Pick one day this month and serve ice cream sundaes for dinner. Make sure you add bananas, strawberries and nuts to include the various food groups! Surprise the kids! Of course you wouldn't do this regularly, but it sure is fun to do it once!

Buy or borrow a book on homemade kites. Shop for supplies, design and make several different kites. Plan a picnic day at the park to fly your kites.

Have a family-only sleep over party. Eat pizza and snacks. Play games. Stay up late. Sleep in sleeping bags in the family room. Get silly and enjoy spending time together.

Dedicate a month to writing a book together. A novel? A mystery? A book of humor and jokes? Don't expect perfection, don't worry about grammar and punctuation. Design a colorful cover. Enjoy the process and have your final product copied and bound.

Start a family bowling team. Create a schedule for play. Plan a season-end banquet complete with trophies! Make sure you include prizes for "most improved" "best attitude" "best cheerleader" and other fun categories.

Have a formal party for the family. Everyone gets to dress up elaborately - bring out those rarely used jewels! Use the good china, light some candles. Have every family member who's old enough help to plan and prepare the meal. Perhaps even have each person create one course for the event Finish the evening off with dancing or story telling.

Learn something entirely new and different! Horseback riding? Rock climbing? Sailing? Chess? Painting with water colors? Start by having a family meeting to select the activity, visit the library to learn a few things, arrange to watch a professional event, and then do it! Its a great way to keep your family close, have fun, and broaden your horizons.

© 2000National Parent Information Network

Credits: Elizabeth Pantley