Just a quick note to let you know that I have not given up on posting new family home evening lessons here. My Mondays have become totally crazy from morning to night and this winter, like most winters, finds me sagging with less energy and enthusiasm than the rest of the year. I am really hoping the Mr. Groundhog will predict some warm sunshine very soon, since my Vitamin D pills are a poor substitute for the warm rays of the sun. I hope to regain my groove sometime in the next few weeks....
In the meantime here's a troubleshooting guide I prepared for a RS Enrichment night lesson on holding successful family home evenings. Feel free to add in your own solutions or problems in the comment section and I will try to address them (or add them to my list) in a future post.
In the meantime here's a troubleshooting guide I prepared for a RS Enrichment night lesson on holding successful family home evenings. Feel free to add in your own solutions or problems in the comment section and I will try to address them (or add them to my list) in a future post.
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FAMILY HOME EVENING TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE:
by Lara Goold
Issue #1: I have children that are preschoolers and teens and every age in between. How can I possibly teach a lesson that will be meaningful to all of them?
This is our pretty much our family right now and how we’ve done it, is that we always start off the lesson with a simple concept or object lesson that is the “meat” of the lesson (usually with lots of visual aids to keep them engaged). We really focus it on the younger kids and enlist the older kids to teach or participate heavily in the discussion. When I feel comfortable that they’ve really got it (usually in 5-10 minutes) we branch out a little more for the older kids. We talk more about real-life application and specific situations that they might face, where they can put the gospel topic into practice. The younger kids are present (although usually playing quietly) during this. Sometimes it’s a challenge, but in the end I feel like everyone is getting something somewhat significant out of the lesson. In addition, I believe that the review of simple concepts for the older kids and the preview of more in-depth concepts for the younger ones also adds a valuable element to the lesson.
Issue #2: My kids are so young, I just don’t think that they’re getting anything out of it. Why bother?
It’s the habit that matters. Keep the lessons short and sweet and fun. If all they get out of a lesson is that Jesus loves them or that keeping the commandments is good, then consider it a success. In addition to building their testimonies one simple concept at a time, establishing the habit of weekly family home evenings early in their lives will make it so much easier for you later, when they’re older and busier.
Issue #3: My teens are so resistant to sitting down for family home evening and always have a ready excuse at why they should be excused.
The best way to get around this is preventative maintenance. If you’ve been having weekly family home evenings ever since they were small children, they would know that it is a firm expectation that they participate. If it’s too late for preventative maintenance, then start now with consistently holding it weekly and expecting, firmly, but gently, that every member of the family participates. Inconsistent lessons or loose expectations will only increase their resistance, so be committed…they need these lessons and family connections more than ever now!
Issue #4: My spouse gives really long, boring lessons that really turn the kids “off” of FHE.
You may laugh, but I’ve talked to many, many people where this is an issue (including us occasionally…shhh don’t tell Glen). My best suggestion would be to be prepared. When it’s their turn to give a lesson, have a discussion beforehand at how you hope the lesson will go (stay positive). If they’re too busy to plan for an object lesson or story that will capture the kids’ attention more, then plan one to go along with the topic (with their approval of course). Be careful not to usurp the lesson teaching away from them. Kids need to hear from both parents and their siblings whenever possible.
Issue #5: My kids are crazy and won’t sit down for 2 minutes. I always end up so flustered by the end of FHE.
It’s time to evaluate. Are your lessons too long or not engaging enough? Are you not expecting enough from them? Are you consistently enforcing the same expectations week-to-week? Or are you unknowingly reinforcing their poor behavior by paying them negative attention or by cutting the lesson short in frustration? Figure out where the trouble is and work on fixing it. Family home evening should be a positive experience for both kids and adults (at least most of the time). In our house, we allow some quiet wiggles in the younger children, especially when we focus the lesson on the older kids, but leaving the room or disrupting the family are not tolerated at all.
by Lara Goold
Issue #1: I have children that are preschoolers and teens and every age in between. How can I possibly teach a lesson that will be meaningful to all of them?
