Generally I don't much like most "family" boardgames. People fetch them out as a social activity, but then arguments and bitterness erupt when one player is more knowledgeable/devious than the others. What starts as a way of bringing people together ends as a wedge spolitting them apart.

My preference is for collaborative games where everyone helps the team to do well against an imaginary or automated third party. Many people seem unfamiliar or uncomfortable with this, though. Games such as "cranium" with a clear aim of making winning "softer" and celebrating everyone's abilities may just be the solution.

There's an interesting article about the development of cranium and some other similar games at the New York Times. May need free registration.