Welcome to the Family Room

Home School Connections

You have probably heard the saying, "A family that prays together, stays together." It is with that truth in mind that the Family Room will be here for your use.

My own children are no longer at home, nor are my grandchildren near by (about 200 miles away, but still not next door!)
Anyway, I had a resource available to me from Victor Books called Family Fun and Togetherness by Wayne Rickerson
It is from this book, personal experience and from your stories, that I'll be sharing here in the Family Room.

This is one family activity that you may just get "hooked" on playing. There are no limits as to catagories, your imagination, along with a GOOD knowledge of your other family members, will make this most enjoyable. This game is called Guess Who I Am. To prepare for this game, have each and every member of the family (young ones will have to have someone help them - preferably someone who won't be playing the game later) write statements about themselves - one per 3x5 card.

I like purple
I hate frogs
I love to hear mommy sing
I want to ride a motorcycle

These statements can be as simple, or as wild as you want them to be - as long as they are truthful.

Have a special box somewhere so that all can put their cards in as they are created. This way, they will be all together in the box when it is time for the game to begin. You can continue to add to the game box when ever you think of something else you'd like to share!

Dad, or Mom, when it is time to play the game, take the box, and shake it well. Have each person draw a card from it, and take turns trying to see who you think it is that made that statement. - This is a real good way to get to know one another even better, and have fun doing it. Be sure to through some fun ones in (like, "I like to wear clown makeup"). So often we only see certain sides of our family members, and yet we are all multi-faceted in our likes and dislikes, hopes and dreams. How much do you share with your family, and how well do you know them?

Here is a fun game for the whole family to enjoy. It is from Family Fun and Togetherness pages 102-103, and is called DID IT HAPPEN?

My most embarrising moment
The best thing I ever did
The most interesting person I ever met
The worst day I can remember
The best day I can remember
The funniest thing that has ever happened to me
The time I was most afraid
My greatest accomplishment
The funniest thing I have ever seen someone else do
The dumbest thing I have ever done

Fold the slips of paper and put them in a bowl. Each family member draws out a slip until all slips have been drawn. Explain that family members must tell a story based on the slip they drew. This story may be true or false. While the story is being told, if a family member feels the story is false, he may "gong" (hit the lids of two pans together) that person. The person then stops his story and tells whether the story was true of false.

If the story was false, the person who "gonged" may ask the storyteller to do a consequence (like run around the house, stand on his head, etc.). If the storyteller says his story was true (and the rest of the family agree that it was), then he may ask the "gonger" to do a consequence.

This procedure continues until all the statements have been used.

Since "Spring has sprung", why not have a special outside family project. This one will allow each member of the family to create something special that the whole family can enjoy!

Select an area in your yard (or a special planting box if in an apartment) for each member of your family. Allow them to choose what they would like to grow and allow them the freedom to make mistakes while they create. The rule will be, however, that each one must care for their own project - all summer long - if, of course, there are special times when "sharing a job" is needed, you may share, but I strongly urge you to be firm. This will teach discipline, responsibility and team work.

At the end of the summer what joy you will be able to share with a combined bouquet or meals created from your work. PLUS - you'll have had a ton of fun doing it!

Here is a fun suggestion I received from "Haugen":

"I'll share a couple of things we do that are really fun -we like to play cards (I know this is against some people's beliefs - but you could adapt these suggestions to other games you play together).

"During one round of play the dealer will make up a table rule for everyone playing for following
- for example:
1) one round everything you say you must sing
2) next - everything you say - you must say the entire sentence backwards
3) or next -you can say nothing at all (be quiet)

"Each person thinks of something different and adds more fun and laughter to your game."

Thank you, for sharing!

This item is from the above mentioned book, page 39, "Listening is Fun"

"It is estimated that we (parents) hear only about 25% of what is said. If that is so,s then there must be something wrong with the way we listen!

"Family communication is extremely important and listening is a crucial part of communication."

This particular section then goes on to present a few different exercises the family may use to help develop their listening/communication skills with their family. The one I like the most is object lesson # 5, which Mr. Rickerson calls "The longest minute in the world." It goes like this:
"Let each family member, in turn, talk for one minute. After a family member has completed his one-minute ordeal, the rest of the family should discuss what they think he (/she) said. Then let him (/her) share with the family what he meant to say. What were the differences? What does this say about listening? Let each family member have a turn."

More to come!

Would you like to share a special family time that has worked for you? Would you like to share a resource with us?
If so, just e-mail me

or to use 'snail mail', write to:
4-Given Ministry Through Music
7623 West Main Street, Ste. 8
Belleville, IL 62223

Please mark envelope "Attn: Family Room"