By Nettie H. Francis

Everything I need to know I learned in family council.

Wait. You mean, Kindergarten, right? Everything I need to know I learned in Kindergarten. Isn’t that how it goes?

Nope. Everything I need to know I learned in Family Council. Let me explain.

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By Sherrie Mackelprang

Have you ever played Sardines? Not the fish. It is a game like hide and seek, only in reverse. Instead
of one person doing the counting while the others hide, one person hides while the others count. When it is time to do the seeking, all the players go in search of the one who hid. If someone finds the hiding player, they don’t shout out. They hide with them. This is when the fun begins. Small spaces become cramped and tight as player after player squishes into the hiding place. It is amazing how many people can fit into a shower or under a bed. The first person to find the hiding player gets to be the one who hides in the next round.

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by Lu Ann Staheli

I happened to catch a presentation on Book-TV with the award-winning author Walter Dean Myers (Shooter) and his illustrator/author son, Christopher Myers (Blues Journey). Among much discussion about the writing process and their own careers, the elder Myers brought up an intriguing idea—a family book club.

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The Third Annual Target Children’s Book Festival is set for Saturday, November 8th, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Presented by the City of Las Vegas and Target, the event is the largest annual children’s literary event in Las Vegas.

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By Rekaya Gibson

In order to get your child to read, create a family reading room or space in your home. Make sure you include comfortable seating with adequate lighting. Have everyone choose their favorite book, magazine, or newspaper to read for fifteen minutes.

Read at the same time every day. If schedules don’t permit this, have the family agree upon a day and time once a week that’s convenient. Do not schedule anything during this time. Reduce interruptions by turning off cell phones, iPods, and televisions. Once you commit to reading on a regular basis, it will become a habit.

Before you begin, set a timer. If everybody wants to read longer, add ten more minutes. When the bell rings, enjoy a light snack with your kids. Take the opportunity to have each person discuss what they read.