I have the best memories of playing games with my family growing up – we’d play Croquet or The Ungame or Clue – my parents were pretty good at setting aside time for family game night. I don’t know if it’s because the girls are still pretty young or if we’re just too exhausted after work and dinner, but we don’t play games as a whole family nearly enough. Family movie night is more our speed. When I heard about a new season of Minute to Win It premiering on GSN on June 25, I got inspired to be create a Family Game Night with my family. I spent some time reviewing some of the Minute to Win It challenges to figure out how I could use things from around the house and structure the games so that they were exciting and achievable for my little girls. I started compiling a list…and then I started brainstorming motivation factors. Ice cream. And candy. Those would go over well as game prizes. Thus, the “Minute to Win It Ice Cream Sundae Challenge” was born. Funny how I can work dessert into anything.
So…this is how we set up family game night. I chose six games based on the Minute to Win It games: Stack Attack, Matchmaker, Hoop de Loop, How’s It Hangin’, Mad Dog, and Noodling Around. I divided the six games into sets of two and assigned one prize category to each set of games. If the player completed either of the two games in each set within one minute, he/she would win Cones/Cups, Ice Cream/Hot Fudge, or Toppings. So, basically, the girls had to choose one game per prize category; Graham and I had to complete both games in each set to get all the ingredients for our Ice Cream Sundaes.
I got a tad bit into the planning of family game night – what with the signs and ice cream stand, and shopping for every topping I could dream of to put on my our sundaes. Fortunately, I didn’t have to shop for game supplies and just used things from around the house and yard. How did it go? It was awesome. The girls got really pumped up when we started hammering the signs into the ground and setting up the games. I got my tripod and camera set up, got my camera remote working, and set up my iphone with a one-minute timer. We were set to play!
First game: Hoop de Loop – roll a hula hoop across the lawn (I spray painted a start line on the grass) to hoop around a two-liter bottle. This game was fun for some (Olivia and my husband) and somewhat frustrating for others (Grace and me). We moved the line closer for Grace and she was able to hoop de loop within the minute just fine. Addison opted for the other game to win her cups/cones!
Second game: How’s It Hangin’ – swing a banana, suspended by a rope from the player’s waist, to knock an inflatable ball across the grass and into a target area (spray-painted circle on the grass). Addie used her hands to swing the rope and had an absolute ball (har!har!) with this game. She was so cute to watch. Graham and I also swung our bananas successfully, but I have to say, it was harder than I thought – I have no idea how they do it to knock oranges into a hula hoop in the real game.
Third game: Noodling Around – Using only a piece of spaghetti in your mouth, pick up four penne pasta noodles from a tabletop. This one was super fun! Of course, it was the windiest day of the year, so it was difficult even keeping the penne pasta on the table as the wind kept rolling the noodles off. BUT, a few of us tried it at the end of our game night and I highly recommend you incorporate this challenge into your next family photo session. Love the glamour shots we got here! 😉
Fourth game: Stack Attack – Stack 21 plastic cups into a pyramid (adults had to do it twice within the minute). The girls had a super fun time with Stack Attack and it was really at the perfect level for all three of them. Even Addie got her pyramid stacked just in time. I tried tickling Graham to distract him, but neither that nor the windstorm could keep him away from winning his ice cream – that boy loves his ice cream!
Fifth game: Matchmaker – Sort 16 individual candies, placed under mason jars, into one of four groups, based on color. Needless to say, this was a favorite of the girls. They got so into it and it turned out to be at just the right level for them. The older girls were so sweet during Addie’s turn – holding out the jars for her to throw each candy in and cheering her on. Those cuties melt my heart.
Sixth game: Mad Dog – Using only your mouth, pick up a ruler containing two small cups of noodles (hot glued onto the ruler) and shake your head to empty the noodles from the cups, then place the ruler back on to the stand. My other favorite set of pictures. Seriously awesome game to watch. You’re supposed to use Tic Tacs in their containers, but I don’t think you’d get the same flying of the macaroni effect for your picture gallery.
