Touch--It's a Wonderful and Needful Thing

I promised some activities for families that would contribute to peacefulness and affirmation. I think the following two ideas would be very helpful:

"Touch Me Gentle"
Purpose: Soothing and relaxing activity at the end of a family meeting or end of day.
How it Works: 1) Everyone sits in a circle facing the back of the person in front of them. 2) Gently massage shoulders and back of this person for two or three minutes. 3) Reverse position by turning around and massaging person who had been massaging you.

"Touch Green"
Purpose: To encourage laughter and gentle touch while affirming members of the group. To discover and affirm differences.
How it works: 1) Have all family members stand in a circle. 2) Have players take turns calling out a particular item ("Touch someone wearing...a blue shirt...green tennis shoes...red hair.") 3) Everyone touches the person wearing the named article or having the named quality. 4) Callers continue to call out items, trying to include at least one or two things about every person playing. Even very young children will have the opportunity to decide the group's action. Remember they will need more time to consider what to call. Allowing this time gives the whole family a chance to practice patience in small, caring ways.

What Can I Do on the Sabbath?

The Sabbath came and I was not successful in doing much differently than I usually do as per my quest detailed in June 6 blog. Because my sweet little granddaughter was visiting & sick, I did not breech the subject of “no T.V.” We watched the Gnome Mobile and Curious George (probably Sabbath appropriate). I am not giving up, however. In fact, last night at our family home evening group, I told of my dilemma— “I want to keep the Sabbath Day holy in a better way.” Here is the best advice I think anyone could have given me.

Approach the Sabbath Day with a list of appropriate things that CAN be done. The logical reasoning behind this is that if children (or anyone for that matter) are continually told what they cannot do, they will eventually rebel. By nature, people need to know positives—things that they can do. We need to give them ideas and possibilities.

Does this make sense? I am confident that this is a truth that can be applied to many situations in our families. “Tell me what I can do—not what I can’t do.”

The Lord has commanded us to keep the Sabbath day holy. Truly this requires determination and ever-guarded diligence. The world, today, is full of distractions and is not always helpful in our efforts to observe this law and we must be ever-watchful because of this. To help your family, create the above mentioned list of “Sabbath Cans.” Perhaps you could make a “Sunday Brightener Box” containing ideas for Sabbath activities. You might include reading Church magazines, visiting grandparents or shut-ins, writing someone (like missionaries), playing games, etc. Be prayerful about this. What might be appropriate to me may very well be inappropriate to you. Your Sabbath choices are between you, your spouse, your children and the Lord.

Homemade Microwave Popcorn

I've often wondered if a person could make their own microwave popcorn bags. Yesterday I found out that they can. Here's a recipe I found. Just think of the savings you can have with this one. Teach your children to make it too. Try it tonight as you gather your family together and play games.

It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3:
1. Put 1/4 cup popcorn in a brown paper bag. Fold top over a few times and tape it.
2. Place in microwave folded side up for 2 to 3 minutes or until there is 5 seconds between pops.
3. Eat plain or add flavors (such as salt, butter, sugar, etc.)

Can use a tsp. of olive oil & 1/2 tsp. of popcorn salt.

Note: If the folds are tight, no tape or staples are needed. If you do not use oil, you can reuse the bag.

Fridge List

Make a list of things to do that require little or no supervision from mom or dad and put it on the fridge.  When one of your children starts whining and moans “I’m b-o-r-e-d!” He or she can choose from the list.  The trick or rule is: Once they are referred to the list, they HAVE to do something on the list before they bother mom or dad again.  The last item on the list should always be "Take a nap".  Sometimes children just don't realize they are tired until they see this!

Here’s a list to get you started (I found part of this list on the internet but it had no name associated with it to give credit.):

1.  Decorate the back patio with sidewalk chalk
2.  Make a daisy chain (or dandelions)
3.  Take some blank paper and envelopes and decorate your own stationary
4.  Get some magazines out of recycling and make a collage
5.  Get out your Faith in God book/Duty to God and check something off
6.  Paint the dog's toenails
7.  Make a border for your room with continuous paper
8.  Play with Barbies/Airplanes
9.  Measure 10 things with a ruler
10.  Get out your last year's school things and play school
11.  Make a calendar
12.  Decorate bookmarks, "laminate" with clear packing tape
13.  Write a poem about something in the yard
14.  Blow bubbles or take a bubble bath
15.  Make a key tag to hang on your backpack - bead animal, letter beads with your name,or a scripture verse on construction paper then laminated with tape and a hole poked through
16.  Make cookies (from a mix, with easy-bake oven, or from scratch). Share them with a neighbor
17.  Organize sock drawer
18.  Write a play and produce it
19.  Make a castle from toilet paper tubes and boxes in recycling
20.  Write a letter to a cousin or grandma
21.  Write a talk, color pictures to go with it
22.  Find a scripture verse you like and type it on the computer/typewriter or write with fancy letters and color
23.  Make 9 Bees and write Gordon B. Hinckley's "Be's" on them, hide them for Family Home Evening
24.  Play with toy soldiers outside
25.  Make a snack with fruit and vegetables
26.  Take pictures with digital camera (with permission)
27.  Call a friend
28.  Look up your favorite animal in the encyclopedia or dictionary
29.  Find your house on a map
30.  Make a boredom kit for the car or for a friend.  Include word searches, "mad libs", drawings to color, and supplies if you have them 
31.  Fluff up all the pillows in the house
32.  Make a birthday card for a friend
33.  Play with legos/duplos/building sets/Lincoln logs/Tinkertoy
34.  Play a game (Chutes and Ladders, Checkers)
35.  Make a list of movies/books you own.  Put them in alphabetical order. Make a list of movies/books you would like to own.
36.  Make a Christmas/Birthday list
37.  Make animals out of pipe cleaners
38.  Change your bed
39.  Have a picnic
40.  Read a book
41.  Make something with Origami paper
42.  Pick some flowers in the yard, put in vase
43.  Do a secret good deed :)
44.  Look in your Scout book and decide on something you can finish today/Work on your collection
45.  Decorate old socks for a puppet show
46.  Sing a song 
47.  Clean out a drawer; give items to someone in need 
48.  Play a musical instrument in the house or outside. 
49.  look at old pictures or scrapbooks
50.  Visit an elderly neighbor or someone that is ill
51. Make up a recipe and share it with the family
52. Lay on the grass and look at the clouds and make a list of all the items you can find in the clouds
53. Go for a bicycle ride
54. Take a bath
55. Take a nap

Now, consider your children's interests and add to this list. I think I'll go take a bath.