Get more family time with game nights this year

Countless activities compete for time on the family calendar -- soccer practice, piano lessons, friends, school. With thoughtful planning, you can be sure that fun family time gets penciled in, too.

Karen Deerwester, author of "The Entitlement-Free Child: Raising Confident and Responsible Kids in a 'Me, Mine, Now!' Culture," highlights the importance of scheduling family time.

"Unite the family in the art of fun by planning weekly activities together," Deerwester said. "When you do, you give your family the most precious gift of all -- time together to laugh, enjoy one another and stay connected."

Board games and puzzles bring together family members of all ages. Playing together strengthens family relationships, sparks conversations and brings everyone together in silliness and laughter.

For the word fans in the family, try Scrabble Flash, a new game that pits players against the clock to build as many three-to-five letter words as possible. Another updated classic, Sorry! Spin, unites the family with a new way to play the game of sweet revenge.