5 Ways to Find Family Time

Now that the long, light-filled days of summer are here, you'll no doubt want to spend more time with your family. But coordinating schedules with your kids -- who may be attending camp, working a part-time job, taking summer classes, or craving social time with friends -- can sometimes be tricky. Here, Sheila Ellison, author of How Does She Do It? 101 Life Lessons from One Mother to Another (Harper San Francisco, 2004), offers five ways to sneak in some family time.

1. Plan a weekly dinner. Even if everyone's running around in separate directions during the day, it's a good idea to eat at least one dinner together a week -- even if you're just ordering pizza.

Or you can make it an event. Over the course of a summer, ask each child to choose one or two meals she'd like to prepare, and have her be the "chef's assistant" for the night. Summer dinners can be fun and casual, so you can pick a cultural theme, such as a Mexican fiesta, where everyone makes their own tacos. Or simply have a picnic in your yard or a nearby park.

2. Schedule game nights. From time to time, pick a night when everyone can get together to play. Bring out a deck of cards or a favorite board game, or stage a talent show with other relatives, friends, or neighbors. Ask participants to make up a silly poem, put on an impromptu play, sing a song, or read a book -- backwards!

3. Maintain an element of surprise. To keep the excitement flowing, ask kids to grab a bathing suit (or a bike or their sneakers), and take them on a surprise outing. Don't tell them where you're going, but drop hints and have them guess along the way. If you have an older child, have him choose and research a local destination; then let him plan a short family day trip, within a set budget.

4. Organize a family project. Weekend mornings (or afternoons) are a great time for families to tackle a household task. Put on some music or the ball game, and wash the car, clean out the garage, or weed the garden as a team. As an option, break out into small groups, and have each team clean up a room, sweep the kitchen, or recycle old mail. Follow up by making ice cream sundaes or going for a family swim.

5. Be flexible -- and not exclusive. If you can't always get your whole family together, make a date to do something special with each of your kids. Let each child choose what he or she wants to do -- whether it's shopping, canoeing, going for a walk, or attending a local concert -- and spend a few hours together having fun.

You can also ask your kids' friends to join in family activities. For instance, if your teenage son has a girlfriend, or your younger child has a best friend, invite them to go along on an outing. Also, make your home a comfortable, playful place to be so that your kids -- and their pals -- will willingly want to hang out there and spend relaxed summer moments with you.