The 6 stages of a family movie night.

There’s a big difference between having a movie night pre-children as there is with having a movie night post kids.

Pre-kids, you grab some dinner, perhaps a bottle of wine and bunker down for the latest release. With kids there’s more you have to get together.

However, done well, a night in with the family can be fantastic. Good old family bonding over a flick, there is nothing better. But be warned, first you’ve got to run the gauntlet to get there. In my experience, there are six stages needed to get you to a movie night with the family.

Just as an FYI, you should know that this post is sponsored by Telstra Thanks® Thursdays Free Movie Rentals. But all opinions expressed by the author are 100% authentic and written in their own words.

1. Decide on a night to hold said movie night and ensure all family members will actually be home.

If your family is anything like mine, at times it can seem like your children have a social calendar that would put Beyonce to shame. Forget the Met Gala and the Grammies, we’ve got kindy gym, soccer and play dates to work around people. Add into that mix parents that need to work, because apparently these activities do not come free, and that makes a full house almost impossible. However, sometimes you just need to make time and when we decide that a family movie night is in order, planning starts pronto. Lock it down everyone, we are staying home!

2. Decide on what to watch

Right, so you’ve got your family movie night participants lined up. Now you’ve just got to work out what to watch.

Sounds easy, doesn’t it? You’ve obviously never chosen movies with a headstrong, hyperactive three year old, an easily frightened one year old, a husband with a love for fantasy and horror, and me, who seems to have only two genres: funny, or romantic. I think I actually gave up on trying to choose a movie for the family when our last trip to the local video store resulted in two aisles of movies upturned and a store-wide search for my runaway son who was eventually located in the corner cradling some stolen overpriced popcorn. Online movie selection all the way thanks.

3. Food, glorious food!

No self-respecting family night in would be the same without the right chow. It’s here that I find myself stuck in the inner battle. Do I forget the rules of well-rounded nutrition and have a free for all, or try and attempt some wholesome goodness that would make Michelle Bridges proud. The former usually wins in my house to be honest, but I do try and order pizza that has some sort of vegetable matter involved. I’ve also learnt the hard way that toddlers and sugar close to bedtime equals let’s-stay-up-all-night-and-send-mummy-to-the-nuthouse. So my husband and I did the right thing, the honest and decent thing. We made sure to tell each other, and only each other where the secret stash of Maltesers is hidden. (Sorry but a movie night without Maltesers is just not right)

4. Gather everyone in the lounge room

Trying to round up my kids into one space is not at all dissimilar to attempting to shove a soft serve down a straw. Just when I feel I’ve got everyone in the right place, one of them squishes out the side. To be honest, a sheep dog would be very useful in many ways. By the time my toddler has finally chosen the inner most trusted circle of stuffed toys blessed enough to join us, the baby stops trying to run off and smear the dog in pizza sauce and my husband has ensured a well-stocked beer supply I can finally see the finish line.

5. Re-enact family friendly version of fight club while everyone finds their seats

Here we go; we are in the lounge room, within coo-ee of the tv. Because sitting on the couch would just be far too normal – my son insists on watching all movies from a purpose built cubby. Once I have so elegantly entered the cubby (which has the uncanny ability to remind me that I am indeed no longer 19- hello joint pain), I’ve no doubt scarred the pizza covered dog by flashing her on the way in. Then I have to play ref to the fight club of who gets to sit on mummy’s lap to watch the movie.

6. Fall asleep during the opening credits.

We made it!! Lights dimmed, food consumed and cubby constructed. Now that the crew seems entranced by the family friendly flick on screen, this seems like the perfect time to carefully offhand my cuddle buddy, make very little noise as I move towards the hidden maltesers in the couch cushions and just rest my eyes for a second…….

What do you do for a family night in?

And for some extra inspiration for your family movie night, here are the movie night essentials..

To say thanks for being a Telstra customer, you can now enjoy a BigPond® Movies rental every Thursday, on us. From family favourites to comedy and action, on Telstra Thanks^® Thursdays you choose one of three great movies. There are many devices you can watch your movie on including any TV with a T-Box or a compatible smart TV, PC/laptop or android tablet. 

Find out more at telstra.com/movies