Family Time
From reading together to dining together, to exercising together and playing together, families are finding creative and inexpensive ways to stay together. Hectic work schedules and after-school activities can interfere, but here are some of the best ideas from Family Plus, a Web project of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America:

• Walking tour. Take a walking tour of your own city or town, as if you were visiting for the first time. Walking gives you a chance to see details you might not normally see during your daily routines.

• Park activities. Most community center, neighborhood parks and public libraries offer a variety of free activities for kids and families.

• Movie watching party. Make movie-watching more fun by popping popcorn, turning out the lights or inviting in a few of your child’s friends.

• Paper airplanes. Youth of any age enjoy making paper airplanes. Check out BestPaperAirplanes.com for ideas and templates.

• Fishing. Fishing can be done in almost any body of water (and in Florida, it doesn’t require a license to fish from a pier).  If your child has never fished, find a place to spend a relaxing hour or two sitting by the water.

• Star gazing. Children and teens seldom take time to notice the stars, moon and planets. Take a blanket and sit outside after dark and see how many constellations – and any planets – are visible. (Don’t forget the bug spray!)

• Research family history. Encourage your kids to use the Internet to research and record your family’s history.

• Dinnertime storytelling. Dinnertime conversation can be fun and entertaining by having a different family member tell a story each night.

For full lists of recreational, outdoor and learning activities families can do together, see the site at this link: Family Plus: Developing Youth by Strengthening Families.

For more ideas, go to:

• Eat Dinner with Your Family; It Can Make All The Difference
  The main attraction is a collection of family-friendly recipes from the Florida Department of Children and Families, including casseroles and desserts.

• All Family Resources and Family Education
  These sites are recommended for family fun and entertainment sections and suggestions for celebrating holidays.

Local Resources

• Volusia County Public Library
  Suzan Howes and Bill Bowden
  Regional Librarians, Daytona State College Campus
  2351 Providence Blvd., Deltona FL 32725; (386) 789-7207
  Click here for news about the regional library and listings of children’s
  and adults’ “happenings.”
  Hours: 9:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday

• City of Deltona Parks & Recreation Department
  Steve Moore, Director
  2345 Providence Blvd., Deltona, FL 32725; 386-878-8900.
  Email: smoore@deltonafl.gov
  Click here for the department’s suggested links. For additional information on Youth and Adult Sports, call Wes Crile Park at 386-789-7218.