So, there you have it. Our “Minute to Win It Ice Cream Sundae Challenge” for family game night. It was so fun. And we all won the grand prize – we’re just that good!! I have a newfound respect for all of the contestants on the Minute to Win It show. Our games, which were all played at about Level 0.5, gave me a decent challenge. How do those people ever have a chance at Level 10?? I think my whole family is going to look forward to watching the new season of Minute to Win It when it premieres – we’re totally invested now that we’ve been on a show of our own – haha! Now I’m going to challenge you: plan a family game night of your very own – I promise you won’t regret the memories you’re sure to make – and set up a camera for some priceless pictures while you’re at it (you know you want a cross-eyed, pasta scooping self-portrait!!) I’ll even share my Ice Cream Sundae Challenge signs with you – just click on the links and print!
Ice Cream Sundae Challenge Poster, Page 1, 2, 3, 4 (just trim and tape them together)
Comments & Reviews
Fiona says
Stack Attack seems particularly fun and the name even rhymes!
jeannette martin says
this looks like such fun! I would love to try the how’s it hangin game. actually they all sound like fun games. this would be great for a family reuion! thank you for all the suggestions.
Natalie says
Great idea!!! I have to plan my 11 year old’s b-day party and I think I now know what I will do. I think I will be organizing ALL of the games you described above, ha!
Natalie
XXX
Jon says
I am loving Mad Dog!
Courtney Ahrenholtz says
Just noodleing around looks like a fun one to try!
Maria Figueroa says
It looks like you guys had a lot of fun! Loved the pictures too 🙂
I would like to try the stack attack game with my family. I think it would be a lot of fun.
Thanks for the chance to win!
kristin says
Oh that looks so fun! I want to play Mad Dog. Hehe. Thanks for the chance to win, Stef!
Mami2jcn says
My kids would have fun with Noodling Around.
Mami2jcn says
tweet–https://twitter.com/mami2jcn/status/349492478002470912
Shannon says
The Mad Dog it looks fun and the pictures are so funny!
lizzy says
They all sound like fun! I think my kids would like snack attack the best. Thanks for the chance!
lizzy says
I tweeted about this at https://twitter.com/LizzyAllen123/status/349533573780471809
Marlena says
Noodling Around looks fun.
Elena says
My family would love to play Mad Dog
Elena says
https://twitter.com/ElenaIstomina/status/349573435829129219
Gwen says
I haven’t read the entire post yet, but this idea looks like a winner to me! I’ve been needing some summer party ideas for my girls and this looks like so much fun. What a perfect way to spend an afternoon.
Jessica To says
I would love to try Rapid Fire with my family. I think they would love the challenge of shooting the rubber bands!
Jessie C. says
We would enjoy Junk in the Trunk game.
Jessie C. says
-https://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/349735270091993088
LinhC says
I’d like to try the Hoop de Loop game.
Erin Biggers says
The MAD DOG would definitely me a favorite for my family. Mostly because of the name and my 2 girls’ dog obsession. lol Super cute idea and awesome pics!!!!
Lisa Brown says
We would choose Junk in the Trunk to play.
jslbrown_03 at yahoo dot com
Lisa Brown says
tweet – https://twitter.com/LuLu_Brown24/status/350280582539902976
jslbrown_03 at yahoo dot com
Nicole says
I pinned this because I love all the games! I can’t wait to try this at our next family reunion. And again when my kids get older!
Jennifer Fosters says
I would love to play Mad Dog with my family. Purely for the candid pictures. I need more pictures with less “cheesing”. Those are some cute pictures. I also like how you shared the way you set up the camera to just snap the photos. Thanks for sharing your family fun!
valerie says
I need a game that can be done by a wide age range–the stack attack looked great! We’ll give it a go. Thanks!
Cindy H says
All the games look like fun, but my favorite is Mad Dog. Looks like lots of laughs!!!
Janet W. says
I think my family would enjoy Stack Attack the most because it looks really challenging and we have some builders in the family!
