THE ANSWER IS HERE

Before my first purchase of FAMILY FUN I had never heard of it. I was bored waiting in yet another endless grocery line so I picked up a copy of this magazine on a whim. I am SO glad I did.

As a mother of 4 perpetually bored children, I am always looking for resources that can help me create a little fun in their lives. Well FAMILY FUN is the one stop shop for family fun and togetherness. The magazine is published monthly and is ALWAYS packed full of excellent crafts, games, advice, and recipes.

The crafts are usually easy to do and require alot of materials you would already have in the house. The craft instructions are simple and easy to follow. If I can do it, ANYONE can do it. I have many talents.....but I'm no MARTHA STEWART. Many of the crafts suggested are decorative and can be displayed in your home forever, or until the child becomes a teenager and forbids you to allow even the dog to see it.

The games demonstrated in the magazines are both traditional and contemporary. Many of the games like steal the bacon, swinging statues, and relay races are the same games I played as a kid, but forgot about as an adult. Other games are trendy generational games that are equally fun, though I have no idea what kind of drugs the people who invent them are taking. Of course I'm teasing about the drugs, but it baffles me where people get that amazing creativity. Creativity for me is buying floral paper towels!

As with most magazines food is a focus with this magazine. I have seen some incredibly sneaky dishes conjured up to get your toddler to eat his vegetables...and they WORK! I must admit I haven't tried alot of of the recipes from the magazine, but I have used their ideas for many desserts with standing ovations from my children. I can't get too smug, after all my kids would eat tree bark if I put sprinkles on it.

FAMILY FUN also has copious amounts of information on family vacations and get-a-ways. They always supply you with affordable options. More importantly, they steer you to both touristy hot spots AND out of the way retreats. In September's issue, they list a variety of places throughout the nation where you can take your family for autumn adventures. Corn mazes, scarecrow building, hayrides, barn dances, and fall festivals to name a few. The details they provide are all encompassing. They include the function, location, pricing, restrictions, contact information, meal options, and helpful tidbits on how to maximize your time there. They do this for every season. In summer they scan the globe for beach fun. In December they highlight Christmas get-a-ways and so on. This greatly reduces my already strained schedule and allows me more time with my family.

The magazine also offers advice for parents for virtually every conceivable issue. From baby-sitters, to health issues, parenting tips, discipline problems, social skill building, school issues, and raising healthy positive kids. As parents we can never get enough of that.

I cannot rave enough about this magazine. It was responsible for one of the most fun adventures I have ever experienced with my children. Last winter, we had a snowstorm that closed school for several days. By the 3rd hour of the first day I was about to tie them to the couch. I consulted my current issue of FAMILY FUN, praying for some ideas that would not require me to travel treacherous roads to obtain supplies. Not surprisingly, I found my answer. The magazine suggested a BEACH PARTY in the snow. I decided to give it a try.

So we dressed warmly, then put our swimsuits on the OUTSIDE of our snuggly clothes. Then we donned sunglasses, straw hats, and goggles and headed for the front yard. We pitched our beach umbrella into the heaping 3 feet of snow in the frond yard. We made hot chocolate, but put it in tropical glasses and added those paper umbrellas. We got out the beachball, the beach chairs, the sand toys, and even the boogie boards. Then we played snow volleyball, snow golf, and built snow castles. We even put zinc oxide on our noses for a realistic touch. WE HAD A BLAST!!!! Of course our neighbors thought I had lost my mind. But within an hour, ALL the neighborhood kids joined in the fun. One of them even brought a fishing pole!!

FAMILY FUN also includes interactive educational games that promote learning. They have mastered entertaining ways to teach children math, brainteasers, geography, science and history. Surprising, you find yourself being educated as well.

Another benefit of the magazine is that it isn't inundated with ads. Many magazines are so full of adds that you get frustrated trying to find any information. The magazine is also VERY affordable and easily accessible.

I look forward to every issue and can't wait to experiment, learn, and most of all, just be with my kids. They think I'm a genius and an AWESOME mom. If they only knew that FAMILY FUN was responsible for their many smiles and memories.