This is our pretty much our family right now and how we’ve done it, is that we always start off the lesson with a simple concept or object lesson that is the “meat” of the lesson (usually with lots of visual aids to keep them engaged). We really focus it on the younger kids and enlist the older kids to teach or participate heavily in the discussion. When I feel comfortable that they’ve really got it (usually in 5-10 minutes) we branch out a little more for the older kids. We talk more about real-life application and specific situations that they might face, where they can put the gospel topic into practice. The younger kids are present (although usually playing quietly) during this. Sometimes it’s a challenge, but in the end I feel like everyone is getting something somewhat significant out of the lesson. In addition, I believe that the review of simple concepts for the older kids and the preview of more in-depth concepts for the younger ones also adds a valuable element to the lesson.
Issue #2: My kids are so young, I just don’t think that they’re getting anything out of it. Why bother?
It’s the habit that matters. Keep the lessons short and sweet and fun. If all they get out of a lesson is that Jesus loves them or that keeping the commandments is good, then consider it a success. In addition to building their testimonies one simple concept at a time, establishing the habit of weekly family home evenings early in their lives will make it so much easier for you later, when they’re older and busier.
Issue #3: My teens are so resistant to sitting down for family home evening and always have a ready excuse at why they should be excused.
The best way to get around this is preventative maintenance. If you’ve been having weekly family home evenings ever since they were small children, they would know that it is a firm expectation that they participate. If it’s too late for preventative maintenance, then start now with consistently holding it weekly and expecting, firmly, but gently, that every member of the family participates. Inconsistent lessons or loose expectations will only increase their resistance, so be committed…they need these lessons and family connections more than ever now!
Issue #4: My spouse gives really long, boring lessons that really turn the kids “off” of FHE.
You may laugh, but I’ve talked to many, many people where this is an issue (including us occasionally…shhh don’t tell Glen). My best suggestion would be to be prepared. When it’s their turn to give a lesson, have a discussion beforehand at how you hope the lesson will go (stay positive). If they’re too busy to plan for an object lesson or story that will capture the kids’ attention more, then plan one to go along with the topic (with their approval of course). Be careful not to usurp the lesson teaching away from them. Kids need to hear from both parents and their siblings whenever possible.
Issue #5: My kids are crazy and won’t sit down for 2 minutes. I always end up so flustered by the end of FHE.
It’s time to evaluate. Are your lessons too long or not engaging enough? Are you not expecting enough from them? Are you consistently enforcing the same expectations week-to-week? Or are you unknowingly reinforcing their poor behavior by paying them negative attention or by cutting the lesson short in frustration? Figure out where the trouble is and work on fixing it. Family home evening should be a positive experience for both kids and adults (at least most of the time). In our house, we allow some quiet wiggles in the younger children, especially when we focus the lesson on the older kids, but leaving the room or disrupting the family are not tolerated at all.
Issue #6: We are busy with so many activities, I just don’t know when we can squeeze one more thing like family home evening into our schedules. We always go to church. Isn’t that enough?
Think about it honestly. If your life is so busy that you can’t squeeze in a 20-30 minute block of time once-a-week devoted to strengthening your family and learning the gospel together, then perhaps it’s time to evaluate where your priorities lie. Remember family home evenings aren’t cookie cutter from family to family…find a time and a system that works for you and make it happen every week…no matter what!
Issue #7: My kids always end up fighting by the end. It’s exhausting.
A little preventative maintenance here can go a long way. If there’s a pot stirrer in your house that likes to get people’s goat (yes, we have two in our house), then try to preemptively engage them in a way that makes it harder to push people’s buttons. Sit next to them. Give them tasks. I also strongly recommend keeping family home evenings positive (see commandment #4), so that no one ever feels ganged up on during a lesson. If you notice the beginnings of a fight forming, nip it in the bud.
Issue #8: My spouse isn’t supportive for making FHE a priority (or works long hours that make it unlikely for him to be home).
Ideally, everyone in the family would always be able to participate happily in family home evening, but unfortunately we don’t live in an ideal world. Don’t let this be a deterrent to you. The blessings are indiscriminate. If you have to be the one to take charge of family home evening by yourself, every week, your entire family will still be blessed for your efforts. In our house, we usually try to move our family home evenings to Sunday nights when we know there is something going on on Monday, but sometimes my husband works late. Or something unusual pops up with one of the kids. It’s not ideal, but in these situations we go ahead with family home evening…with whoever is there.
