Tom  writes:

I have a wife, a stepdaughter, two daughters from a previous marriage, and a four-year-old boy.  Invariably, someone ends up feeling left out because I'm spending time with someone else. We've taken trips together, gone to the movies, zoo, science museum, parks, etc. But still, I really quickly run out of ideas for keeping the whole group entertained.

What are some new ideas for diverse family fun?

Mr Lady:

I come from a very large, very split family.  There are 4 of us that are direct siblings (well, maybe 3, but no one's done a paternity test just yet) 2 half brothers, one half sister who thinks she was just my best friend growing up, a step sister and two older ones we don't know directly.  Still, that's 8 kids to juggle.  You know how they kept us all entertained?

A garden hose.

That may have been the most interaction our Entire Family Unit ever had together.  Someone's always going to feel left out, Tom!  I have just three kids, from the same daddy, and we all live in the same house and every single second of the day, someone feels left out.  Once you have more than one child, the drama begins.

That wasn't really your question, though, was it?  My best, most honest response?  Board Games.  It's the one and only thing we do as a family that really brings us together, that ensures every single member of the family is interacting with every single other one.  Those Cranium games are great at any age level.  We play Zigity a lot, which is the Cranium card game, and even a four year old could play with a team-mate.  My husband and I have taught the boys Poker and BlackJack. (Yes, we know how badly this is going to backfire.  My 8 year old already is into me for a years' supply of Chex Mix.)  We play Monopoly and Trivial Pursuit a lot, too.  And you know what?  More than vacations, more than days at the beach, more than Christmas, those are my kids favorite times.  Especially when we let them win.

BusyDad: 

That’s a whole lotta kids! Luckily I have some experience in this area. I grew up watching the Brady Bunch. Mike and Carol always seemed to keep their blended family entertained and playing well.  You could pack up the old station wagon and take them to the Grand Canyon. But stay on the freeway and avoid ghost towns. Those old prospectors like to lock people up for no reason.

Or you could take them to Hawaii. Just make sure to check your kids’ pockets daily for ancient relics, because if someone has found a Tabu, you could wipe really badly off your surfboard.

Do your kids like to perform? They could write some really catchy tunes and win the local talent contest (we’re gonna keep on keep on keep on keep on movin’ – sorry, couldn’t resist. That tune is stuck in my head and I want some company). Backyard productions of Snow White are also fun for the whole family. If you need extra cast members, your neighborhood butcher has nothing better to do that weekend than to dress up as a dwarf. Just make sure to get a permit first. They’re really strict about backyard productions (at least here in California).

Two pop-culture references in two questions. If I’m gonna cop out from giving real advice, I should at least vary my bit somewhat. Amateur. For real, though: Kids these days are hard to entertain. With the barrage of media, games and consumer items out there, good old family fun times are just hard to come by. If it were me, I’d plan maybe just one really good family activity a month - something where you could all be together, but not be forced into the mix every second. Like the beach. The younger ones could build sandcastles, while the older ones could explore the boardwalk or boogie board. Or you could do a night out at Dave and Busters (my all-time favorite family place). You could all enjoy dinner together and then afterwards, the kids could play games, win tickets or do whatever on their own. And the best part? You could kick back and enjoy a Newcastle or two (they’ve got it on tap and you can order it in the 24 oz big glass), knowing that your family members are within a 20 yard radius of each other, and smiling. That’s what being king of your world is all about!