Janet W. says
tweet
https://twitter.com/jwatson50/status/350360104052334593
Margaret Smith says
I’d like to try the Noodle Around game. These really look like fun.
Margaret Smith says
I tweeted: https://twitter.com/peg42/status/350387587401265154
melle@feathered ruffles says
hahha wish i had had this list for my hubbs birthday party! this would have been AWESOME at an adult party after an afternoon of grilling out, margaritas, and sangria. hehehe
Michelle says
My kids love to play Stack Attack. They get the biggest kicks out of it. =)
Jillian says
Stack attach is the classic for our family. Our one year old has a blast trying to keep up!
Kiara says
I would like to play speed eraser.
austma7@aol.com
Emily says
I would like to play the ice cream sundae game.
Cynthia C says
The Mad Dog game looks like it would be fun.
Cynthia C says
Tweet
https://twitter.com/clc408/status/350636083719057409
Kim H says
Id like all of them but the ice cream sundae game would be the best!! We are a game family!!! ky_grandma40@yahoo.com
Kelly D says
I would like to play the Stack Attach game with my family. My kids love stacking cups.
Kelly D says
tweet
https://twitter.com/kellysaver/status/350694532305780737
HilLesha says
Stack Attack seems really fun! 🙂
dan williams says
twitted this today, 28/06
Stephanie V. says
extremely hanky panky and mad dog are our faves – watch all the time
tvollowitz at aol dot com
mickeyfan says
How’s it Hangin’ looks like fun.
Anastasia says
I think the Stack Attack game looks fun and something we’d all love to try 🙂
Anastasia says
Tweeted 🙂 – https://twitter.com/Enter_Now/status/350946207130071041
Debra Ford says
I think my boys would love the stacking cups game.
dan williams says
twitted this today, 29/06
Tamar says
I like their game called Ready Spaghetti!
steph says
id like to try noodling around!
steph says
https://twitter.com/DesMoinesDealin/status/351181481458143232
Jennifer B says
I would like to try match maker
dan williams says
fresh fruit, twitted this today, 30/06
Carolyn G says
Stack Attack for our family
Crystal F says
I think this one would be fun, With a pedometor attached to the forehead, move the head around to record 125 total “steps” in a minute. I believe it would make you super dizzy but that’s part of the fun. lol Thank you1
Shauntea Crutcher says
I think Noodling Around would be a fun game for my family to try.
sandra says
i like the stack attack game
Sarah Hirsch says
we’d like to try noodling around
Merle M says
i want to try Sportcraft
Merle M says
https://twitter.com/Merle0304/status/351773144241016832
stephanie says
Noodling Around looks fun
stephanie says
tweet: https://twitter.com/akronugurl/status/351782762765758464 .
dan williams says
twitted this today, 01/07
sorahart says
My siblings and I are having our first-ever family reunion with just our families in the near future and I am in charge of games/entertainment. I think so many of these games would be some fabulous fun for all of the different ages in our family. Thanks for the ideas!
Barbara M says
We’d like the Match Maker – thank you.
Barbara M says
Tweet https://twitter.com/JalapenoMama/status/351878877347450880
Stephanie Larison says
Would love to try the noodling around one!
Charity says
That looks like SO much fun! I’d love to try out these games…. especially the noodling around one. I love how you added the ice cream element… ice cream makes everything more fun. =)
Denise S says
We play Sorry, Scrabble or Monopoly the most.
dan williams says
twitted this today, 02/07
Heidi says
I’d love to try Stack Attack!
Kimberley Meier says
I’d like to try Noodling Around!
Holly Wert says
i think we’d like playing Mad Dog
pry.school.1@gmail.com
Stephanie G says
Noodling Around looks fun and challenging!
Stephanie G says
tweet
https://twitter.com/abrightbabe/status/352437517733216257
dan williams says
twitted this today, 03/07
LAMusing says
Noodling Around looks fun!
Norma says
I’m 82 – how about if I’m cheerleader and ice cream sundae monitor? 🙂 The games all look like a lot of fun.
