*Chapter 21- The Meanings and Blessings of Family Work

Proclamation Principle:  Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of work. 

Lesson Objectives:  Teach the children how important it is to "share the load" in the family and how the entire load is too much for just one person, but if we all pitch in to help it makes the burden easy to carry. This lesson is also a great way to teach the importance of recognizing our limits and that it is also important to ask for help.

 

Opening Song:  When we're helping we're happy 

Quote/Scripture of the Week:    “Our Heavenly Father asks only that we do the best we can—that we work according to our full capacity, however great or small that may be.”
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Points to Ponder:  Our family motto is from the scripture in Psalms, ”How pleasant it is to dwell...in unity and love.”  One way to establish that unity and love is by working/serving with our family. 

It is important for children to understand the value of working as a family because the collective efforts of the whole is far greater than the individual effort.  Just like in any sports team, while every player has different strengths and talents in different areas, it requires the talents, strengths, and effort of every player in order for a team to be successful! EVERY player can contribute in this "game of life" or so to speak.

Video Clip:  Watch this video clip on the impact that each family members' efforts can have on the family for good. 

Physical Work Activity:  If your home is like mine, there are always plenty of projects that need to get done. As a family, decide on a few jobs around the yard or home that need to get done and do them as a family.  Set the ground rules that there will be No whining and No complaining. :) You could come prepared with a list of ideas beforehand so that the family feels like they have more of a say on the activity.  This tends to lead to greater cooperation on such things. Also, make certain that each family member has a responsibility so that they get a sense of satisfaction as well. Even little ones can do small tasks.  Family work can be fun!  If by chance, you do not have any projects around the home that could be done (then I am very jealous of you), :) find a family that could benefit from your service instead.  This would not only teach the value of work but the value of service as well. Two birds/one stone!

Refreshment Activity: After you've finished your physical work, come back inside for a fun way to wrap up the lesson.  Gather for the activity in the kitchen. Have all of the ingredients for a particular treat/dessert set out on the counter.  Ask the family if they’d enjoy eating the ingredient they provided by itself or if it might be better combined with other ingredients. Then ask what you could combine the ingredients into. After some discussion, provide the recipe and explain that just like ingredients are better when combined, we are also blessed as we organize ourselves and become unified as a family. Every person is important and needed. Work together to prepare the recipe, and let the family enjoy the treats.

   

Supplemental Activity: (to reinforce this principle) MVP award- When our kids were younger we used to issue an "MVP" award to the child who'd been most helpful, best behaved that day. This entitled them to an extra 15 minutes of mom/dad time after the other kids had gone to bed that night. It was amazing how much that little incentive gave them the extra boost to put forth their best efforts. It was such a great way to teach the kids the importance of doing their part in the family, and doing it well.  Life is a team effort!

Refreshments:  Whatever treat the family makes for the refreshment activity.