FAMILY LIFE MERIT BADGE

#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 individuals and society?

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

Individual Basic unit of society Basic unit of society Help and support us Help and support us Give us direction Give 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 member of the family affect other members? One person’s actions can affect all the other members of the family. One person’s actions can affect all the other members of the family.

Scenario #1 You know that your sister has a lot of homework so you help her do the dishes (which is her job). What may happen as a result of this?

Scenario #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 #3 Your Dad tells you to get off the computer because it’s your little brother’s turn. You’re in the middle of your favorite computer game, so you just keep on playing for another half hour.

Scenerio #4 Your little brother wants to go to the movie with you and your friends. You tell him he can’t go with you because he’s a “little nerd.”

Scenerio #5 You thank your Mom after she fixes your favorite breakfast.

#2 Why are you important to your family?

#3 Home Duties Prepare a list of your regular home duties or chores (at least five). Prepare a list of your regular home duties or chores (at least five). Do them for 90 days. Do them for 90 days. Keep a record of how often you do each of them. Keep a record of how often you do each of them.

#4 Project You Do Alone Decide on and carry out a project that you would do around the home that would benefit your family. Decide on and carry out a project that you would do around the home that would benefit your family. Submit a report outlining how the project benefited your family. Submit a report outlining how the project benefited your family.

Examples 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 shrubs, paint, etc). Do extra outside job (pull weeds, dig up old shrubs, paint, etc).

#5 Project You Do With Other Family Members Plan and carry out a project that involves the participation of your family. Plan and carry out a project that involves the participation of your family. After completing the project, discuss the following with your merit badge. Counselor: After completing the project, discuss the 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 participate. B. How individual members of your family participate. C. The results of the project. C. The results of the project.

Examples 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 house. Work together painting inside or outside the house. Do family history together. Do family history together.

#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 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? What is an agenda? What is an agenda? Lists the items in family life that are up for discussion. Lists the items in family life that are up for discussion. Having an agenda helps you to be ready for your family meeting. Having an agenda helps you to be ready for your 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 discussion. Any item that the family thinks needs to be up for discussion.

How can you do it? How can a memo help? How can a memo help? It helps to identify what the family needs to discuss. It helps to identify what the family needs to 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… Discussions should be about SITUATIONS not INDIVIDUALS. Discussions should be about SITUATIONS not INDIVIDUALS. Listen to each other with respect, without JUDGMENT or CRITICISM. Listen to each other with respect, without JUDGMENT or CRITICISM.

Remember… Talk about what the family is going to do that week. Talk about what the family is going to do that week. Start by having everyone in the family talk about something good that happened that week in the family Start by having everyone in the family talk about something good that happened that week in the family Family meetings are often followed by a time of family fun. Family meetings are often followed by a time of family fun.

#6B Family Meeting Topics Avoiding substance abuse Avoiding substance abuse Understanding the growing-up process and how the body changes, and making responsible decisions dealing with sex. Understanding the growing-up process and how the body changes, and making responsible decisions dealing with sex. Personal and family finances. Personal and family finances.

#6B Family Meeting Topics A crisis situation in your family A crisis situation in your family The effect of technology on your family The 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 What makes an effective father and why? What makes an effective father and why?

#7A Fathers Loves family members Loves family members Sets a good example (teaches correct principles) Sets a good example (teaches correct principles) Communicates with family members Communicates with family members Provides for the family Provides for the family Helps family members with problems Helps family members with problems Reliable Reliable Supports family members' activities Supports family members' activities

Fathers Breadwinner or provider Breadwinner or provider Example Example Helper and supporter Helper and supporter Initiator Initiator Advice giver Advice giver

#7B Parenthood What is your understanding of the responsibilities of a parent? What is your understanding of the responsibilities of a parent?

#7B Responsibilities of a Parent Support family members Support family members Provide for needs Provide for needs Nurture and give love Nurture and give love Educate and instruct Educate and instruct Be a good example Be a good example Model correct behavior Model correct behavior Discipline when needed Discipline when needed

Sources Google Images. Google Images.