Issue #9: Someone always gets upset or feels picked on during the lesson and stomps off in a huff.
Back to commandment #4 again….keep it positive. Family home evenings are for teaching your family the gospel and how to be better people, not for addressing an individual’s behavioral issues. Individual issues should be saved for individual conversations and family home evening lessons should be focused on gospel principles and character development. I know from personal experience (from my youth) that people are not motivated to change by embarrassing them or by tearing them down. Do everything you can to keep family home evenings a safe haven for everyone. I believe that even discipline, when necessary during family home evening, should be kept positive.
Issue #10: I want to have fun family home evenings every week, but just don’t really enjoy cutting and laminating. How can we have lessons that the kids will enjoy without putting forth that much effort?
I’ll be honest. This was one of my biggest hesitations with having the family home evening packets to put together tonight. I don’t ever want anyone to feel like they need a 10-page packet in order to have a fun, engaging family home evening lesson with their families. I know that most people do not enjoy the cutting and laminating as I have, but in my mind it’s reflective of one of the beauties of family home evening—just as every family is unique, with its own strengths and weaknesses—so will our family home evenings be. I know someone who would take turns picking a picture out of the Gospel Art Kit each week and they make that their lesson. I know others that pick a story out of the Friend magazine and base their lesson on that. Others will watch a clip of a church video and go from there. Honestly, I think mixing it up and having the lesson style vary from week-to-week is a great way to keep from falling into a rut.
Think about it honestly. If your life is so busy that you can’t squeeze in a 20-30 minute block of time once-a-week devoted to strengthening your family and learning the gospel together, then perhaps it’s time to evaluate where your priorities lie. Remember family home evenings aren’t cookie cutter from family to family…find a time and a system that works for you and make it happen every week…no matter what!
Issue #7: My kids always end up fighting by the end. It’s exhausting.
A little preventative maintenance here can go a long way. If there’s a pot stirrer in your house that likes to get people’s goat (yes, we have two in our house), then try to preemptively engage them in a way that makes it harder to push people’s buttons. Sit next to them. Give them tasks. I also strongly recommend keeping family home evenings positive (see commandment #4), so that no one ever feels ganged up on during a lesson. If you notice the beginnings of a fight forming, nip it in the bud.
Issue #8: My spouse isn’t supportive for making FHE a priority (or works long hours that make it unlikely for him to be home).
Ideally, everyone in the family would always be able to participate happily in family home evening, but unfortunately we don’t live in an ideal world. Don’t let this be a deterrent to you. The blessings are indiscriminate. If you have to be the one to take charge of family home evening by yourself, every week, your entire family will still be blessed for your efforts. In our house, we usually try to move our family home evenings to Sunday nights when we know there is something going on on Monday, but sometimes my husband works late. Or something unusual pops up with one of the kids. It’s not ideal, but in these situations we go ahead with family home evening…with whoever is there.
Issue #9: Someone always gets upset or feels picked on during the lesson and stomps off in a huff.
Back to commandment #4 again….keep it positive. Family home evenings are for teaching your family the gospel and how to be better people, not for addressing an individual’s behavioral issues. Individual issues should be saved for individual conversations and family home evening lessons should be focused on gospel principles and character development. I know from personal experience (from my youth) that people are not motivated to change by embarrassing them or by tearing them down. Do everything you can to keep family home evenings a safe haven for everyone. I believe that even discipline, when necessary during family home evening, should be kept positive.
Issue #10: I want to have fun family home evenings every week, but just don’t really enjoy cutting and laminating. How can we have lessons that the kids will enjoy without putting forth that much effort?
I’ll be honest. This was one of my biggest hesitations with having the family home evening packets to put together tonight. I don’t ever want anyone to feel like they need a 10-page packet in order to have a fun, engaging family home evening lesson with their families. I know that most people do not enjoy the cutting and laminating as I have, but in my mind it’s reflective of one of the beauties of family home evening—just as every family is unique, with its own strengths and weaknesses—so will our family home evenings be. I know someone who would take turns picking a picture out of the Gospel Art Kit each week and they make that their lesson. I know others that pick a story out of the Friend magazine and base their lesson on that. Others will watch a clip of a church video and go from there. Honestly, I think mixing it up and having the lesson style vary from week-to-week is a great way to keep from falling into a rut.
