Family evenings at home don't have to be boring. They can be used to encourage communication and build unity among family members. Brandie Valenzuela of the website Parenting Humor suggests that during family nights television, phone calls, work and video games be put on hold. Family nights that involve adults, older teens and young adults can be different than if young children are involved.
Family Games
Instead of the usual board games--Scrabble, Sorry and Pictionary--try something different. Turn a favorite family photo into a puzzle using an online photo service such as Shutterfly, Walmart photos or Snapfish. The services will take a digital version of your photo and make it into a puzzle. Or ask a friend or family member to share a game no one in the family has played before. Or play cards, but instead of playing a game you already know, download directions for a new game and spend the evening learning that game.
Family Service
Decide to have a family service night. Write letters to soldiers or missionaries working overseas. Create a plan to gather items and send them to an orphanage in another country. Make birthday cards for seniors living in a retirement home in your community. Research upcoming community projects that the family might participate in, such as helping to build a home for Habitat for Humanity.
Family Communication
Spend the evening getting in touch with extended family. Using the speaker on your phone, call relatives you haven't spoken to in awhile and ask about their lives. Write a family letter to an important family friend. Have everyone write one paragraph of the letter and find photos to include. Create a family newsletter--even if it's not the Christmas season. Send it to people who are important to your family that you haven't been in touch with recently.
Family Learning
Before your family night, choose a topic. For example, world religions, architecture, music or poetry. Have everyone bring something to share--a book, an article or an idea or question relating to the topic. Topics can be broad or narrow, such as the Russian Orthodox religion, Renaissance architecture, American Civil War music or Victorian poetry.
Family Storytelling
A storytelling evening can be focused on remembering and sharing past experiences or creating new stories. Give everyone a topic. For example, favorite family travel memories. For an evening of creative storytelling, everyone can tell his own story, or the family can create a story-in-the-round, in which each person tells one part of the story and the next person continues the story.
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