Gather The Family Together at Mealtimes

Clear The Table Game

Clearing the table, like making the bed or taking out the trash, is just one of those facts of domestic life. But with these table-clearing games (and a little competitive spirit) even an unavoidable chore can become fun.

Freeze

At the beginning of the meal, choose one family member to be the leader (you can take turns each night). Then, at any point during the meal, the leader calls “Freeze!” and everyone else has to immediately freeze in place — no matter what they’re in the middle of doing. The first one to move has to clear the table. NOTE: While tactics such as tickling or balancing things on the heads of frozen family members are technically legal under the rules of the game, they may not win you any points later.

Thumbkin

In this game of stealth and strategy, that evening’s leader will put his or her thumb on the table at any moment during dinner. At this point, all other family members will also put their thumbs on the table, and the last one to do so has to clear the plates. HINT: Experienced players will never let on that a thumb is on the table, and continue to eat and converse normally until the last person notices.

The Nose Game

Similar to Thumbkin, The Nose Game relies on a combination of manual dexterity and quiet confidence. When the chosen leader for the meal places his or her index finger on the side of his or her nose, all of the other family members must do the same. The last person to do so is that evening’s table clearer. TIP: This game is especially amusing when people are eating barbecue with their fingers.