Family Life Merit Badge

While the bulk of this badge is done in the home, this presentation can be used to introduce the badge and get a scout started working on it.

1. Family Life Merit Badge 1

2. Family Life Merit Badge Who? 2 John Green @ johndashgreen facebook.com / jgreen Piedmont Council, BSA Slides tinyurl.com / familylifebadge

3. Family Life Merit Badge What? Status: Eagle required Created: 1991 Requirements revision: 2019 Latest pamphlet revision: 2019 3

4. Family Life Merit Badge Why? The family is the basic unit of society and is important to both individuals and communities. The world is rapidly changing, making today's society much more complex than ever before. This merit badge, will show you why its important to know more about family life and how to strengthen your family. 4

5. Family Life Merit Badge How? By showing you: What a family is How family members affect each other How to plan a family project How to conduct a family meeting What an effective parent is How to positively contribute to the family 5

6. How To Earn the Family Life Merit Badge READ the entire Merit Badge booklet MEET the requirements as stated - no more, no less – if it says: "Prepare" that is what you must do "List" you need to make a list "Plan and Carry Out" just do it "Discuss" that requires conversation 6

7. How To Earn the Family Life Merit Badge 7 TODAY This class will introduce the material and get you started on the badge. At least 90 days will be required to complete the badge. There are a few requirements that you can complete today. All of them require you to “Discuss”. You don’t talk in class – I don’t sign you off on those requirements.

8. How To Earn the Family Life Merit Badge 8 AFTER TODAY Find a Merit Badge Counselor to complete the badge.

9. How To Earn the Family Life Merit Badge 9 BACK TO TODAY Have Fun Scouting is supposed to be fun and I will do my best to make this class as fun as it can be. Classroom Behavior Have fun and participate but unruly behavior will not be tolerated. I will kick you out of class.

10. Merit Badge Worksheets 10 SUCK THE FUN OUT OF MERIT BADGES

11. Merit Badge Worksheets 11 They are unofficial, discouraged by the BSA, and the Guide to Advancement. Requirements aren’t meant to be completed by filling in a blank on some worksheet. You are meant to learn through experience. Can be used for actual writing requirements but even then they only provide black lines on a page. Making your own document is a much better choice.

12. Family Life Merit Badge 12 Name, rank, and favorite candy

13. Family Life Merit Badge 13 Requirement 1 Prepare an outline on what a family is and discuss this with your merit badge counselor. Tell why families are important to individuals and to society. Discuss how the actions of one member can affect other members.

14. Family Life Merit Badge 14 Requirement 1 Prepare an outline on what a family is and discuss this with your merit badge counselor. Tell why families are important to individuals and to society. Discuss how the actions of one member can affect other members.

15. Family Life Merit Badge 15 Prepare an outline on what a family is …

16. Outline on what a Family is 16 The basic unit of society Strong families are the foundation of strong communities

17. Outline on what a Family is 17 Foundation for physical, emotional, social, intellectual and moral development People who live together and care deeply for each other Care for and support each other Give and receive love Share language, foods, culture, heritage Give strength to one another

18. Outline on what a Family is 18 Family Structures Two parent families / One parent families Step families Extended families Adoptive families Foster families Long distance families Large / small families

19. Family Structures 19 Let’s play a game called

20. Family Structures 20 Nuclear Family Father Mother Children

21. Family Structures 21 Extended Family - grandparents, cousins, etc. Single Parent Family Blended Family - stepparents, stepbrothers, stepsisters Adoptive Family - not biologically related Foster Family - not related, arranged by government

22. Family Structures 22 Childless Family

23. Positive Family Traits 23 Love Caring for each other unconditionally Security Physical and psychological safety Acceptance and Respect For yourself and others Mutual Trust Actions and decisions determine your trust – NOT words

24. Positive Family Traits 24 Good Relationships and Communication Skills Listening and talking prevents misunderstanding Shared Roles and Responsibilities Interdependence

25. Family Life Merit Badge 25 Requirement 2 List several reasons why you are important to your family and discuss this with your parents or guardians and with your merit badge counselor.

26. Family Life Merit Badge 26 Requirement 2 List several reasons why you are important to your family and discuss this with your parents or guardians and with your merit badge counselor.

27. Family Life Merit Badge 27 Requirement 2 So you go do that. You can do it!

28. Family Life Merit Badge 28 Requirement 3 Prepare a list of your regular home duties or chores (at least five) and do them for 90 days. Keep a record of how often you do each of them. Discuss with your counselor the effect your chores had on your family.

29. Family Life Merit Badge 29 Requirement 3 Prepare a list of your regular home duties or chores (at least five) and do them for 90 days. Keep a record of how often you do each of them. Discuss with your counselor the effect your chores had on your family.

