Be A Pal

After breakfast, put everyone’s name into a hat and have each person take turns drawing one name.  For the remainder of the day, each person must look for nice things to do for his/her buddy.  The goal is to not reveal who anyone’s buddy is.

Dear Diary

With so many commitments, it can be difficult to ‘stay in touch’ with children.  Develop a family journal.  Each night before bed, the children write in the journal and then place it in the parent’s room so that they can write back.

Evening Emperor

Let children take turns being the Evening Emperor one evening each week.  The emperor decides on dinner and the family activity.

Gifting Grandparents

Have children design coupons to give to grandparents. 

• Visitation Rights – can be redeemed for a visit by the entire family (or the child only) on the date of your choice.

• Helping Hands – can be exchanged for an ‘odd job’ afternoon. Household chores and other miscellaneous tasks will be completed for you – or with you – on the date of your choice.

• A Night At The Movies – can be traded for an evening watching the movie of your choice with the family – snacks included.

• Chowing Down – can be redeemed for dinner out with the family at the restaurant of your choice.

• Feeling Lucky – can be traded for a games night (scrabble, charades, etc.) with the family.

Good Deeds

Practice kindness together.  As an example, select one evening or afternoon each week and visit a nursing home or patients at a hospital.

Love You Coupons

Design individual or books of coupons that can be given to children randomly or for holiday gifts (i.e.  Valentine’s Day). 

• Fun Times – this coupon can be cashed in for a fun afternoon spent together participating in the child’s choice of activity.

• King or Queen For The Day – children get treated royally by parents. This includes breakfast in bed, a choice of lunch and dinner meals, and choice of afternoon and evening activities.

• Chow Down – exchange this coupon for a batch of home-made cookies.

• Surf-ari – this coupon can be cashed in for 2 hours of wifi time.

• I Scream For Ice-Cream – can be traded in for a trip to Dairy Queen with Mom or Dad.

• Time Travel – can be redeemed for an afternoon raod trip in the country..

• Picnic In The Park – good for an afternoon picnic in the park with Mom or Dad.

• Movie Mania – exchange this coupon for an evening at the movies with Mom or Dad.

Teens and young adults may be a bit more selective and more difficult to please.  The following ideas may be just what the doctor ordered:

• Room Service – entitles you to one free room ‘clean-up’ (including pick-up, dusting, and vacuuming) by Mom or Dad.

• Movie Night – can be traded for an evening at the movies – you and a friend.

• Snack Attack – can be redeemed for an evening snack (nachos, popcorn, etc.) prepared by Mom or Dad.

• Your Limo Is Waiting – can be exchanged for a round trip taxi ride provided by Mom and Dad.

• Decision, Decisions – can be exchanged for your choice of a restaurant the next time Mom asks, “Where should we go?”

• Spot Removal – valid for one free load of laundry done on short notice with no questions asked.

• Free Food – can be redeemed for Mom or Dad springing for lunch out for you and a friend.

• Chore No More – can be cashed in to get out of doing chores for one day.

• Get Out Of Jail For Free – gets you off of the hook when you are in trouble.

           Adapted from:  Raising Kids . . . for the fun of it!

Weekly Dates

Plan a weekly date night with each of your children to cultivate your relationship and spend quality time together.  By investing such time, stronger relationships are built.  Possible date ideas include:

• Going for a walk

• A sporty event (mini-golf, bowling, attending a sports event)

• Going out for a nice dinner

• Heading to a trendy coffee shop for a hot chocolate

• Visiting an art gallery or museum

• Going to a live play, concert, or musical theatre event

            Adapted from:  Raising Kids . . . for the fun of it!