FAMILY!!! By Nancy Gibbs
The family that celebrates survives. Parents today are busier than they have ever been. The cost of living is tremendous; therefore two-income families are more common than ever before. So how do we let our children know that being a family is very important to us even though our responsibilities are great?
One way of doing this is to set one evening a week aside for “family night.” Nothing, less than an emergency, should interfere during that time. So how do we begin? In the following suggestions, you will find a dozen creative ways to celebrate our families.
• Rent a humorous video, appropriate for all ages. Go ahead and laugh out loud.
• Everyone pile in the kitchen to cook a meal. Start with an appetizer, followed with veggies, an entrée, and top it off with dessert. Give each person an age-appropriate assignment in preparing the meal.
• Visit the library or bookstore as a family. Let everyone either check out one book or choose a book off the clearance table.
• Pull out the board games. The winner receives big prizes–hugs and kisses from everyone.
• Go out for ice cream. Try a flavor you have never tried before.
• Invite Grandma and Grandpa over for dinner. Present them with a homemade greeting card from each family member.
• Give everyone a dollar and go to the “dollar store.” Everyone chooses one item of his or her choice. The only stipulation–they must pick something that can be used during a future family night celebration.
• Read a short book out loud. Discuss the ending, but then allow each child to make up a different ending.
• Go star-gazing. Everyone, including the adults, should make a wish. Share your desires with each other. This lets the kids know that parents have visions for the future, just as they do.
• Put a jigsaw puzzle together as a family.
• Create a family newsletter. Include events from the past few weeks, such as lost teeth, vacations, and good grades. Scan family pictures to the newsletter. Mail them to close family members.
• Talk about all the people who make a difference in our lives–teachers, policemen, pastors, Sunday school teachers, and even bosses. Sit down as a family and write unexpected thank you notes.
These are just a few activities that will jump-start your family night celebrations. There are as many ideas as there are families. So go ahead and get creative. Watch how your family will grow closer as each week slips by. You will probably discover that family night celebrations will become the most exciting part of your week!
