There are many activities a family can do together besides being glued to the television each evening. Here are just a few ideas.
Television -- where would we be without it? With the flip of a switch, we have current news, weather, music, comedy -- anything to prevent us from being bored.
From its inception in black and white through the introduction of color in 1954, American families have stayed glued to the t.v set for more evenings than can be counted or remembered.
Sometimes it is easy to forget that there are indeed other things to do some nights besides watching that "box with the remote." Time to build memories. Times for family members to truly get to know each other.
How can this be accomplished? How can you actually get your family to agree to doing something else? Easy answer -- make it fun! Set aside a night a week (or more if desired) and plan an evening that old and young alike will cherish and look forward to.
What interests do your family members have? Things like reading aloud, listening to music, or playing board games are old familiar stand-bys, but may not be good enough to hold the attention of a t.v.- spoiled family.
If you want to go out for this special evening, it can be skating or catching a concert or play at a local high school. Plan for a burger or pizza afterward. You'll need to make sure that every age group of children will enjoy the activity, but much is available and most likely announced in the newspaper.
For something extra special to do without leaving the house, why not plan a theme party for that weekend? First, choose a country... as exotic or plain as you wish. Assign everyone a research project because when the party is held, you'll be doing the games, songs, and food from that country.
When the "no t.v. night" comes, everyone tells what they've learned about the customs, music, games, etc. of the country, but the crowning touch comes when the family all helps to prepare a meal of that country's cuisine.
Other ideas? If the family is sports-oriented, sit down and devise a fantasy team. Find a new word game to play. Write a script for a play together. If it's close to Christmas, each family member can be cast as wise men and write their own parts, or maybe each can choose a cookie recipe for a night of family cookie-baking.
If you want to have other families join in your "no t.v. night," plan to invite others for a pie social. Find someone with an ice cream maker to provide homemade ice cream, and every family that attends brings a pie. Provide coffee for adults who prefer it, and punch or iced tea for others, and you have the start of a great evening.
You may want to start a project one night of putting a family tree together. Hearing stories of ancestors might not be very interesting for some children, but if some thrilling family stories are unearthed, it might change their opinion. Have everyone write a letter to an elderly family member asking for stories of their past and what they remember of other family members. If it's someone you know quite well, you may want to ask permission to have any old photographs in their possession duplicated.
There are as many ideas as people who are trying to think of things to do. The main thing to remember is that every family member should thoroughly enjoy what is planned. You won't want to play written word games if one of the children is too young to participate. The same goes for a fantasy sports team if one of the family members knows nothing or cares nothing about sports.
The overall idea is to have fun! If the consensus is "wow, this was a great night and we didn't even turn the t.v. on!" you have met with success.
