Family Night In: Tips for Sharing the Netflix Remote

I was asked to be part of the Netflix #StreamTeam and share posts each month based on my experience. We are longtime Netflix users and cannot wait to share our experiences with you! All opinions are of course are own!

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In our house, we typically stream Netflix from our television via our Roku system. This means that we have our very own “Netflix remote” for finding our favorites and streaming them instantly. It also means that we find ourselves fighting over the Netflix remote when it’s time for a little family viewing. (Heck, unless it’s House of Cards or The Office, there’s not much my hubby and I agree on watching either!)

I’ve put together some tried and true tips for sharing the Netflix remote and how you can enjoy a family night in while simultaneously keeping the peace.

Let the kids select first.

This might seem like a no-brainer. But after a long day at work or running around with the hustle and bustle, it might seem tempting to pull the “But I’m the parent card!” and choose first. You will not win. Trust me, I’ve tried. You might even suggest some family favorites to try and agree on!

Care Bears & Cousins, Season 2

Fuller House  (coming at the end of this MONTH!)

Between kids, have them take turns with selections or have a random Plan B ready. 

Sometimes, we go by birth order. Others, we encourage them to take turns selecting. When all else fails, grab a pair of dice and have the highest roll select first or pick a number and whoever is closest gets the honor of first choice. You may get lucky and they might agree on a selection, but when they don’t, have Plan B ready.

Have blankets and pillows ready!

In our house, we lounge on the couch, lay on the floor, or snuggle close when watching our favorites. In Chicago, blankets are a necessity in the cold months, so this helps to keep us warm and snuggled up! I also love to spread out the blankets as a space for an indoor picnic! Perfect for a family night in and the kids will love it.

Have snacks on hand

Enhance the experience by making popcorn with your crew. We bought a miniature popcorn maker years ago and it looks like an old-fashioned machine. We absolutely love it and it pops up a nice full bowl of popcorn when we are ready for a night of snacking. Take your popcorn love one step further and create a popcorn bar for everyone to top with their favorites – think chocolates, candy, butter, and more!

Bedtime + Netflix for Mom & Dad

Family Night In is over and time to shift gears! Put the kids to bed and head back to your living room for a shift to Date Night In! Grab a glass of wine, fill up your popcorn bowl, and catch all your Netflix favorites without having to share the remote with your kids. Might we suggest?

Once Upon a Time

Ferris’ Bueller’s Day Off

Consider having a Family Night In this upcoming weekend in celebration of Valentine’s Day! We’ll be live-tweeting while watching Armageddon and enjoying our own little romantic night in.

What are your best tips for sharing the Netflix remote?