Best 3 Audiobooks That You Can Listen to With Your Family

There is nothing more soul-soothing than sharing a story with your family. Audiobooks improve your kids’ comprehension ability and boost their literacy skills. Here are some of the best family audiobooks that Funtides offers.

The Worst Witch - Jill Murphy

This audiobook tells Mildred Hubble, a disaster-prone trainee witch at the famous Miss Cackle’s Academy of Witches. This amusing tale of magical mayhem is likely to capture your interest. Jill uses characters that know how to offer an impressive and memorable performance that will leave you and your family laughing out loud.

Inkheart - Cornelia Funke

Originally published on September 23, 2003, this audiobook tells the story of Meggie, a 12-year-old girl who sees a stranger looking at her from outside her window. Meggie tells Mortimer, her father, about what she saw. Lynn Redgrave is the narrator of this audiobook; she has made the story more interesting by adding humor. Cornelia plays a big part in making readers feel the suspense of encroaching villains.

The Lightning Thief - Rick Riordan

The Lightning Thief follows Percy Jackson’s story, who is having difficulty staying out of trouble. Things get out of hand when his algebra teacher turns into a monster and attempts to kill him. He claims that the boy is not like the others his age. The book introduces readers to new gods and creatures right alongside Percy.

For more audiobooks that you can share with your family, sign up with Funtides.

Cute Family Quotes and Sayings

If you have children you have likely used the phrase: "Can't live with them, can't live without them." These cute family quotes can help lighten the burden of stressful situations and help you express your love for your family.

Family ties mean that no matter how much you might want to run from your family, you can't.

The bigger your family, the bigger your problems.

Family is like that annoying itch you can't scratch.

Caller ID was invented for family screening.

Family is a blessing. Just keep saying that when you are irritated by something a family member does or says.

Once a mother, always a mother.

Family knows your flaws but loves you, anyway.

Love your family as you love yourself.

Family makes you who you are and who you aren't.

God wouldn't have given you a family if He didn't think you needed it.

Where there is family, there is love.

Family is the heart of a home.

Love starts with family.

A family takes care of their own.

The strength of family isn't determined by the number of members, but rather by the amount of love given and received.

Family is forever.

A hug from family lasts a lifetime.

Whoever said, "Love 'em then leave 'em" wasn't talking about family.

Life begins with family and ends with family.

A mother's love never wanes.

You can't control what your family says, but you can control how much you listen and how you react to it.

The love of family is like no other.

A family who disagrees, cares.

You inherited a piece of everyone in your family. If you insult them, you insult yourself.

Family gives you the roots to stand tall and strong.

Tears flow from the eyes of loved ones the day you're born, and the day you pass.

In a family, the sadness of one is the sadness of all.

Family love is never broken.

It only takes two to make a family.

There is no love greater than the love shared within a family.

Your family will always hold your heart.

Family is there to support you and honor your decisions.

No matter what happens, a family will always have your back.

A family is the purest form of love and acceptance.

No one knows you better than your family does.

Love, honesty, and connection are cultivated in a family.

The bond between a parent and child is unbreakable.

A family that supports one another thrives.

Connections within a family are powerful forces of nature.

All families are different and unique, but they all have one thing in common- love.

Families should celebrate each member's unique identity.

No matter how big or small the family, what matters most is love.

A family is a group of people who love unconditionally.

Through ups and downs, a family will stand by each other.

A family creates a safe space for each member to grow and develop into the person they were meant to be.

There is no more powerful love than one a parent feels for their child.

A family is who you choose to be by your side and love unconditionally.

Families shape who we are and who we choose to become.

It's hard to put into words just how much love a parent feels for their child.

No matter what a family looks like, it is always filled with love.

For more content celebrating family, check out www.funtides.com.

FUN FAMILY ACTIVITY IDEAS TO DO TOGETHER

Here are a handful of really fun and easy ideas to share as a family.

PLAY A CARD GAME

There’s UNO, SNAP! and even GoFish! as a few fan favourites.

VISIT THE BEACH

At the beach you can swim, build sandcastles, or just chill out as a family.

GO ON A PICNIC

Packing the picnic basket is part of the fun, so get the kids involved. Grab some bread rolls, bottles of water, salad and some kid-friendly snacks.

GO TO THE LIBRARY

Visit your local library and borrow some new books.

HAVE A STAYCATION

No need to jet off to another part of the world for a getaway, stay where you live. Book a hotel and explore your home town.

