February is full of celebrations of love:  Valentine’s Day, Family Day, and Friendship Week to name a few.  So we’re dedicating this month’s Sweet Finds to celebrating the love and friendship amongst family in our Family Time Fun.

FAMILY NIGHT BOARD GAME

No one can resist a good board game.  Our personal favourites are any from the Cranium line of games for a high energy or silly mood evening, or Pentago for a strategy-focused game.  Pentago players place a marble anywhere on one of the four blocks, and then twist any game block.  First player to create a row of five marbles in any direction wins.  Not only has Pentago won the Mensa Select Award, but it has also been approved by our kids!  It’s strategy, reasoning, and craftiness at its finest.  Pentago is suggested for kids ages 8 and up, however we know that 6-year-olds enjoy this game as well.

Check out TheBoardGameFamily.com where you can find a review on a game perfect for the varying ages and skill sets of your family.

FAMILY OUTINGS

Get out of the house with festivities in February.  In Regina, check out the Wascana Centre celebrations on February 11 & 12. 

Go to the movies.  The Secret World of Arrietty is a movie about a secret world within our own based on the classic children’s novel The Borrowers by Mary Norton.  The animated movie brought to you by Disney will be in theatres on February 17^th, and features the voices of Amy Poehler, Carol Burnett, and Will Arnett.  In typical Disney fashion, “the small will stand the tallest of all”, and we learn that sometimes “we need to fight for the things worth fighting for”. 

GET PHYSICAL

Go bowling or play mini golf.  Take the family out to skate at one of Regina's arenas or the Co-operators Centre.  If your preference is being in the water rather than on the ice, go for a family swim!

The more active you are, the better you will feel (especially when the kids fall asleep easier).  

SPEND A NIGHT IN

If it’s just too cold, enjoy a movie night in the comforts of your own home.  Make a big tub of popcorn, dim the lights, and have a movie night in.  Have the kids make admission tickets for the family.  Grab the blankets and pillows, and snuggle in.   

Check out the February 24th DVD release of Puss in Boots, nominated for a 2012 Academy Awards for Best Animated Feature.
 

READ BOOKS

Reading is always a family favourite.  And we've all heard how important it is for a family to read together.  Maybe your 9-year-old just doesn’t want you to read to them anymore (or maybe that’s just in my house?)  Reading with your younger kids, or reading beside your older kids, is all part of spending time together and fostering their sense of security.  It lets them know we want and choose to spend time with them.

Best Children's Books for February, as recommended in the Huffinton Post, include What Color is My World by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar which tells of lesser known African-American inventors in time for Black History Month;  Open Wide by Laurie Keller to celebrate Dental Health Month.   You can also check out February's new releases for Scholastic Canada (including books by favourite authors, Barbara Reid and Robert Munsch)! 
 

PLUG IT IN

Whether it's the Wii, Xbox, or another electronic device the kids enjoy, join them.  Show interest in their suggestions, and indulge in their favourite pastime.  WiiSports has you playing sports just like you would in a real life, but just in your living room.  It's easy to play, and will get the entire family moving around.  Other games that our own families recommend include:  Kinnect Sports (Season 2 is now available), Wii UDraw selection of games, Wii Party, and Just Dance game franchise.

Concerned about what is appropriate for your child's age?  Check out Common Sense Media online.  
 

MEALTIME CONVERSATION

Mealtimes with the family are such a great opportunity to talk and learn about what happened that day.  And there are countless studies about how a family who sits down to a meal together has greater communication and less problematic situations later in life.  Time Magazine tells us that kids who dine with the folks are healthier, happier and better students.  Most families with kids who regularly sit together at mealtime usually don’t have a problem having a conversation as the kids are eager to share about everything.  But for some fun conversation starters, check out www.poweroffamilymeals.com.  And be sure to put away your cell phone and turn off the TV during mealtime.