Do you remember the days before everyone had their own computer? Can you remember the Friday nights before DVDS, Netflix, Redbox or Amazon prime? I remember family movie nights when we would go to the video store, rent a Video player and bring home a family classic movie. Now it’s easier than ever to create memories at home. We often spend time in front of the TV hopping from one song to the next with our own version of family music and movie night on youtube.

Create Family Night with YouTube

I can even remember farther back than that, when we would pin a sheet to the wall, set up the slide projector, pop a bowl of popcorn on the stove and watch old family slides. But our kids are growing up in a different age. Thanks to technology, we can have family movie night with just a push of a button on any of our many devices.

One of the fun things we often do as a family is have a Youtube night. No matter your family’s age or interests, there are some fun, memory building options that are guaranteed to be perfect for you.

Many TV’s, computers and mobile devices can now be wirelessly connected to your television. Just do an internet search to see how to connect your device and TV.

Pick a DJ:

When it’s family Youtube night, we give the iPad to Dad. He is in charge of picking our music but we all give our input. We like giving him the power to play the clips. This also serves as a safety net in case something pops up on the sidebar that we don’t want to share with the family.

Start classic:

Find classic songs and look for variations. We sometimes start with something as simple as Twinkle Twinkle little Star. There are over 830,000 results when you start with just the basic song. Add in some additional keywords to narrow your search and give you the best experience.

Keyword options: If you are looking for different versions of the song, then use the title plus the word ‘cover’, ‘dubstep’ or ‘mashup’.

Go retro:

Think back to the music groups you used to love when you were a teen. Your kids have probably never experienced the concerts you loved when you were a teen. But thanks to youtube, you can often share the experience of your first concerts with your kids.

Go global:

Expand to different cultures. Each culture has their own spin on music. The instrumentation, accents, language and dance moves are often uniquely tailored to each culture. Pick a song, then add in different language groups to expand your viewing experience. This is a great way to learn about new cultures from the comfort of your living room.

Think Historically:

Think about the classic speeches of history. We may not have lived when historical events were made, but there are most likely video clips of most events that we can share with our family.

• Martin Luther King Jr “I Have a Dream” speech
• JFK Inauguration Address “Ask not what your country can do for you….”
• FDR –Pearl Harbor “Day of Infamy” speech
• George W Bush after 9-11
• Type in “famous speech” or your “commencement addresses by famous people”

Go for the Laughs:

Youtube is full of gut busting comedy acts, but not all of them are family friendly. When we are ready to just laugh together as a family, we will pull up the comedy clips of Tim Hawkins or type in “clean family comedy”.

Tip: Once you find something that you like, look at the side bar. Youtube will give you recommendations based on what you are watching. You may find another similar channel.

Explore your hobbies:

Do you have a hobby you enjoy? There are hobbyist of all sorts who fill up their channel with cute kittens doing tricks, fancy shooters, or amazing gymnasts. You can look back at old episodes of Americas Got Talent or watch reruns of Candid Camera.

No matter what you are in the mood for, you can probably find it on Youtube. Do you and your family ever have family night around the TV? Got any tips? I’d love to hear!