GROW A HERB GARDEN

All you need is a pot, some herbs, some soil and you’re on your way. Let the kids go crazy. Best of all you get to eat your garden later.

PLAY A BOARD GAME

Get out your old board games and have a family game night. Try Twister, Monopoly, Pictionary or anything else you’ve got hanging in the cupboard.

LET THE KIDS COOK DINNER

This will depend on the age of your children of course, but they love knowing they’re contributing to dinner. If they’re old enough to chop, let them chop up ingredients, or if you’ve got teens on your hand… let them make the whole dinner.

GET IN YOUR GARDEN

Put on our gloves, crank some music and weed together as a family.

For more family friendly fun, check out www.funtides.com.

Raising the Kids to Be Critical Thinkers

We all want to give our kids the best possible start in life, to ensure they’re equipped with every possible tool in order to achieve success. And while we can certainly go out and buy every possible kind of educational toy and product designed to boost their brain power, or even play classical music while they’re in the womb as some have suggested, one of the best boosts we can give our kids may just life in how we speak to them.

In asking our kids questions, rather than merely explaining things to them, we may increase their odds of becoming critical thinkers later on in life. If, for example, your child is assigned some homework but is overwhelmed by the task, a better option than sitting with them and explaining the assignment may be to ask “what do you think the first step should be.” From there, your child may just be able to work their way through the assignment, provided they’re prodded with the right questions along the way.

It’s an approach that may be difficult to adopt at first, but definitely one worth considering, and one that could easily be applied to many aspects of life. Key questions like “How will you remember to remember?” “Do you think you’ve eaten enough to be done dinner?” or “What do you need to do in order to…?” could go a long way to raising some critical thinkers.

Looking for some family fun? Visit our online library at www.funtides.com for a wide variety of ebooks, audiobooks, music, and more. Accessible anytime, anywhere, from your favorite devices.

Card Games for the Whole Family!

It’s the best night of the week, family game night! But what to play? Here are some of the best card games around that are tons of fun for the whole family!

Uno. A variation on Crazy Eights, Uno has delighted friends and families since its invention in the 1970s, and thanks to many variations of its own it now reaches a wider audience than ever! Kids and adults alike love the game’s unpredictability, and families can certainly add some of their own rules for an extra level of enjoyment.

Concentration. Sometimes the classics are still the best, and this time-testing matching game comes with plenty of single-player and multi-player variations. Cards are laid out in a grid with the goal being to match the pairs. Some versions reveal pictures or puzzles as the pairs are matched, but for those in a pinch the game can be played with nothing more than a single deck of standard playing cards.

Phase 10. Much like Uno, Phase 10 is a variation of an existing game, this time Contract Rummy, but with interesting twists and gimmicks. In each round, players must lay down the right number of runs or sets to move on to the next “phase.” The challenges do get more difficult as the rounds go by, making the game frustrating at times, but ultimately quite rewarding! The game has a number of variations of its own, ensuring that there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Looking for great reads for the whole family? Visit our online library at www.funtides.com for a wide variety of ebooks, audiobooks, music, and more. Accessible anytime, anywhere, from your favorite devices.

Why You Should Read With Your Kids

As if you didn’t have reason enough, here are five reasons why you should read with your kids.

It’ll get them started young. Reading with your kids, even before they’re ready to read, is a great way to get the kids started early on books. They’ll mimic your actions one way or another, might as well show them how much fun it is to read!

It’ll promote active imaginations. Kids are definitely imaginative creatures to begin with, but any imagination could use a boost from some inspiration. Books are filled with magical worlds of awe and wonder that serve as the perfect fuel for the creative engines in your kids’ minds.

It’ll expose them to a whole range of topics. Books can help expose children to the world and teach them more than perhaps even their parents know.

Reading together helps strengthen bonds. There’s nothing stronger than the bond between a parent and child, but the act of sharing in a world of imagination through reading only helps strengthen that bond.

It’ll get you into the habit of reading too. Between work and home life, odds are you haven’t had much time to read lately. Reading with the kids is not only a great way to get some of your own reading time in, it’s likely to help you prioritize reading in your down time.

Looking for more family fun? Visit our online library at www.funtides.com for a wide variety of ebooks, audiobooks, music, and more, accessible anytime from your favorite devices.

Fun Ideas for a Family Friendly Evening Out

Family nights are fun for everyone, be it some couch time watching TV or cooking together with the kids. But after a long cold winter, some outside time is definitely in order! Here are three fun ideas for the perfect family outing.

