Your single sister is bringing her artist boyfriend to the family gathering. You forgot the last time you saw your teenager smile, and you know your husband’s idea of a post-meal treat is falling asleep in front of the big game.              
               Many families get together during the holidays. They eat. Then what? Family time can easily turn into an afternoon or evening of: teens skulking and texting, adults parked in front of the TV, men and women gathering in separate rooms talking about the same things over and over again. Someone always feels left out. Someone is always watching the clock.
               This holiday season, why not try something different? Our original Do Tell the Relationship Game was so popular with adult groups of all kinds that we decided to do a family version. It is available now on www.amazon.com or at a variety of retailers. You can find out if any of those stores are close to you here.
               The family version is specifically for playing with YOUR family. We re-wrote the questions to appeal to a wide age range. Our hope is that anyone from 8 to 88 will be able to enjoy and participate in the new Do Tell Family Game. We also hope you’ll learn something new about someone you love.
               As we tested the game, one thing that struck us is the way it was helping parents connect with their often uncommunicative teens and pre-teens. Families started laughing together, and opening up about subjects they wouldn’t normally address. That doesn’t mean a heavy afternoon of sappy sharing, but rather subtle opportunities for people to “Risk” sharing more of themselves with the other players.
               For instance, when was the last time you turned to one of your parents and told them what you appreciate about them? Baring a family tragedy or major life change, most of us just don’t take the time. Or if your 8-year-old was asked to impersonate a flight attendant, do you know how she’d do it? Or if you had to define the word “responsible” do you think your sister would guess how you’d do it? These are the kinds of “Do”s and “Tell”s the Do Tell Family Game lets you experience.
               This first version of Do Tell the Relationship Game has broad appeal. Both men and women, married and singles, young and old have enjoyed playing. You don’t have to have a wide range of knowledge to play, or be a strategic genius to win. You just have to know about yourself, your favorite song or how you’d react if you ran a family member wearing your favorite shirt. And yes, someone does get to win.
               But the reward is to bring greater communication and understanding to your family time.
               To build relationships.
               So that the people you love become people you know, too.