Field Guide to Family Time
(Updated December 2007)
"The strength and health of our families are paramount to our individual happiness and to our success," Al Mansell, NAR's 2005 president-elect, said at the 2004 REALTORS® Conference & Expo in Orlando. "As leading advocates for families and homes, REALTORS® have a keen interest in ensuring the families we serve are happy and successful."
There are no rules about how to create Family Time -- there is no greater gift you can give each other than your time and attention. Find out more about the FamilyTime® program and how families can make the most of their time together with the resources in this Field Guide. (F. Heller, Manager, Virtual Library & Archives)
Contents:
The Importance of Family Time | Individual Nurturing | Teamwork & Family Unity | Community Service | Useful Websites | Books, eBooks & Other Resources
Family Matters
Be sure to read the new "Family Matters" column in each monthly issue of REALTOR® Magazine:
Master of the 3 P's (Jan. 2005)
Baseball exec comes home (Feb. 2005)
Blocking off time (Mar. 2005)
Enough is enough (Apr. 2005)
So happy together (May 2005)
Sporting a new focus (June 2005)
Recipe for balance (July 2005)
It's all in the plan (Aug. 2005)
The Importance of Family Time 
Is family dinner important?, (Wall Street Journal Online, Jan. 29, 2007).
The whys and hows of family night, (fatherhood.about.com, 2007).
Quality time can help your family stay healthy, (www.nh.com, Oct. 13, 2007).
Family first: Time well spent with loved ones yields high emotional profit, (REALTOR® Magazine, Aug. 2005).
Flexibility and independence help REALTORS® make time for families, (NAR Press Release, Aug. 26, 2004).
For kids, priceless doesn't mean pricey, (The Wall Street Journal, July 11, 2004). Q
Disney Family Parenting, (FamilyFun).
Giving your children the gift of time, (Family Matters Parenting Magazine).
Spending time with your children, (Ohio State University Extension).
Family togetherness is an issue that goes beyond dinner chats, (The Wall Street Journal, July 29, 1998). Q
Individual Nurturing
This season, give children healthy self-esteem, (Stevens Point Journal, Dec. 3, 2007).
Pay attention to your kids' individual needs, (www.findarticles.com, Sept. 16, 2007).
Building your child's self-esteem, (www.fathers.com, Apr. 10, 2007).
How to spend quality time with your child, (Utah State University, College of Education and Human Services, 2007).
Nuturing your child's resilience, (www.education.com, 2007).
The good seed: Cultivating virtues and values in your child, (FamilyFun).
Ten ways to build your child's self-esteem, (ParentCenter).
Helping your child become a responsible citizen, (U.S. Department of Education, Feb. 2003).
Developing your child's self-esteem, (KidsHealth/The Nemour Foundation, Sept. 2001).
Make cooking time family time: 10 tip for beginners, (iVillage, May 2001).
Family diner improve kids' health, grades, (The Wall Street Journal, Nov. 11, 2004). Q
Talking to your kids about money, (Black Enterprise, Mar. 2003). Q
Teamwork & Family Unity
Unity, (www.a-better-child.org).
Fitness for kids: Getting your children off the couch, (MayoClinic.com, Jan. 26, 2007).
Test your family strength, (Heartland Family Service, 1999).
Building family strengths, (Families Worldwide, May 1999).
Sisters and brothers: Working things out, (PBSkids.org).
Community Service
Community service: a family's guide to getting involved, (www.kidshealth.org, Sept. 2007).
Volunteering as a family: 20 tips, (Corporation for National & Community Service).
What can your family do to make a positive difference?, (childcare.about.com).
Tips for teaching altruism to children, (About.com).
Volunteering with your family, (Idealist.org Kids & Teens).
Useful Websites
Child & Family WebGuide , (Tufts University) - Directory of links to websites on children, families, and parenting, all evaluated and described by experts from the Tufts University Department of Child Development. Search the index or browse websites by topic, age, or type of website. The WebGuide includes dozens of topics, including activities for kids, volunteering, kids and music, and self-esteem.
MSN Parenting - Includes articles and resources on children and family issues.
Parenting.org, (Girls and Boys Town) - Features useful articles on child development, divided by major stages in the child's life (Discovery Years, Tween Years, etc.). Be sure to follow the "Past Articles" links for dozens of articles on life lessons, parenting, safety, and education.
The Parent's Journal - Website for "The Parent's Journal", a weekly radio program broadcast on National Public Radio. Features archived radio programs to hear online, tips from experts and parents, recommended websites and books, and more.
eBooks & Other Resources
eBooks.realtor.org
The following ebooks and digital audiobooks are available to NAR members:
The Safe Child Handbook (Adobe eReader)
Field Guides & More
These Field Guides and other resources in the Virtual Library may also be of interest:
Field Guide to Balancing Work & Family Life
Field Guide to Time Management
Field Guide to Stress Management
Field Guide to Social Benefits of Homeownership
Field Guide to Family Firms
>> Have an idea for a new Field Guide? Click here to send us your suggestions!
The inclusion of links on this Field Guide does not imply endorsement by the National Association of REALTORS®. NAR makes no representations about whether the content of any external sites which may be linked to this Field Guide complies with state or federal laws or regulations or with applicable NAR policies. These links are provided for your convenience only and you rely on them at your own risk.
