1980s. 80’s Movie Night
    BrenDid Netflix Stream Team Saturday Morning Cartoons
    Host a family movie night with Winnie the Pooh and the rest of the gang from the Hundred Acre Woods. Easy party featured Healthy Honey Bee No Bake Cookies, free printable Winnie the Pooh treat boxes, free printable Hundred Acre Wood’s Easter mazes and free printable Winnie the Pooh invitations. Get all the details at BrenDid.com Winnie the Pooh Movie Night
    Free printable card and One hour cinnamon roll recipe from BrenDid.com . Fresh, fluffy cinnamon rolls from scratch in about an hour. Must try! Plus Walt Disney's favorite chili... a great dinner combo chili and cinnamon rolls! Best Friends Family Fun Night
    Do your kids love Goosebumps books? Host a family fun night featuring Goosebumps Movies or hold a Goosebumps party with this easy Goosebumps banner and creepy smoothie recipe. Kids parties, DIY, R.L. Stein Goosebumps Movie Party

    3- Add creative touches get kids excited for the evening.

    Have your kids dress in their pajamas, hand out tickets, or send an invitation in their lunch box. These little gestures make the night more memorable for kids and adults. Click on the links below for fun ideas and free printables!

    DreamWorks Dragons: Race to the Edge - Easy no sew dragon wings will transform your favorite How to Train You Dragon fan into their high flying dragon of choice. #Netflix #StreamTeam How to Train Your Dragon No Sew Wings
    We love hanging out together or with other family’s to have a family friendly New Year’s Eve party. This year we are getting a little extra help from Dreamworks Animation and their new Netflix original series All Hail King Julien. Learn how to make folded paper party hats or CROWNS to make sure your guests celebrate in style. BrenDid.com King Julian Paper Crowns
    Thanksgiving kid crafts - making yarn pom pom turkeys and Free Birds on Netflix Thanksgiving Pom Pom Turkeys

    4- Select a movie everyone can enjoy!

    The perfect film can be hard to pick. Have everyone submit a selection and draw from a hat or let each family member be in charge of the movie night plan once a month.

    We love our streaming Netflix account because it has choices everyone can agree on. I love to set up profiles for different evenings.

    BrenDid Netflix Stream Team

    5 – Read it then watch it.

    Our favorite movie nights include films that are based on books. We love to read as a family then see the movie so we can discuss the similarities and differences. It’s a great way to connect a nightly reading routine with family movie night.

    Many of our favorite books are available as Netflix movie choices. Check out these great selections on Amazon before you stream their movie versions.

     

    Dinotopia
    Zathura
    Jumanji
    Arthur and the Minimoys
    A Wrinkle in Time
    Stardust
    Charlotte’s Web
    The Last Unicorn
    The Tale of Despereaux
    How to Train Your Dragon

    6- Make time to discuss the movie.

    Don’t simply turn the show off and send the kids to bed! Take a few minutes to discuss what you watched. You can simply ask your kids to share their favorite movie moment, ask trivia questions about the movie, or make a craft based on the characters. It’s the perfect time to talk about the show and its message!

    My easy movie and television related crafts are linked below.

    Cool Science Experiments for Kids – Get your kids interested in STEM → science, technology, engineering, and math with these easy science projects using physics and chemistry. Create a glitter tornado, shine pennies then turn them green, and catch ice on a string using supplies you have around the house. Smart is the New Cool! #free printable #STEM #lesson plan Project MC2 Lab Notebook and Science Experiments
    Every After High is the perfect fairy tale party theme! Get party ideas, free printable decorations and activities for a story-perfect party at BrenDid.com. Ever After High Crafts
    Toothless, Hookfang and Stormyfly hats are ready to fly in for your next family movie night, How to Train Your Dragon party or afternoon craft. This easy craft uses baseball caps and felt to make adorable dragon hats that will thrill and delight any How to Train Your Dragon fan. The hats are fun to make and easy enough for kids to help! How to Train Your Dragon Baseball Hats

    7 – Tune in to your family.

    Turn off your electronic devices! It is easy to keep your phone or tablet in reach when you watch a movie geared toward children. Your kids notice your lack of focus. Put the phone down and share in the movie experience.

    8 – Snuggle!

    Kids grow up faster than weeds!  Many days they are busy with school, activities, and friends. Family movie night is the perfect opportunity to get in some much need cuddle time with your whole family.

     

    Family movie night is a fun family tradition and the perfect way to spend quality time with your kids. You’ll create life long memories and a family bond that can make their teen years a little less terrifying.

     

    Like my creative family night ideas? Sign up for my newsletter below and never miss a thing! 

     

    BreDid-Stream-Team-Signature

     

    Looking for a way to bond and spend time with your kids? Start a family movie night tradition. Our family has had “family movie night” or “family night in” for years. I love that I can still capture my teenager’s attention with movies and tasty treats! Get 8 great tips for hosting your own family movie night plus lots of fun family movie suggestions.
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. jenfliesaway

      March 01, 2016 at 9:54 am

      We’ve just watched Star Wars and the Empire Strikes Back as our family movie night!

      Reply
      • Bren

        March 01, 2016 at 12:07 pm

        Fun!

        Reply

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