The family is the basic unit of society and is important to both individuals and communities. The world is rapidly changing, making today's society much more complex than ever before. As Scouts earn this merit badge, they will realize why it is important to know more about family life and how to strengthen their families.

1. Family LifeFamily Life
Merit BadgeMerit Badge

2. Charles R. Jolly
•A.S.M. – Troop 504
•Battalion Chief –
Suffolk Dept. of Fire and
Rescue
•Adjunct Instructor -
VDEM
Who I am & what makes meWho I am & what makes me
qualified?qualified?

3. How to reach meHow to reach me
Charles R. Jolly
jawsjolly@gmail.co
m
757-335-2502
Troop 504
Princess Anne
District
Tidewater BSA
Virginia Beach, Va.

4. What is a family?What is a family?
• The family is the basic unit of society and is
important to both individuals and communities.
• It is made up of people who care about one
another. All members give and receive love and
support from each other.
• Family life will always have its up and its downs
as family members go through both good times
and unpleasant ones.

5. No Two Families are Alike.No Two Families are Alike.
• Types of Families:
– Nuclear family (father, mother, children)
– Extended Family (members beyond the nuclear family
such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins)
– Single-parent family (one parent with children)
– Blended family (made up of stepparents and
stepbrothers/stepsisters)
– Adoptive family (family with children who are not
biologically linked to their parents)
– Childless family (couple who does not have children)

6. Family Life Merit BadgeFamily Life Merit Badge
1.Prepare an outline on what a family is and
discuss this with your merit badge
counselor. Tell why families are important
to individuals and to society. Discuss how
the actions of one member can affect
other members.

10. Family Life Merit BadgeFamily Life Merit Badge
2. List several reasons why you are
important to your family and discuss this
with your parents or guardians and with
your merit badge counselor.

11. Positive Family TraitsPositive Family Traits
• Love
• Security
• Acceptance and respect
• Mutual trust
• Good relationship & communication skills
• Shared roles and & responsibilities
• Cooperation & interdependence
• Time spent together
• Good management skills (financial or organizational)

12. Self AssessmentSelf Assessment
• Do you live by the Scout Law and set a good example
for other family?
• Are you dependable and honest?
• As a Scout, are you always prepared to help your family
members, neighbors, & friends in an emergency?
• Do you have a positive attitude that makes others enjoy
being around you?
• Do you understand and respect the unique structure and
style of your family?
• Do you understand the importance of your family to the
community and society?

13. Self AssessmentSelf Assessment (cont.)(cont.)
• Do you understand the traits and skills needed to make
your family stronger?
• DO you enjoy helping care for younger family members
such a reading to them or teaching them to do
worthwhile things?
• Do you help carry on family traditions?
• Do you let other family members know you care about
them and appreciate what they do for you?
• Are you willing to help around the house?
• Do you offer to help without being asked?

14. Family Life Merit BadgeFamily Life Merit Badge
3. Prepare a list of your regular home duties
or chores (at least five) and do them for
90 days. Keep a record of how often
you do each of them. Discuss with your
counselor the effect your chores had on
your family.

15. Cooperation & InterdependenceCooperation & Interdependence
• Your room
– Make your bed
– Put away your clothes
– Clean your floor
– Keep all surfaces clean and neat.
• Family meals
– Set/clean the table
– Prepare the meal
– Food shopping
– Wash, dry, put away the dishes
– Sweep/mop the floor
– Clean the stove/oven/microwave
– Clean the inside of the
refrigerator.
• General Chores
– Tack out trash/recycle
– Wash vehicles
– Simple home repairs
– Clean bathrooms
– Dust all surfaces
– Vacuum/mop floors
– Help siblings
– Take care of pets (feed & pickup)
– Sort, wash, dry, & put clothes
away
• Yard work
– Clean up the yard
– Mow lawn and trim shrubs
– Shovel Snow
– Plant and care for garden

16. Project Planning PhasesProject Planning Phases
• Planning
• Performing the service
• Reflect on what you have accomplished

17. Project Planning SkillsProject Planning Skills
• Good Management Skills
– Brainstorm    Organize
– Time Management
• Create a to do list, prioritize, and set deadlines
• Schedule time to allow for emergencies
• Schedule difficult tasks at a time when you’re most
productive.
• Schedule a time to enjoy your work.
• Be flexible and ask for help.

18. Project Planning SkillsProject Planning Skills (cont.)(cont.)
– Money Management
• Develop a budget
• Limit impulse buys
• Avoid “Retail therapy” – shopping when you are under the
influence of strong emotion
• Stay within your budget or adjust your plan.

19. Family Life Merit BadgeFamily Life Merit Badge
4. With the approval of your parents or
guardians and your merit badge
counselor, decide on and carry out a
project that you would do around the
home that would benefit your family.
Submit a report to your merit badge
counselor outlining how the project
benefited your family.

