current events

Families with children of any age can start talking about current events in age appropriate terms. It helps kids to learn what is going on in the world around them, it broadens their perspective, it even builds vocabulary. It helps mom and dad share and pass on family values. Talking about current events with kids can be a very important ideal done in a very casual way, which in turn makes it more likely that kids will be interested, listen and learn.

Technology Loving Parents

Thanks for the article from Laura Ryan

I think I have the coolest parents. When I was a kid, that statement would have been difficult to make. No one thinks they have cool parents. However, now that I am grown up I realize how cool my parents were and are. They were one of the first people to own a computer. When I was little, I didn’t even know how cool that was. They were also one of the first people to get DIRECT TV. And to top it off, they were also the first to get a cell phone. Looking back it is amazing how quickly my parents accepted technology. They were able to see what items would be fads and which items were here to stay. To this day, they are still trying new things and having the coolest gadgets. Most parents go to their kids for advice on computers and such, but I go to my parents. I look back on my childhood and realize I was a lucky kid to have had some of the coolest parents around and I still am.

re-determined

It is hard to make Family Night a priority. Especially as the kids get older and have their own commitments and activities. My husband has been good about making sure we spend time together every week in a time of family connected-ness, whatever that may mean at any given time in our life.

I had also been struggling with whether or not to continue posting on this blog. I have recently received good feedback and felt some re-determination to continue sharing ideas for family nights, whatever that may mean at any given time!

poetry party

Teaching kids about poetry can be as informal as a family get together with some fun poetry books. Finding poems that rhyme, ones that are shorter, ones that tell stories and ones that are funny and silly are great ways to spend family time together. Having everyone take turns reading poems aloud helps build bonds and strengthen ties as well as building academic skills. It's always a great time to have a poetry party!

*check for poems by Bruce Lansky and Shel Silverstein for some quick and easy poetry fun!

kids' choice

No matter the age of the kids in your family, it's good to often allow family night to be "kid's choice". Whether that means they choose the restaurant you eat at or the menu you have at home, or if you allow them the choice of activities for the night, things will always be more enjoyable if the kids feel as if they have some choice in what goes on at family night.

Wii

My daughter has been campaigning for a Wii since last year. She asked for one last Christmas. She has asked for one again this year. Then she hit me right where she knew would make a difference to me. She said "A Wii would be perfect for family nights!" She knows I am not into video games, but I am into family. A family playing together is always good. And kids love it when they can beat the parents at something!

improv theater

We found a family friendly improv theater nearby. We took our kid's and a friend to their FREE anniversary night. We had lots of fun watching the impromptu skits, which included audience participation. We had lots of laughter. The skits were followed by karaoke singing. This was great family entertainment!

Destination Dinners

I learned about a great way to incorporate virtual field trips into family night! Destination Dinners are prepackaged boxes which contain spices and recipes for creating meals from other countries. Included in the packages are also some fact sheets about the country which the dinners represent. These meals feed four to six people and start at $25. You can feast on fare from countries like Japan, Korea, Thailand, Lebanon, Israel, Jamaica and even the U.S. This seems like a fun way to spend family night!

backyard volleyball

We were able to enjoy a rousing game of backyard volleyball this week! Rather than set up a proper net, we just used the swing set as our net and set some "out" boundaries. With older kids, we played the first match kids vs. parents. Next, mother and son vs. father and daughter. Then, girls vs. boys. All in all a great night of family fun. This could work well with preschool and school aged children, just adjust the game to fit your families ages by setting lower nets and smaller courts as needed.

Superbowl

I know many families will be watching the Superbowl together tonight. It is a great opportunity to spend time together as a family, even if you don't care much about football. When my kids were small, we would watch part of it together, including the half-time show (though that has since become a questionable family activity, thanks to Janet Jackson!) It gives you things to discuss together, from learning the game, to the personal lives of some of the players, to things in the commercials. It provides a time to be able to teach some of your personal values in a non-threatening approach. And sometimes the commercials can even be fun! It gives a time to relax together and something which to bring up in conversation with those outside the family in the upcoming days.

inauguration

I hope many families were able to watch the inauguration together. What an opportunity for teachable moments to arise. From government/politics, to social issues, to historical items and ideals, to famous people and many other things to talk about and teach our kids about. If you were unable to view it with your family, what a great thing to talk about at dinner tonight and over the next few days. It is important to teach our kids about the world they live in and our values and ideals that we hold close. Though many are bringing the historical aspect to the forefront of this inauguration, I feel that every president's inauguration is an important historical aspect for our country.

