FAMILY LIFE MERIT BADGEFAMILY LIFE MERIT BADGE

#1 What is a family?#1 What is a family?

#1 What is a family?#1 What is a family?

People belonging together.People belonging together. People caring about what happens to each other.People caring about what happens to each other. People giving and receiving love.People giving and receiving love. People talking and listening to each other.People talking and listening to each other. People have good and bad times together.People have good and bad times together. People feeling loyalty towards each other.People feeling loyalty towards each other.

#1 Why are families important to #1 Why are families important to individuals and society?individuals and society?

#1 Why are families important to #1 Why are families important to individuals and society?individuals and society?

Come in different ways:Come in different ways: Traditional family with mother, father, childrenTraditional family with mother, father, children Single parentSingle parent Step parentStep parent Live with others such as grandparentsLive with others such as grandparents• Small vs. largeSmall vs. large

Individual

Basic unit of societyBasic unit of society

Help and support usHelp and support us

Give us directionGive us direction

Society

Learn to live and work together Learn to communicate with others Learn value of work & how to do it Learn that life has consequences Learn to interact with other people Learn how to “give and take”

#1 How can the actions of one #1 How can the actions of one member of the family affect other member of the family affect other

members?members? One person’s actions can affect all the other One person’s actions can affect all the other

members of the family.members of the family.

Scenario #1Scenario #1

You know that your sister has a lot of homework You know that your sister has a lot of homework so you help her do the dishes (which is her job). so you help her do the dishes (which is her job).

What may happen as a result of this?What may happen as a result of this?

Scenario #2Scenario #2

Your Mom tells you to go to bed because it’s a school night, but you end up staying up until 12:30 watching movies. What may happen the next morning?

Scenero #3Scenero #3

Your Dad tells you to get off the computer Your Dad tells you to get off the computer because it’s your little brother’s turn. You’re in because it’s your little brother’s turn. You’re in the middle of your favorite computer game, so the middle of your favorite computer game, so you just keep on playing for another half hour.you just keep on playing for another half hour.

Scenerio #4Scenerio #4

Your little brother wants to go to the movie with Your little brother wants to go to the movie with you and your friends. You tell him he can’t go you and your friends. You tell him he can’t go

with you because he’s a “little nerd.”with you because he’s a “little nerd.”

Scenerio #5Scenerio #5

You thank your Mom after she fixes your favorite You thank your Mom after she fixes your favorite breakfast.breakfast.

#2 Why are you important to your #2 Why are you important to your family?family?

#3 Home Duties #3 Home Duties

Prepare a list of your regular home duties or Prepare a list of your regular home duties or chores (at least five). chores (at least five).

Do them for 90 days. Do them for 90 days. Keep a record of how often you do each of Keep a record of how often you do each of

them. them.

#4 Project You Do Alone#4 Project You Do Alone

Decide on and carry out a project that Decide on and carry out a project that you you would dowould do around the home that would benefit around the home that would benefit your family. your family.

Submit a report outlining how the project Submit a report outlining how the project benefited your family.benefited your family.

ExamplesExamples

Make shelves for storage.Make shelves for storage. Do a specially assigned job around the house.Do a specially assigned job around the house. Do extra outside job (pull weeds, dig up old Do extra outside job (pull weeds, dig up old

shrubs, paint, etc).shrubs, paint, etc).

#5 Project You Do With Other #5 Project You Do With Other Family MembersFamily Members

Plan and carry out a project that involves the Plan and carry out a project that involves the participation of your family. participation of your family.

After completing the project, discuss the After completing the project, discuss the following with your merit badge. Counselor:following with your merit badge. Counselor: A. The objective or goal of the project.A. The objective or goal of the project. B. How individual members of your family B. How individual members of your family

participate.participate. C. The results of the project.C. The results of the project.

ExamplesExamples

Work together in the yard or garden.Work together in the yard or garden. Build something together.Build something together. Work together painting inside or outside the Work together painting inside or outside the

house.house. Do family history together. Do family history together.

#6A Family Meeting#6A Family Meeting

Plan a family meeting.Plan a family meeting.

Carry out a family meeting. Carry out a family meeting.

How can you do it?How can you do it?

How often do you need to have one? How often do you need to have one? Usually once a week.Usually once a week.

Who should attend?Who should attend? All the members of the family.All the members of the family.

How can you do it?How can you do it?

What is an agenda?What is an agenda? Lists the items in family life that are up for Lists the items in family life that are up for

discussion. discussion. Having an agenda helps you to be ready for your Having an agenda helps you to be ready for your

family meeting. family meeting.

What items can be placed on the agenda?What items can be placed on the agenda? Any item that the family thinks needs to be up for Any item that the family thinks needs to be up for

discussion.discussion.

How can you do it?How can you do it?

How can a memo help? How can a memo help? It helps to identify what the family needs to It helps to identify what the family needs to

discuss.discuss.

Where should you put the memo?Where should you put the memo? In a handy place where everyone can see it.In a handy place where everyone can see it.

The memo is used as a basis for your agenda.The memo is used as a basis for your agenda.

Remember…Remember…

Discussions should be about SITUATIONS Discussions should be about SITUATIONS not INDIVIDUALS.not INDIVIDUALS.

Listen to each other with respect, without Listen to each other with respect, without JUDGMENT or CRITICISM.JUDGMENT or CRITICISM.

Remember…Remember…

Talk about what the family is going to do that Talk about what the family is going to do that week.week.

Start by having everyone in the family talk Start by having everyone in the family talk about something good that happened that week about something good that happened that week in the familyin the family

Family meetings are often followed by a time Family meetings are often followed by a time of family fun.of family fun.

#6B Family Meeting Topics#6B Family Meeting Topics

Avoiding substance abuseAvoiding substance abuse

Understanding the growing-up process and how Understanding the growing-up process and how the body changes, and making responsible the body changes, and making responsible decisions dealing with sex.decisions dealing with sex.

Personal and family finances.Personal and family finances.

#6B Family Meeting Topics#6B Family Meeting Topics

A crisis situation in your familyA crisis situation in your family

The effect of technology on your familyThe effect of technology on your family

NOTE:NOTE: Adjust the information presented in Adjust the information presented in family meetings to the age and family meetings to the age and development of family members.development of family members.

#7A Fathers#7A Fathers

What makes an effective father and why?What makes an effective father and why?

#7A Fathers#7A Fathers

Loves family membersLoves family members Sets a good example (teaches correct Sets a good example (teaches correct

principles)principles) Communicates with family membersCommunicates with family members Provides for the familyProvides for the family Helps family members with problemsHelps family members with problems ReliableReliable Supports family members' activitiesSupports family members' activities

FathersFathers

Breadwinner or providerBreadwinner or provider ExampleExample Helper and supporterHelper and supporter InitiatorInitiator Advice giverAdvice giver

#7B Parenthood#7B Parenthood

What is your understanding of the What is your understanding of the responsibilities of a parent?responsibilities of a parent?

#7B Responsibilities of a Parent#7B Responsibilities of a Parent

Support family membersSupport family members Provide for needsProvide for needs Nurture and give loveNurture and give love Educate and instructEducate and instruct Be a good exampleBe a good example Model correct behaviorModel correct behavior Discipline when neededDiscipline when needed

SourcesSources

Google Images. <Google Images. <http://images.google.com/images>>