Family Fun – Day 2
Family Game – Communication & Trust
COVID 19 and the 28 days isolation brings a new stress on families. Lets try and turn this situation forced upon us into a positive time and draw out the strengths inside your family.
Suggestion: have a ‘family fun hour’ each day where you are intentional about growing your family connection and values.
Yesterday: Strong families demonstrate appreciation and affection for each other.
Check it out below if you missed that post
https://www.facebook.com/excelmarriages/posts/3611311745607415
. . . now for today’s fun!
Today’s fun activity for the whole family: Crossing the River!
You’re on an expedition in the jungle and come to a raging river with hungry crocodiles. You have to cross this river together without being eaten. You have one stepping stone for each family member.
Overall concept:
To have fun as a family and to try something new. Plus most importantly, that you are all involved together in a family-building activity in which you practice principles of communication, trust, commitment etc.
You can have as many attempts as you need to have a successful crossing, as few families can do this the first time! If an attempt fails, don’t get discouraged, but discuss together other options of how to do this successfully. The goal and challenge here is to have fun finding your own family solution, and to work together as a team!! (include the youngest family member in the discussions if at all possible. . . you may be surprised at their ideas!!)
There are 2 rules:
1. If a stepping stone is no longer being touched by a person, even for a fraction of a second, it floats away and you’ve lost it!! (Really! You lose the stone even if you aren’t in contact with it for just half a second!!)
2. A person can only step to safety on the other river bank once the last family member has left the first bank.
Fill each other’s buckets!! Make an effort to encourage and praise each other as you cross the river – and be careful not to criticise each other, for example if a stepping stone is lost.
Materials
Old cardboard for 8 stepping stones (e.g. from boxes, or newspaper or material), scissors, masking tape, and if possible, crocodiles (painted cardboard).
Preparation
Use the masking tape to indicate the banks of the river; they should be about 5-6m apart.
Since you have lots of time being in isolation, have fun making crocodiles together and placing them in the river.
Cut the cardboard to look a bit like stones (about A4 paper size). The stepping stones are placed on the river bank so that each person can take one as you cross the river together.
Tips for parents
– Make sure rule 1 is strictly observed!!
– If a family loses too many stones, start again to avoid frustration.
– If a family is hesitant about making each other compliments, then show them how (“fabulous, you did that really well”, “Good solution!”; “You worked together really well just then!” “That is a really interesting idea!”)
Question for reflection at end
– Did we work together well as a (family) team?
– Was each person able to contribute their ideas?
– Did you “fill each others’s buckets” during the activity with kindness?
– Which of us cheered on and encouraged the others the most?
Well done team! Tomorrow we will have another fun activity for your family fun time!! cya then.
Until then – be kind to each other!
