Orville Redenbacher’s Pop & Win #Giveaway is Perfect for Family Game Night!

Up until this moment in your life what have video games and parents had in common? (and taking them away does not count!) Probably not very much.

Vision Critical, formerly Angus Reid, conducted a survey on behalf of Orville at the end of October around time spent as a family, whether gaming plays a role, etc. Here are some insights from the survey:

• Parents would like to spend more time with their children: 40% are dissatisfied with the amount of time they spend together.
• Three out of ten parents (30%) spend 5 to 10 hours per week talking or doing activities with their children; one-in-ten admit they spend less than 5 hours a week with their children.
• 85% of households surveyed have a gaming system; children spend 2.1 hours per day gaming.
• a third of respondents (34%) think gaming improves time spent with the family.

It is no secret that parents want to connect with their children. Sometimes a change in perspective can help you learn to connect in a new way.

Our little girls do not play video games yet, but my husband wants to be right there gaming with them once they get to the age of wanting to have video games. I am personally not into playing video games, but I would not want to miss out on the opportunity to connect with my family, so I appreciated these tips from Marc…

–Don’t knock it ‘til you try it: parents may not want to look like complete “noobs” in front of their kids, but just as you might watch TV or read together, why not engage in interactive entertainment with the kids? Some parents may prefer to try out the games when the kids aren’t around to get used to them a little. Don’t worry – you can’t “break” the game!

–Pick a genre you all like: not all games appeal to the same people. Mom might have trouble associating with fantasy role-playing games like World of Warcraft or military shooters like Call of Duty. Discuss genres that cross a common ground (perhaps music games). Many multiplayer “party” games lend themselves to group play – try starting with a digital version of a family board game.

-Do your homework: while kids rarely read game manuals, parents who want to play with their kids might want to do so, as the controls are usually laid out with diagrams and descriptions. Also, most games begin with some kind of tutorial, so start at the beginning of the adventure! This should help alleviate common concerns heard from moms and dads, such as “I die within minutes”, “the controls are too confusing” and “he always beats me”.

-Switch platforms: if TV-based video game consoles and wireless controllers are too intimidating, try engaging with kids on another platform, such as a computer or tablet. In fact, there are many good multiplayer iPad games available for both game-savvy and not-so-game-savvy folks.

-Game (not) over: Don’t beat yourself up if this experiment in gaming with the kids doesn’t work. Remind them it’s just about connecting more and hanging out as a family. Perhaps at the very least you can make an effort to relax in the same room as the kids who are playing games – even though you might be flipping through a magazine on the couch.

Our family is a huge fan of Orville Redenbacher’s popcorn, so the new Orville Pop & Win giveaway which stresses the importance of family time has caught my eye! You can instantly win one of 2 amazing grand prizes which include:

• a PlayStation 3 System
• a PlayStation Move motion controller
• a 60” Sony 3D TV and more

There are also over one million other prizes to be won. What are you waiting for? Get your pin from participating packages of Orville popcorn!

Best of luck to everyone who enters and parents, please take the time to invest in your children.  Children want their parents to know how committed you are to them.  Here is the chance to invest and get great rewards that will last a lifetime.

Orville Redenbacher’s is giving Mommy Moment readers a chance to get in on the fun.

Giveaway Moment:

One Mommy Moment reader will win a Pop & Win prize pack valued at $50. The prize pack includes family-friendly PS3 games, Orville Redenbacher’s popcorn & more!

**Need Instructions or Help about entering a Blog Giveaway? Read This!**

Mandatory entry: Leave a comment telling me one of your favorite family activities.

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Ends: November 30, 2011 at 9pm CST

Open to Canada

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