Family Meetings

Have you got things you'd like to discuss with your family? Family night is a great time to call a family meeting. You can discuss anything from family rules and changes to next week's dinner menu. Family meetings are an especially good time to talk about things that need changing in the family. If you are having difficulties with rules or another person, this is a great opportunity to air those grievances. This is a time when emotions are not running so high and others can help mediate the problem at hand, offering solutions at the same time.

Family meetings are also a great time for the kids to bring up requests for rule changes. It is best if the child has given their idea some thought and approach the situation with calmness and maturity (same goes for parents!) :) This is a good time for parents to give real attention to what the child is requesting, as well as having emotions under control.

Family meetings can be a good time to dole out chores, plan menus and take care of scheduling issues for the upcoming days. These are things that help a family run smoothly but can often get taken care of "on the run". By planning ahead, the family can get a littel relief in the midst of the storm of everyday life.

Family meetings can be a great help to families. Using family night to hold family meetings from time to time can be a true benefit to everyone in the family.

letterboxing

There is a modern day treasure hunt that families can participate in. In this treasure hunt, you are searching for hidden goods, but the treasure is a stamp that has been previously hidden. You can log onto letterboxing.org for the clues as to where many letterboxes have been hidden. It is surprising how many secret treasures have been hidden throughout the U.S. Many are in local or state parks. Perhaps even one near you! So log onto the site, grab the clues, get a stamper, ink and note pad for your family and begin your modern day treasure hunt!

Video Game Night

The main goal of family night is to draw the family together and have them do something together that everyone can enjoy. Of course, with teens in the house, one option that comes up repeatedly is video games. There are many video games that can be played on game systems as well as those online, for those who do not own a game system.

There are many sites that offer online games. Many are oriented to children and/or teens. These could be made into a family video game tournament. Kids would get a kick out of seeing mom and dad play video games (beating mom and dad!), and mom and dad would get a kick out of remembering the good old days when they played early versions of video games.

One thing to be careful of when getting invovled in online games is making sure you do not visit sites that call for fees for joining (unless of course it would be worth it for your family.) But more importantly, there are many sites like this that are gambling sites. They are located outside the US. You can play one on one or even in tournaments. But sites like these do not allow anyone under eighteen to be a member, so it really would defeat the purpose of family night, unless your kids like to watch you play online games.

When choosing video games to play together as a family, it seems most conducive to choose games that span a wide age range and would provide interaction between all family members.

If you find your teen getting involved in online gambling, it might be time to pull the plug on family night video games-especially those found online.

Playdough Night

Most kids love to play with playdough. You can create and form anything you can imagine. Playdough is a staple in most homes with preschoolers. Maybe your kids are a bit past playdough age, or maybe you are in the heyday of playdough times but there is another way to enjoy your playdough. You can have your fun and eat it too! There are many edible playdough recipes around but I will share our family's favorite.

Peanut Butter Playdough

1 C peanut butter
1/2 C honey
2 C powdered sugar

mix all ingredients until soft and pliable

This makes fun to use dough for all ages and when you are done, you don't have to worry about storing it, just eat it up!

Ice Cream Night

Whether going out for ice cream at a special ice cream shoppe, or staying home and making your own, Ice Cream Night is sure to be a hit with all the family members. You can usually find a nice ice cream shop in your area specializing in many different flavors. Have each family member get a different flavor, something new and out of the ordinary, and each of you try each flavor.

Or if you prefer, get out the ice cream maker and make your own. There are many recipes easily available on line. You can even make homemade ice cream without an ice cream maker. You can use an old coffee can and shake, rattle and roll your own. Look for instructions on the internet.

Holiday Ideas

Family nights during the holidays can take on a new meaning. You can spend time togehter wrapping gifts. Other nights you can make ornaments, decorate and sing carols. You can make cookies and candy together. Spend family night writing your Christmas cards. This is also a great time to get your family involved in volunteer projects. You can help in places like nursing homes or soup kitchens. You can help with clothing and toy drives. At the very least you can donate to such drives. Spending family nights together during the rush of the holidays is just as important, if not more, in the effort to keep your family bonded.

Suggested Reading List

If you have decided to read a book together as a family, the next question may be what book to read. There are many books that are suitable for families and keep the attention of all ages. Here are a few ideas:

1. any of the Chronicles of Narnia

2. any of the Little House on the Prairie

3. Charlotte's Web

4. Stuart Little

5. Frindle

6. How to be a Perfect Person in Three Days

7. Wind in the Willows

8. Old Yeller

9. Where the Red Fern Grows

10. any stories from the Bible