Susan Chester says
My family would like to try Stack Attack!
smchester at gmail dot com
Jacob LaFountaine says
Stack Attack would be worth a try
Wild Orchid says
Ther Mad Dog game looks fun!
Thanks for the chance to win!
wildorchid985 at gmail dot com
Wild Orchid says
tweet–https://twitter.com/WildOrchid985/status/352719520269467649
dan williams says
twitted this today, 04/07
Erica Best says
Noodling Around sound fun
Erica Best says
https://twitter.com/purplelover04/status/353160974682955776
Melissa says
Any game with eggs is always fun! Haha we would play “Egg Tower” together
Melissa says
Tweeted! https://twitter.com/MelissaLeal07/status/353309482752815104
Susan Smith says
The Noodling Around looks fun. Can’t beat family game night with ice cream.
Susan Smith says
https://twitter.com/susan1215/status/353321666006360064
DJ says
Stack Attack! 😛
joni says
Mad Dog looks so funny. It would be a good time.
joni says
https://twitter.com/smilekisses/status/353608717670952960
dolniaks at consolidated dot net
dan williams says
twitted this today, 06/07
Wanda McHenry says
How’s It Hangin’ looks like it would be so much fun!
joseph gersch jr says
Stack Attack
Janna Johnson says
rapid fire for my fam
dan williams says
twitted this today, 07/07
dan williams says
twitted this today, 08/07
Kerry says
The noodling around one looks really fun!
sherri crawford says
stack attack looks fun
nannypanpan says
i like noodling around
nannypanpan@gmail.com
Amy Tong says
What a fun day you all had. I can’t wait to create my own family game day too. I know my family would enjoy all the games, especially Mad Dog and Noodling Around. 🙂
amy [at] utry [dot] it
Amy Tong says
tweeted:
https://twitter.com/uTry_it/status/354877295531532288
amy [at] utry [dot] it
carmen says
mad dog looks like it’d be a hit with our fam!
Brei H. says
I think “Noodling Around” would be so much fun!!!
Samantha Daleo says
I think I want to try Mad Dog first. They all look so fun though! I miss playing games with my family. What a great idea this is!
Lisa says
I would like to try Stack Attack.
Janine H says
noodling around seems like fun!
Rebecca Graham says
I would like to play the Mad Dog game.
Debbie B says
i think stack attack looks like fun
Debbie B says
tweeted here https://twitter.com/bellows22/status/356220584801218561
ashley says
The Mad Dog game looks so fun!
Diane baum says
The ice cream sundae got my sons’ votes
kolpin says
This Blows looks hilarious! Think I’d need to clear out my living room of all the fragiles first before trying though!
kolpin says
i tweeted
https://twitter.com/kolpin4680/status/356515687579123712
Janice Cooper says
We would enjoy Stack Attack 🙂
Janice Cooper says
https://twitter.com/disneyfan40/status/356934688490799104
Daniel M says
wanna try the mad dog game
tina reynolds says
I think we would have a blast playing mad dog looks like so much fun.
s riches says
The Mad Dog game looks like it would be fun.
Linda G. says
I would love to play Mad Dog game with my family!
Betty C says
Mad Dog looks like great fun. My boys would like that.
Betty C says
Tweet – https://twitter.com/willitara/status/357172684368523265
crystal smith says
I’d like to try playing Hoop de Loop with the family this summer. I think my boys would get a kick out of it 🙂
Natalie G says
The game “How’s it Hangin” looks fun!
Kristin Marsh says
They all look like a blast but I think my family would love Mad Dog the best!
Bonnie Armendariz says
Noodling Around Looks like it would be fun!! I love what you have done and thought about doing this with my family. I think this would be and awesome way to celebrate back to school with the kids and their friends!! Thank so much =)
Wendy T says
Noodling Around looks very entertaining 🙂
Bonnie Armendariz says
Hope I did this right..I don’t normally use twitter.lol.
https://thegirlinspired.com/2013/06/minute-to-win-it-challenge/#comment-9825https://twitter.com/BonnielynnA
Jennifer says
My family would love stack attack!
