Family night is a time for moms (and dads) to bond with the children. During these planned moments of intentionality the foundation is built for open communication between mother and son or daughter. (This is also true for fathers.)
During this series, several examples of things families can do together will be shared. But these will be examples of family time that won't cost a dime (or not many dimes, at least).
Family Game Night
Yes you read correctly, it said game night - but this is not about video games here. Board games, group games, games that involve social interaction with other friends and family members are all on the agenda for a family game night. Most likely everyone has a few board games, checkers, or a set of dominoes and playing cards stashed away in a closet or drawer in their home. So again without making it an expensive activity, encourage time that will make a valuable impact in developing relationships and building stronger family ties.
One program (in its ninth year) is again promoting a challenge to achieve just that - stronger family ties through spending quality time together, slowing down from the hectic pace everyone endures and enjoying time with one another.
Million Minute Family Challenge
Press release:
Patch Products, a leading manufacturer of board and card games, sponsors the Million Minute Family Challenge every year to encourage interaction and communication among family and friends by playing board games. One million minutes might seem like a lofty goal. But if 1,000 families, groups or organizations in each of the 50 states play a board game just one time for 20 minutes, that’s 1,000,000 minutes! Join the Roanoke community and help put your state in the lead! (GO Virginia!)
The ninth annual challenge starts Sept. 1 and runs through Dec. 31. Last year, a total of 298 groups, clubs, classrooms, libraries and families throughout the nation, surpassed the 1 million minutes goal for a record-setting 1,416,525 minutes!
Will the record be broken again this year? Encourage your friends and family members to participate!
“When friends or family plays games together, everyone has a healthy, productive and enjoyable time. Everyone benefits!” said Stevanne Auerbach, speaker, author and consultant known as Dr. Toy. “Most of all, everyone enjoys those special game times and taking things a little slower than going all the time at the speed of light.”
Even with the emergence of high-tech options, board games have remained a popular form of family entertainment since the first one was played in 1843. Games are an especially good form of entertainment during these tougher economic times.
“Playing games with children not only helps them learn, but it can help parents learn a lot about their kids,’’ said Lisa Wuennemann, director of marketing at Patch Products. “Moms and dads can assess skill development—such as color, shape and letter recognition—as well as build social skills like competitiveness, patience and diplomacy.”
So plan the next family night, check out the website of the Million Minute Family Challenge, log your minutes, and put Roanoke, Virginia high on the map; the Million Minute Family Challenge map that is.
For more information about Million Minute Family Minute and their suggestions of how to participate, check out their official website linked here.
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