A picnic dinner. Picnics don’t have to be left to lunch, a perfectly timed picnic dinner means kids get some outside time in the evening, and if small fires or grills are permitted, maybe even some camptime favorites like s’mores and roasted weenies. For those busy days where there’s no time to prep, takeout on the way to your destination will do just fine.

A night out at the movies! It may be easier than ever to stream at home, but nothing beats the experience of the big screen! Movie night is a great way to get the family together for some outside the house fun, and with popcorn a’plenty or your favorite snacks by your side it’s a great treat for both kids and grown ups alike.

A trip to the library. Libraries have evolved to be about way more than just books. Libraries often serve as community centers and meeting spots, and most libraries have plenty of programs for the kids! Find your local library’s activity schedule and bring the kids out for some educational fun.

Looking for more family fun? Visit our online library at www.funtides.com for a wide variety of ebooks, audiobooks, music, and more. Accessible anytime, anywhere, from your favorite devices, and sure to please the whole family.

Surefire Ways to Bring the Family Together

Sometimes it’s not just mom and dad that have busy schedules, with hectic days that can include school, extracurricular activities, and probably plenty of homework too, kids can get caught up in hectic lives as well! That said, it’s still important for everyone to find or make time for the family, and here are three activities that are sure to bring the family together.

Games night! There are few things that scream family fun quite as much as a good old fashioned games night! With more games than imaginable to choose from, there will never be a shortage of fun nights and fun memories to cherish as the kids grow older.

Family cooking night. No matter how busy life can get it’s important to have dinner together as a family, but why not go the extra step and have a regular family cooking night as well? With everyone involved the prep is sure to be a breeze, and it’s a great way to teach the kids how to help run the household.

Family reading nights. When the kids are young the family can get together for stories by the fire, with mom or dad reading aloud or perhaps an audiobook for everyone to enjoy. As the kids get older they can take turns reading for the rest of the family, creating a bonding experience like few others.

Looking for more family fun? Visit our online library at www.funtides.com for a wide variety of ebooks, audiobooks, music, and more that are sure to please everyone!

Portable Breakfasts: Getting the Family Moving in the Morning

Between getting the kids ready for school and getting yourself ready for work, mornings can certainly be a hectic time of day! With breakfast occupying much of that morning time, it may just make sense to have breakfast on the go. Here are three portable breakfast ideas that are sure to get you and the family moving in the morning.

Breakfast sandwiches. Sometimes the classics are the best! It takes little more than a fried eggs with maybe some ham or bacon and a slice of cheese, all between the bread of your choice. Quick and easy, sandwiches can go with you wherever and will be just as tasty when you finally have the time to eat!

Homemade granola bars. The goodness of oatmeal with the vitamins and nutrients from the fruits and nuts of your choice are the perfect option to make sure everyone gets the fuel they need for the day. Sweeten to taste with honey or maple syrup to avoid the artificial sugars and preservatives from store-bought bars.

Yogurt parfait. The perfect blend of delicious creamy yogurt and fresh fruits ensures that everyone gets the vitamins and calcium they need to be strong and healthy. Keep the yogurt, fruit, and optional oats in separate containers until it’s time to eat, that way everything stays fresh and the oats stay dry.

Looking for more family fun? Visit our online library at www.funtides.com for a wide variety of ebooks, audiobooks, music, and more, accessible anytime from your favorite device and sure to please every member of the family!

Ways to Stay Active With the Family This Winter

With the cold and snow already here, it may be tempting to spend winter indoors cozy by the tv, but a whole world of family fun lies waiting outside! It’s time to get the boots, hats, and gloves on, to get the kids in their snowsuits, and to head outside to play in the snow! Here are three fun winter activities to keep the whole family active.

Break out the sled! Few activities scream winter family fun quite like sledding! Find yourself an appropriate hill, be it a neighborhood park or a ski hill, get the sled ready, get some helmets on the kids, and away we go! Race the kids to the bottom or get the whole family on one sled to get the smiles and laughs going!

Snow forts! If you’re lucky enough to live in an area with enough snow, take full advantage and build a snow fort! Your ice castle can be as elaborate as you dream it to be, and it’ll provide hours of building and playing fun for kid and adult alike!

Snowball fights! It’s all in good fun when it’s with the whole family. Split into teams or everyone for themselves, a good snowball fight is a great way to break out the giggles. Don’t forget to use those snow forts as base camps!

Looking for more family fun? Visit our online library at www.funtides.com for a wide variety of ebooks, audio books, and music that are sure to please everyone!