Make time to play this holiday season

The holidays are supposed to be about spending time with those you love. But every December, it seems we spend more time preparing and stressing than enjoying each other.

Remembering to play – sharing a smile, laughing and having fun with our families - is really what this time of year is all about. "For most of us, our current lifestyle makes play a luxury that few of us can afford," says Richard Tait, father of three and grand poobah, Cranium, Inc. "The holiday season is the perfect excuse to disconnect from the outside world and inject some play in our daily lives. Play brings us together, encourages us to laugh and allows us to put the rest of the world on pause."

This holiday season, to help you tune out of work and routine schedules and tune into your family, Cranium offers tips to add play to your holidays. ) Turn holiday planning into a family affair – Add play to your regular holiday tasks like cooking Christmas dinner or holiday baking. Give every member of the family a role in the planning and preparations. Add some Christmas carols into the mix and you've just turned holiday work into holiday play. % Holiday road trip unplugged – When packing the kids up and piling gifts, luggage and your contribution to the family Christmas dinner into the car to head to Grandma's house for the holidays, leave the portable DVD players, mp3 players and hand-held video games at home. Inject play into the drive with fun road trip games like "Simon Says" or challenge the family to a holiday concert in the car. ) Give the gift of activity – Rather than spend hours in line tracking down the hot gift this year, give the gift of fun, giggles and activity. Though the weather may be frightful outside, kids can get some indoor exercise with award-winning Hullabaloo. Designed for ages four and up, Hullabaloo is the high-energy game that has kids think fast as they bounce, twist, spin, high-five, and dance to the music, voice, and sounds in each game.

It's easy to watch your child play from the couch, but not as fun – for either of you.

Set aside some family time every day – even if only for a few minutes – and get onto the carpet and play.