Ways To Spend More Quality Time As A Family (NAPSA)—Multitasking, over- scheduled kids, dual-income house- holds; families have busier schedules than ever, making it even more important to dedicate ways to enjoy meaningful and fun time together. According to a recent survey by ORC International, eight in 10 parents want to spend more quality time with their children. They identified lack of time (49 percent), the high cost of family outings (27 percent) and difficulty finding meaningful activities that appeal to the entire family (18 percent) as key reasons whythey have trouble carving out time for family bonding. To help inspire families to slow down thepace, take a break, reconnect and learn something new about each other, consider these suggestions: Read together. While a quiet wayto share time together, reading is also an important part of role modeling. When kids see their parents read, they’re more likely to take an interest in it themselves. Family game night. Not only are board games a fun wayto interact as a family, but they’re an inexpensive form of entertainment that gets everyone involved. One example is the Cranium Family Fun Game, which packsin loads of new, innovative activities in less than 40 minutes. The creative challenges encourage players, young and old, to have their momentin the spotlight, build selfesteem and laugh out loud. To successfully advance around the board, each team must harness its collective talents to complete 16 activities that will have everyone building, flipping, sketching, ai Family game night can be a great way for kids and parents to interact and havefun. sculpting, guessing and, ultimately, high-fiving through outrageous family fun sure to create long-lasting memories. Since you’re not likely to forget your brother acting out “supermodel” or Mom pushing an alarm clock across the floor with her nose, why not celebrate the shining momentsof family game night with customized awards? You can download awards—at www.cra nium.com—or makeyour own. * Movie night. Don’t just plop down in front of the DVD player; makeit an occasion. On a regular basis—weekly, monthly, etc.—let each family member plan out the whole evening, including the film(s), the menu—maybe even a bit of decoration. Whether it’s making your ownpizza and watching “TheIncredibles” or eating hot dogs and popcorn to accompany “Fever Pitch,” the food, the flick and the family makeit special. Visit www.cranium.com for tips and ideas about how your family can play and laugh together or to share your “family fun time” ideas with others.
