Family Recreation & Social Activities
Careful planning of recreation and activities helps the family get the most from the limited recreation budget. Family group activities may include:
Birthdays and other special events
Sporting events and logistics
Vacation plans
Children social calendar
We used sub-committees for special planning event with reports to the Family Council.
By planning special event over a period of time we get more value out of them. A good example of this is the three-week train trip/vacation we planned through Europe in 1980. We had seven children ages 12 years to 6 months. We began the planning in Family Council six months before the event. Members of the family that were old enough were given assignments to help plan. We looked at routes and costs. We decided which cities we would visit. Reports were given on the various cities, their history and the sites that would be of interest. We decided that we could live out of six knapsacks and one large suitcase. We tried out our idea with rocks and cans in the knapsacks that Susan made out of old jeans with the legs cut off and straps added. It worked! This trip was one of the great events of the family as we visited Sweden, Germany, Italy, Spain and France before returning to Germany.
Note: Using sub-committees outside of the Family Council with specific assignments to bring ideas and solutions to the FC for other to review, endorsement and implement really works and keep the agenda moving.
We also try to plan a Significant Spiritual Event (SSE) as part of our major vacation times together. These events need not be elaborate, just meaningful. Here are the elements of the SSE:
1. Sacrifice time and talents
2. Go to a new environment
3. Teach eternal truths
4. Provide reflection time
5. Share feelings (testimony)
A few SSE examples:
1. Testimony meeting with the grandparents on a picnic in the forest
2. Visits to Church historical sites and share family history
3. Testimony meeting at family reunions
4. Family talent show
5. "I am thankful for" at Thanksgiving gatherings
Return to Family Life Mission tasks
Birthdays and other special events
Sporting events and logistics
Vacation plans
Children social calendar
We used sub-committees for special planning event with reports to the Family Council.
By planning special event over a period of time we get more value out of them. A good example of this is the three-week train trip/vacation we planned through Europe in 1980. We had seven children ages 12 years to 6 months. We began the planning in Family Council six months before the event. Members of the family that were old enough were given assignments to help plan. We looked at routes and costs. We decided which cities we would visit. Reports were given on the various cities, their history and the sites that would be of interest. We decided that we could live out of six knapsacks and one large suitcase. We tried out our idea with rocks and cans in the knapsacks that Susan made out of old jeans with the legs cut off and straps added. It worked! This trip was one of the great events of the family as we visited Sweden, Germany, Italy, Spain and France before returning to Germany.
Note: Using sub-committees outside of the Family Council with specific assignments to bring ideas and solutions to the FC for other to review, endorsement and implement really works and keep the agenda moving.
We also try to plan a Significant Spiritual Event (SSE) as part of our major vacation times together. These events need not be elaborate, just meaningful. Here are the elements of the SSE:
1. Sacrifice time and talents
2. Go to a new environment
3. Teach eternal truths
4. Provide reflection time
5. Share feelings (testimony)
A few SSE examples:
1. Testimony meeting with the grandparents on a picnic in the forest
2. Visits to Church historical sites and share family history
3. Testimony meeting at family reunions
4. Family talent show
5. "I am thankful for" at Thanksgiving gatherings
Return to Family Life Mission tasks