Talking About Family Changes

Submitted by: Sarah K. Moffett
Endorsed by: Don Descy, Mankato State University

Date: October 31, 1996

Grade Level: Grades 5-?

Description :

Students coming from single-parent and divorced families ,and even students who live in traditional families, face major changes in the family. Divorce, illness, death, birth and remarriage can cause stress and confusing feelings. Encouraging children to talk to trusted adults and friends about feelings and worries can help assuage fears and work out problems. This activity shows students how hard it can be to accomplish a common goal (such as a healthy family) without communication.

Goal: To understand relationships within the family.

Objectives:

Use communication skills to work out difficulties with family changes.

Background Information: Students should be familiar with different types of families.

Concepts: Talking and writing about problems.

Materials:

Playing cards (optional)
Blanket for each group
Folded pieces of paper

Procedure:

1. Divide students up into groups of two-four. You could use playing cards passing them out and having students find people with matching cards (jacks with jack, etc.)
2. Tell students that you are going to hand out blankets and pieces of paper.
3. Demonstrate folding a blanket the same way a piece of paper is folded.
4. Hand out blankets and folded papers
5. Instruct students that they are to work together to fold the blankets ,but they can only use one hand each, and they may not talk.
6. Once groups have the blankets folded, have them trade papers with another group.
7. Have groups repeat the activity with the new paper, still using one hand ,but this time they may talk.
8. Explain that it can be easier to face challenges when we can talk about the problem. Discuss different family changes and ways to deal with them.

Assessment:

Have students write about a family change they have experienced, or may experience in the future. They could write about a friend's experience, or write a story about family change.

Useful Internet Resources:

American School Counseling Association
http://www.schoolcounselor.org/

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