Rachel says
Mad Dog looks right up our alley!
Brenda Elsner says
My kids would love mad dog!!
Janice Crespo says
Very hot these days – Ice Cream and hot fudge 🙂
Matthew Pearl says
Matchmaker looks like a blast!
Angela W says
we’d like to try noodling around
Angela W says
https://twitter.com/Hotsnotty2/status/357267113091661824
Ellie W says
My boys would love the Rapid Fire game!!
Ellie W says
tweeted
https://twitter.com/eswright18/status/357276621977292800
Sandra says
My son’s 6th birthday was Minute to Win it theme, and it was so much fun! Hands down the favorite was stack attack.
kathy pease says
Hoop de Loop sounds like a blast id love to try that
kathy pease says
https://twitter.com/klp1965/status/357307226815340544
ky2here says
‘How’s it hanging?’ looks hysterical. We gotta try that.
ky2here says
https://twitter.com/ky2here1/status/357307475063611392
Heather says
We would like to play Mad Dog! Looks like you all had fun!
Heather says
Here’s my tweet!!
https://twitter.com/HeatherLynn626/status/357335433849475074
Deborah Wallin says
I would like to play the one where you bounce the pencil by the eraser and try to get it in the cup.
Brandi Kerr says
I am loving Mad Dog!
Mihaela D. says
My family is addicted to Wrap It Up 🙂
angie lilly says
Noodling Around looks difficult but fun and made for laughing!
angie lilly says
I tweeted here: https://twitter.com/MsTofuFairy/status/357494906522054656
susan smoaks says
I haven’t ever played before, but I think we would have a blast playing What a Racquet.
susansmoaks at gmail dot com
Lisa Garner says
I would like to play Match Maker with my family.
lisalmg25 at gmail dot com
Lisa Garner says
I Tweeted: https://twitter.com/lisalmg/status/357529790800068608
lisalmg25 at gmail dot com
Christian Alejandro says
Noodlin’ around sounds like fun!!
Christian Alejandro says
tweeted
https://twitter.com/lieutcrunch17/status/357543234823655427
Buddy Garrett says
I would like to play Matchnaker.
thischickwins says
we’d like to play Noodling Around
Erica C. says
Noodling Around would be fun.
Tabathia B says
I like the stack attack game
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
Tabathia B says
tweet https://twitter.com/ChelleB36/status/357588359994032128
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
Thomas Murphy says
I want to play Mad Dog
Thomas Murphy says
https://twitter.com/thomasmurphy40/status/357604528062869504
Amanda Sakovitz says
Id love to play the bottoms up game
pokergrl8 at gmail.com
Amanda Sakovitz says
https://twitter.com/aes529/status/357605258467360768
Laura Jacobson says
Oh the Stack Attack looks like so much fun! Love that Apolo is hosting too!
cassandra mccann says
I love them all and would play each minute to win it game
Sarah L says
I think Noodling Around would be lots of fun to play.
Thanks for the contest.
Sarah L says
https://twitter.com/slehan/status/357622829719621632
Eugenie says
I’d like to try Speed Eraser – fit for the entire family and lots of fun.
Eugenie says
tweeted
https://twitter.com/FernGlade/status/357629807435059203
Jimmy says
I would like to play the Stack Attack game
Lillian says
If like to try the rabid dog one.
Lee says
Stack Attack sounds like a challenge and fun too!
Lee says
I tweeted this at https://twitter.com/leedhowell/status/357646746974830592
Tara says
Mad Dog looks fun!
Whitney says
noodling around looks fun!!!
Whitney says
https://twitter.com/electricstar/status/357682179049922562
Marie says
This is really great! I really enjoyed just reading and making your article so alive with the pictures…it’s truly amazing to see the beautiful faces of your sweet precious girls…we’ll be using most of these games for our daughter’s party…thank you so much 🙂