Christmas lights

One of our family's favorite traditions is walking around the neighborhood looking at Christmas lights. It's nice to talk a walk after dark and see all the festive Christmas decorations and lights for the holiday. It is a fun activity for both kids and adults. It's relaxing and a good way to spend time talking together.

In the past we have also driven around other neighborhoods to see the lights and decorations there too. We have seen lights set to music and even a Santa Clause roller coaster! Spending time relaxing together and enjoying the sights and sounds of the holiday are great family building activities.

decorate the tree

Our family loves to decorate the Christmas tree together. I have the ornaments I've collected since I was a kid and the same is true for my children. It is fun to reminisce over each ornament. We play Christmas music and spend an evening together going over the memories each ornament and photo bring back to us. It is a special tradition I look forward to each year. And when my kids leave home, I intend to give them their collection of ornaments to take to decorate their own tree with.

christmas cookies

One of my favorite activities during the holidays (and any time really) is baking cookies. I love the smell of them baking and of course love to eat them. This is great activity in which the whole family can participate. You can use any recipe to make your favorite cookies or even use the slice and bake dough. It's fun to introduce kids to new recipes. And decorating cookies is almost as much fun for the kids as is the eating! The cookies can also make great gifts for teachers, friends and neighbors.

family fun run

On Thanksgiving Day, my husband and I got up to do a small local fun run. Our kids decided they would rather sleep in. But there were several other families who showed up together. Several young kids ran the 5K with (or even without!) their parents. It was cool to see the dad pushing a stroller run with his older daughter and then go back and come in with his wife and younger daughter. There were snacks and prizes and even a kids K complete with prizes. It's a fun way to spend time together and promotes healthy living at the same time!

raking leaves

Although this can't really be done at this time of year where I live, in many places the leaves have already started turning fall colors and dropping from the trees. One of the favorite things that can be done with these fallen leaves is to rake them into large piles and let the kids jump into them! Most of the time the kids will be really happy to help rake and make piles. And after the jumping fun, they will likely want to rake and re-pile them to keep jumping into the pile! Lots of fall fun for the family!

Wings Over Texas Airshow

I got to see some of the Wings Over Texas Airshow from the road as I was driving by this weekend! The show took place this past Saturday and Sunday and was full of areal tricks and feats. My friends went to see the show. They said the re-enactment of Pearl Harbor was pretty awesome! And the finale starring the Thunderbirds was pretty good too! Their four year old son loved the jet truck, which could go faster than an airplane! The air show was a great family event for my friends, though they did say it was LOUD! At times the four year old got scared. And they were glad they did not take the baby.

sports

Sports are big in many families. Letting kids play sports is good for them in many ways. And having to take turns watching their siblings play too is a good thing to learn. Sometimes, participating with the sibling in their favorite sport can add a new dimension of fun for those who are not normally involved.

One year when my son was in canoeing, all the families were invited to be taken down the bayou by the student. He guided and directed us, led the instruction for paddling and took us to Mud Island. We all had a great time and it was good for us to be able to see what he had been doing, learning and enjoying.

Another time, when my daughter played volleyball for the YMCA and again tomorrow on her competitive team, the last practice is a girls vs. parents/siblings game. It is fun to get in on the game and see how much the girls have grown in their sport. And they love beating us, too!

family tree

Have you ever made a family tree with your kids? Sometimes it's hard for kids to keep all their family members straight. But seeing it drawn out can really help, and can help kids connect to their roots, their heritage. Adding pictures of family members can help kids keep it all straight in their minds.

You can start with a simple line drawing, or make a drawing like a tree. You can make a chart on the computer. Whatever appeals to you and your kids is the best way to approach it. Kids knowing they belong and where they belong adds great security to their sense of family.

Even if yours is a blended family, it can be fun to draw out a family tree showing just how your family fits together. Tracing back and drawing out a family tree is fun, informative, educational and may even turn into a new hobby for some!

Discovery Green

Sounds like there is a great new place to spend family time in Houston-Discovery Green.

This newest park in Houston opened in April of 2008. It is located directly across from the George R. Brown Convention Center. Admission to the park every day is free. There are many activities going on daily at the park. There are yoga and pilates classes offered. There is dancing under the stars, Gymboree classes, Nature Workshops and every Thursday is Green Market. At Discovery Green you will find a lake, gardens and a misting "water tree". There is a restaurant located in the Green that serves lunch and dinner. There is a dog run, a jogging trail and even reading rooms. On the weekends you can enjoy free Bocce, putting, shuffleboard, horseshoes and chess. It sounds like there is a lot to do for families of all ages.