Do you have a competitive family? A family that loves hitting the put-put range, paintball courses, and any other place that offers family competition? Then why not think of ways to have tournaments at home? Not only will it save you money, but your family will also have more fun. This week, let's discuss having a bit of friendly competition on family night.

There are a number of different ways for families to have a tournament night at home. It all depends on what your family loves to do most. Your family may love to cook, play video games, or sports. Here are a few tips for turning a bit of family competition into cheap entertainment.

First of all, make the tournament worth winning. It may be a prize that you purchase, such as a small gift card. Or, the prize could be something you don't have to spend a dime on. For example, the winner of the weekly tournament could get out of chores for the following week. This not only encourages your children to want to play tournaments at home, but saves you a ton of money.

What would a tournament be without great food? When having a family tournament night, make it fun. For example, serve appetizers as a meal. You could also make homemade pizza or any other type of food you would normally enjoy while doing similar activities outside the home.

Last, but not least, keep it interesting. The same tournament every week will eventually get boring. Shake things up by having one family member pick the tournament for that week. The only rules are that it has to be something that can be done at home, doesn't require purchasing expensive equipment, and is something everyone can participate in.

Here are a few ideas for family tournaments:

• Cook Offs
• Video Game Challenges
• Team Sports
• Board Game Challenges

There are so many different types of tournaments you could have. It just depends on what interests your family. Bring the idea up at your next family night and ask for ideas for tournaments and prizes.

Remember sitting down with the family for a night of board games? Whatever happened to this simple form of entertainment? There was once a time when you could spend $20 on a board game and enjoy years of entertainment. While classic board games may bore many of today's families, it's important to remember that board games aren't what they used to be. In this week's blog, we'll discuss how families can bring back family night with exciting board games.

Classic Monopoly and Life used to be quite entertaining, and still entertain younger children. Unfortunately, these games have lost their luster for older children. That doesn't mean that family game night has to be a big bust. The market is loaded with classic board games that have been given a makeover. Not to mention all the new games that are truly interactive, such as Scene It.

That's not all though. For families who have gaming consoles, board games can even be enjoyed on the TV. Games, such as Monopoly and Battleship, are available at affordable prices. Most of today's current consoles allow for at least 4 players, giving families the chance to enjoy video games together.

If you're worried about price, don't be. Not only do these games offer hours of entertainment, you can often find them used at yard sales. A great way to enjoy video games is to subscribe to a game rental site. For around $25 a month, your family can have two games out at a time. This is a wonderful way to try games before investing in them.

To round out the night, why not bake up a few pizzas and prepare ice cream sundaes? When you enjoy family night at home, you can afford to do more. This week, why not have a little fun with the family and purchase a new board game? You'll experience hours of enjoyment for an affordable price.

Last summer, I bought my niece, who is almost 3, the Candy Land board game. She LOVES it! I was especially surprised that she loved for me to read to her the Candy Land story inside the box about all of the characters on the board. This is probably her first real game, like it was for most of us, and she loved having a player and moving it along the board. The concept of moving forwards and backwards was interesting for her, and she adores the game.

Often, a great idea for a thematic kids’ party is to look around and see what your kid’s favorite games, toys, and stuffed animals, are, and build a party theme around them. Candy Land would make a truly fun and darling party theme for kids under age of 5.

Here are some ideas to bring your Candy Land party to life:

-For your invitation, buy large lollipops and attach a bright colored card with a satin ribbon. On the card, provide all of the party details and hand-deliver them. If you don’t want to deliver sweets, draw a large lollipop and attach a pipe cleaner for a stem. On the lollipop, provide the party details.

-For party decorations, use your child’s favorite primary colors for the balloons, streamers, and tableware. Mix and match colors. For the table centerpiece, have a large colorful bucket filled Cheerios, and stick in large lollipops. If it is a beautiful day, make your own Candy Land path to your front door with different colors on each place. (If it is bad weather, put the Candy Land path around your party area.)

-One of the best ways to organize this party is to have the guests visit each area of Candy Land, where they will do a game or activity. As you reach each station, read out the infamous description on the box before you do your activity.

-As you start off, place a rainbow of balloons together for the kids to walk underneath as they begin their journey. Given it is the start of the game, have a rainbow taste test. Blindfold the kids and have them taste a variety of things, such as white sugar, lemon juice or lemon drops, orange carrots, etc. The taste test can be anything you want to put out, but make sure it utilizes those bright, primary colors. With the kids blindfolded, it will be a real surprise!

-For Gum Drop Pass, have a big jar full of gum drops, and let the kids take turns guessing how many gum drops are inside!

-For Mr. Mint, have the kids enjoy a relay race using a spoon and a peppermint. Divide the kids into two teams and have them race back and forth to see which team can finish first without dropping the peppermint!

-For the Licorice Castle, have the kids make licorice bracelets. Use thin black and red licorice for the bracelet and let the kids string on colorful Cheerios for edible bracelets. Yum!

-For Grandma Nut, make sure the kids have no peanut butter allergies, and if they can, give each child a spoonful of peanut butter and see who can finish it first.

-For Gloppy, have the kids finger paint their own masterpiece with chocolate. They will love this, but be prepared for a mess!

-For Queen Frostine, have a crowning ceremony for the birthday girl, if you are celebrating for a little girl, and provide her with a cape and a crown! If the party is for a little boy, crown him King of Candy Land! Give out fun Ring Pops during the crowning event!

Other fun ideas:

-Let the kids make their own Candy Land house using graham crackers and frosting as glue. Provide all sorts of candies for the kids to decorate their homes with.

Play the Candy Land game! (Gather enough games from neighbors and friends so everyone can play at the same time.)

Make a large circle of Candy Land pieces, and let the kids walk around on the game “board” set to music. When you stop the music, call out a color and the child on the color is out. Play until only one child remains.

-Play King Candy Says like you would play Simon Says

-Play Licorice, Licorice, Lollipop like Duck, Duck, Goose

-Play Queen Frostine May I? like Mother May I? (Let the birthday child be queen or the king.)

-Have the kids decorate giant gingerbread boys with frosting and candies.

For your menu, make sandwiches, cookies, and Jell-O Jigglers cut out into candy cane and gingerbread man shapes. Also, rainbow-colored goldfish, carrot sticks, pudding cups and chocolate milk. Serve peppermint ice cream at this party! A batch of cupcakes topped in a rainbow of colored candies colors would be so fun too.

For favors, the possibilities are endless: the kids can take home candy, of course, or a bright box of crayons and a Candy Land coloring book or printable pages.