Discover some activities your scout can do to achieve his Family Life merit badge.
As one of the requirements for becoming an Eagle Scout, the Family Life merit badge is an important badge for a boy scout to earn. Family Life merit badge requirements relate to a scout's family life. He will need to discuss the meaning of family and his own importance to his family, plan and lead a "family meeting," and explore what it means to be a good father and parent. Perhaps the most difficult requirement, however, is deciding on a project that the scout can carry out at home. The project must make a real difference and not be part of his daily chores.
Home Repair
If your home is like most houses in America, there is something that needs fixed -- a leaky faucet or loose door knob? A home repair project can make a difference in your family's life. Have your scout choose something that perhaps is on the "to do" list, but just hasn't been finished yet. Ideas include painting an outdoor fence, garage door or trimming around doors and windows. Clean out the garage; including sweeping and hosing out dirt, cleaning cobwebs, and sorting through old stuff you have compiled over the years. If you are in the middle of a do-it-yourself project such as finishing the basement, have your son help nail support struts, hang dry wall or paint interior walls.
Household Chores
This category is tricky because you don't want the scout duplicating daily chores he already does or getting off easy. Avoid chores like babysitting younger siblings, taking out the garbage or washing dishes. However, you could make the household chores meaningful. One suggestion would be closet or drawer cleaning and sorting, starting with his own. Under your watchful eye, have him sort through old clothes and decide which clothes could go in a yard sale, or be donated to a charity. He also could help with "spring cleaning" chores such as washing windows and screens, cleaning-out air ducts, or perhaps there is a room that needs painted.
Try to involve your son in the cooking of meals for a month. Plan on doing this several weekends; freezing food for later meals, or just be the cook on a daily basis.
Yard Work
Just look out your window and you will find a world of opportunity! Depending on the season, your yard will need a lot of work and you have a source of manpower sitting downstairs playing video games. In the spring, your son can help you mulch your yard beds, dig up new soil for a garden, pull weeds or clean up debris left over from the winter. Summertime activities could include staining and power washing your deck, fence painting, or staining a swing set or shed. Have your son cut the grass for a month, if he is not already doing that, or perhaps help you prune some stubborn shrubs or trees. In the fall, rake leaves and remove deck or porch furniture.
Tags: Family Life, badge requirements, daily chores, family life, Family Life merit, Have your
