We all know that family time is important, but often we are unsure of how to use it. That’s where we come in – here’s our second post with fabulous family time ideas that will have your family giggling, working together and creating memories in no time! You know your family best, so perhaps you’ll want to build a family night around specific interests and abilities.

Here are some ideas:

CREATE

* Make edible play-doh, get out the cookie cutters and have fun!

* Buy artist canvases at your local craft store and gather some painting supplies. Spend an evening where each family member paints a canvas that will hang in your home. You can use a theme (trees/brown/green) or let everyone go freestyle.

* Make one of your children the “head chef” for dinner. They choose the menu then the whole family pitches in to help prepare it, but the “head chef” is in charge (with parent help, of course). Make sure everyone thanks the chef after the delicious dinner has been served.

MUSIC

* Create a dance party at home! Turn up the music and dance around the living room or play a dance game on the Wii like Dance Dance Revolution. EVERYONE takes a turn. J

* Find a free concert in the park – pack up your lawnchairs, snacks and bug spray then head to the park for a night of musical fun.

ADVENTURE

* Camp out in the backyard. Do as much or as little as you’d like (tent, sleeping bags, s’mores, etc).

Letterboxing.org: visit this site, it takes you on a hunt similar to geocaching but does not require the use of a GPS. Search for letterboxes in your area, then load into the car to follow the directions to find them. Grab a rubber stamp or a pen, so you sign each log book once you find the letterbox.

Scavenger Hunts: there are so many ways to do this and here are some of our suggestions – 1) have your kids hunt around your home for a treasure with clues you’ve written 2) do a photo scavenger hunt where pictures must be taken of certain items or themes on a list 3) try a video scavenger hunt where a video must be made of each family member doing something silly off a list 4) use walkie-talkies to split into two teams. Give each person a code name and have each team use a different channel on the walkie talkie to communicate while they search for a prize located in your home. The first team to find the prize gets to keep it (or eat it)! 5) Create your own Amazing Race around town – split into teams, find the places associated with the clues & see who makes it back home first.

So, what’s on the agenda for YOUR next family night? Will you try one of these ideas or something else? Let us know by leaving a comment below. Oh, and come back soon for the last post in the series on family time ideas.