Advice needed for Outdoor Family Holiday Portrait

I've been asked to shoot a young family for their holiday family portrait. We will do it outdoors in a park setting. Young couple and 6 year old child. Need advice/examples on posing, using natural light and of my equipment what do you recommend I use?

I have D5100, 18-200mm VRII Zoom, 18-55mm Kit lens, 70-300mm VR...

Thanks in advance - I'm doing this tomorrow at 2:30pm PST so nice quick responses appreciated

My advice would be for you to take them in the shade and use open shade as a main source of light, unless you have a powerful fill-in flash. It's about the only advice I could give you. Bring all your lenses and it will depend on how much room you have to play with. Use the longest lens possible TO KEEP ALL OF THEM IN FOCUS while keeping out the background out of focus. For the poses, you'll be on your own and will have to try whatever comes natural, but try to make them look as close as possible to each others.

Remember there are two kinds of close, Physically close and FAMILY close.

Try this: Family Portrait Poses

This is great, thanks!

Your family portrait shoot is over by now. How did the session go for you? Show us some photos.

Here you go, be kind

One more:

I'd say you nailed it, Rick.

Well from the images the family has seen so far, they are very happy. Trying to get another couple (nice looking neighbors) to let me shoot their holiday shots this weekend.

Next weeks personal assignment for me is to shoot the mom individually for head shots for her acting classes and also shooting another young lady who is trying to be an actress/model. Both shoots will be location shoots with some head shots, 3/4 shots and full length shots. Let's see how those go

The following week I need to assign myself a task to shoot men (head shots, 3/4 and full length)

No studio stuff yet that will be another personal assignment once I can afford to rent a studio and lighting (or at least get the subject/model to help pay for those expenses)

If I keep practicing maybe someday my girlfriend will actually like a picture I take of her

As always I am open to any advice and suggestions before my self assignments. I appreciate everyone's help and comments.