"In today's fast-paced world, it's easy to let the environment have more impact on your children than you have," says Debra Holtzman J.D, M.A, "The Safety Expert" http://thesafetyexpert.com, an internationally acclaimed child safety and health expert and the best-selling author of  "The Safe Baby: A Do-It-Yourself Guide to Home Safety and Healthy Living" (Sentient Publications). "Rushing them from one activity to another does not take the place of quality time." In fact, in today's economy, families are looking for ways to fill in the gaps left by having to give up expensive activities.  There are plenty of ways to have fun without spending a lot of money.

The author acknowledges that starting a family tradition after the children have reached their teenage years—"after they have begun to suspect their parents don't know everything," she says with a laugh—is more difficult than if you had started early, but, she insists, "It's never too late to start."

1.    Eat together. Everyone has to eat, so use that fact to get the family together once a day—or, at least, once a week. Turn off the TV, cell phone, computer, and other electronic devices, and sit at the table. Encourage each child to tell something funny, sad, scary, boring or aggravating, and be sure you have a story, too. Allow each person at the table to comment, but no negative judgments allowed!

2.    Read together. Read to your child every day as long as he cannot read for himself. When he is a beginning reader, let him read to you.  Swap books with other parents or borrow books from the library.  Later your dinner hours can be a time for discussing books each person has read.

3.  Laugh together. Watch a funny movie the whole family can enjoy. Sharing laughter is a great way for a family to enjoy each other's company. At the next family meal time, give each person a chance to say what he or she liked or disliked about the movie. Discuss how the values shown in the movie are like or unlike yours.

4.    Create rituals together. In addition to creating family rituals around religious or national holidays, once a week have a music night, game night, or a joke night. Be prepared with a joke of your own, but allow each member of the family to tell a joke. Going to bed with a smile on your face will help everyone sleep better.

5.   Walk together. Take frequent walks as a family, going to parks and nature trails or just around the block. Walking together builds camaraderie, and you'll be surprised at some of the comments your children will make. It's great way to get to know your children and a fun and easy way for everyone to get exercise.

6.   Volunteer together. Teach your child to help others by volunteering and donating (school drives, holiday food banks). This is another way to instill your values into your child.

Perhaps the most important step to take is to let your children know the significance of family and each child's importance in your life. Decorate your home with family photographs and children's artwork. Play together with a toy, craft or game, and give some one-on-one time with each child doing what that child enjoys most. They will enjoy creating special foods with you alone and as a family, and the time you spend together making holiday decorations will stay with them forever.

Debra Holtzman, J.D., M.A., "The Safety Expert", is an internationally acclaimed child safety and health expert, baby planner, an award-winning parenting author, and mother. She has a law degree, an M.A. in occupational health and safety (OSHA), a B.A. in communications and over fifteen years experience in the child safety and health field. She has made hundreds of media appearances including ABC World News with Diane Sawyer, NBC's The Today Show and Dateline. She served as the official on-camera safety expert for the popular weekly Discovery Health series, Make Room for Baby. Debra was named an "Everyday Hero" by Readers Digest and a "Woman Making a Difference" by Family Circle Magazine.  She teaches infant and toddler safety, CPR, and sibling classes at a regional hospital, and is a certified child passenger safety technician.   Debra's best-selling book, "The Safe Baby: A Do-it-Yourself Guide to Home Safety and Healthy Living" (Sentient Publications) offers parents easy-to-implement solutions and cost saving tips to keep children and pets safe and healthy.

Visit Debra online at http://thesafetyexpert.com