20. Independent Project IdeasIndependent Project Ideas
• Build or create a new storage area for your room
• Organize the clothes in your closets and drawers
• Paint your room or another room in the house
• Prepare a family meal on your own
• Clean and organize a kitchen cupboard
• Clean the garage, attic, or basement
• Do laundry for the entire family
• Create a digital scrapbook of family events
“Challenge yourself”

21. Family Life Merit BadgeFamily Life Merit Badge
5. Plan and carry out a project that involves
the participation of your family. After
completing the project, discuss the
following with your merit badge
counselor:
a) The objective or goal of the project
b) How individual members of your family participated
c) The results of the project

22. Family Project IdeasFamily Project Ideas
• Genealogy project(create a scrapbook or video of your
family’s history. Including family customs and traditions.
Interview elderly family members so they may share
their memories of earlier years.
• Can, preserve, or freeze fruits and vegetables.
• Prepare a weeks worth of meals together to freeze for
future use.
• Plan, prepare, and conduct a family reunion or party for
a special event.

23. Family Project IdeasFamily Project Ideas (cont.)(cont.)
• Plan and conduct a garage sale.
• Start a new family tradition:
– Have a regular family meeting once a week.
– Celebrate family birthdays in special ways.
– Plant a tree to commemorate the birth of each family member or
those who you have lost.
– Make a list of thoughtful gestures that can be done for the family.

24. Family Project IdeasFamily Project Ideas (cont.)(cont.)
• Community project ideas:
– Plan, cook, and deliver a meal to a person who is confined at home.
– Bake items for a bake sale that benefits a local senior citizwens group.
– Spruce up a community center by painting, cleaning, doing yard work, etc.
– Help out at a food bank by stocking shelves, making deliveries, assembling food
baskets, or conducting food or clothing drives.
– Assist with community beautification project such as picking up trash, raking
leaves, planting a garden, or creating a bike path.
– Runa bike-repair clinic for children or senior citizens in your community.
– Assist a local animal shelter.
– Clean and deliver toys to needy children.
– Plan a program for people in long-term care facilities.
– Help local citizens put up flags for display.
– Volunteer at an ethic community festival to learn about a culture different from
your own.

25. Meeting PlanningMeeting Planning
• Advance planning:
– Who, What, Where, & When
– Set an agenda – Purpose
• Set Ground Rules
– Discuss situations/topics.
– Do not discuss individuals, which makes its personal.
– Avoid interruptions
– When complaining offer solutions
– Keep emotions “in-check”.

26. Problem SolvingProblem Solving
• Identify the problem
• Identify options
• Evaluate options
• Choose the best option
• Make a plan

27. Family Life Merit BadgeFamily Life Merit Badge
6.Do the following:
a)Discuss with your merit badge counselor how to plan and
carry out a family meeting.
b)After this discussion, plan and carry out a family meeting
to include the following subjects:
1)Avoiding substance abuse, including tobacco, alcohol, and drugs, all of which
negatively affect your health and well-being
2)Understanding the growing-up process and how the body changes, and
making responsible decisions dealing with sex*
*This conversation may take place with only one or both of your parents or
guardians.

28. Family Life Merit BadgeFamily Life Merit Badge
3) How your chores in requirement 3 contributed to your role in the family
4) Personal and family finances
5) A crisis situation within your family
6) The effect of technology on your family
7) Good etiquette and manners
Discussion of each of these subjects may carry over to more than one
family meeting.

29. Family Life Merit BadgeFamily Life Merit Badge
7.Discuss the following with your counselor:
a)Your understanding of what makes an
effective father and why, and your thoughts
on the father’s role in the family
b)Your understanding of the responsibilities
of a parent

30. Being an Effective FatherBeing an Effective Father
• You will be your child's role model.
• You will be the example for your child of what
husbands and fathers are like.
• Must have a good relationship with your spouse
• Be involved in your child's life.
• Concerned with his/her physical, emotional,
social, intellectual, and moral well-being.

31. Responsibilities ofResponsibilities of
ParenthoodParenthood
• Many to be shared
• Taking care of physical needs
– Food, Clothing, and Shelter
• Providing unconditional love and emotional support
• Offering guidance and discipline
– Children want and need limits to know that they are safe and
secure
– Set limits and teaching them right from wrong
– Set expectations and let them know about consequences

32. Responsibilities ofResponsibilities of
ParenthoodParenthood
• Providing protection
• Providing economic support
• Taking care of health-care needs
• Sharing resources such as time, talent, and ideas
• Teaching independence and responsibility
• Teaching social skills
• Nurture spiritual well-being
• Preserving Cultural traditions

33. Thanks for attending &Thanks for attending &
continue making acontinue making a
difference!difference!