30. Family Life Merit Badge 30 Requirement 3

31. Family Life Merit Badge 31 Requirement 3 Make your own Chart or consult the Great oracle Google

32. Family Life Merit Badge 32 Requirement 3 – Exercise I need a volunteer

33. Exercise 33 Each balloon represents: Shovel Snow Feed Pets Clean Bathroom Make Beds Laundry Trash Wash Dishes Cook Meals

34. Family Life Merit Badge 34 Requirement 4 With the approval of your parents or guardians and your merit badge counselor, decide on and carry out a project that you would do around the home that would benefit your family. Submit a report to your merit badge counselor outlining how the project benefited your family.

35. Project Ideas For You To Benefit Your Family 35 Organize storage areas Paint a room Prepare a family meal Clean the garage, attic or basement Wash windows and screens Detail a car Mulch garden beds Rake yard Prune trees and shrubs Build and place birdfeeders Move furniture and vacuum

36. Family Life Merit Badge 36 Requirement 5 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: a. The objective or goal of the project b. How individual members of your family participated c. The results of the project

37. Project Ideas For Your Family To Do 37 Prepare a week’s worth of family meals Help out at a Food Bank Assist with a community beautification project Assist at an animal shelter Collect clothing for donation Plan a program for people in long-term care facilities Plan and conduct a garage sale Have a regular family night once a week Bake sale that benefits a local organization

38. Project Report Project Plan and Execution – be able to answer: What did you do? Why did you do it? Who benefited? What did you need? How did you do it? When did you do it? Did you need permission? 38

39. Project Report Project Plan Evaluation – be able to answer: What did you accomplish? How did it make you feel? How does your family feel about it? How did the person or family as a whole benefit? What worked well? What would you do differently? 39

40. Family Life Merit Badge 40 Requirement 6 Do the following: a. Discuss with your merit badge counselor how to plan and carry out a family meeting. b. After this discussion, plan and carry out a family meeting to include the following subjects: 1. Avoiding substance abuse, including tobacco, alcohol, and drugs, all of which negatively affect your health and well-being 2. Understanding the growing-up process and how the body changes, and making responsible decisions dealing with sex 3. How your chores in requirement 3 contributed to your role in the family 4. Personal and family finances 5. A crisis situation within your family 6. The effect of technology on your family 7. Good etiquette and manners

41. Family Life Merit Badge 41 Requirement 6 – Good News and Bad News Doctor: I have some good news and I have some bad news. Patient: What's the good news? Doctor: The good news is that the tests you took showed that you have 24 hours to live. Patient: That's the good news? What's the bad news? Doctor: The bad news is ... I forgot to call you yesterday!

42. Family Life Merit Badge 42 Requirement 6 – Good News and Bad News The good news is – we can do 6a

43. Family Life Merit Badge 43 Requirement 6 Discuss with your merit badge counselor how to plan and carry out a family meeting.

44. Family Life Merit Badge 44 Discuss how to plan and carry out a family meeting …

45. Plan A Family Meeting 45 Scheduled time Written agenda Appoint a Meeting Leader but include everyone Talk about situations and behavior, not people Avoiding sibling “attitudes” Stay serious and positive Write down family conclusions on each topic

46. Topic That Must Be Covered in Your Family Meeting Avoiding substance abuse, Understanding your body changes, and making responsible decisions about sex Chores Personal and family finances A crisis situation within your family The effect of technology on your family Good etiquette and manners 46

47. May Take More Than One Meeting Avoiding substance abuse, Understanding your body changes, and making responsible decisions about sex Chores Personal and family finances A crisis situation within your family The effect of technology on your family Good etiquette and manners 47

48. Family Life Merit Badge 48 Requirement 7 Discuss with your counselor your understanding of what makes an effective parent and why, and your thoughts on the parent's role and responsibilities in the family.

49. Family Life Merit Badge 49 Requirement 7 Discuss with your counselor your understanding of what makes an effective parent and why , and your thoughts on the parent's role and responsibilities in the family.

50. Family Life Merit Badge 50 What makes an effective parent …

51. What Makes an Effective Parent Spends quality time with spouse and each child Listens to their spouse and children Offers encouragement and builds confidence Solves problems Stays cool under pressure Watches out for safety risks Sets a good example 51

52. Family Life Merit Badge 52 Responsibilities of a parent…

53. Responsibilities of a Parent Parents Provide: Safe Environment Basic needs Self Esteem Morals and Values Mutual Respect Discipline Education 53

54. Family Life Merit Badge 54

55. Blue Card Time If you participated in class today and discussed with me – I will sign off on a few requirements. The rest is up to the Merit Badge Counselor that completes the badge with you. 55

56. Family Life Merit Badge 56