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Room use when families are divided into peer groups.
Brief Program Summary: |
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Key advantages:
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The key asset: This family program uses peer groups because peer groups are usually more successful at providing a break. They ensure that at the end of an evening of recreation, all family members leave for home feeling refreshed, feeling like they want more contact with each other. This family program doesn't run family activities all the time because adults can get tired of noisy children, young children like to make noise, teenagers prefer to do their own thing, older children like to be challenged, preschoolers need to be protected, etc. Therefore, peer group activities are an important option. |
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Contents
copyright©1986 Brian M. Brown
Developed in 1986 with the tentative name of Go Group.
First posted on the Internet: 1997
This file updated in 1999, 2000, and Feb. 2002.
Types of Activities:
Family activities: use the full gym for theme nights, crafts, special games (EG. indoor soccer, volleyball or baseball using a large harmless ball), outings, camping, tours of factories or bus terminals, etc.
Peer group activities (see diagram above):
- Preschoolers do mostly free play.
- Children (both the 5 to 8 year old and 8 to 11 year old groups) enjoy a variety program which appeals to their wide variety of interests. E.G. games, crafts, drama, singing, preparing for outings, special projects, etc.
- Teenagers are helped to choose their own activities.
- Adults can run their own program as they respond to their own diverse needs. Although it is best if at least one parent attends every meeting, it is important to recognize that if a parent is extremely busy, it is acceptable for that parent to skip a meeting.
The Twelve Minute Assembly:
Everybody in the building comes together from 7:00 until 7:15. It is a fast paced twelve minute meeting which includes brief opening and closing ceremonies, announcements, entertainment, and short explanations of what each age group has been doing.
The assembly gives family members similar experiences, concerns, and expectations. As a result, the family develops more things in common and this tends to draw them closer together. In addition to increasing the strength of individual families, the assembly will help to create a community feeling, unify the entire group, and help everyone feel like they are part of an extended family.
Suggested Routine:
To start the assembly, the main leader goes to the location where it will be held and then calls, "STORM COMING!" All the children respond by stopping their activities, and then yelling as they run from all areas of the gym to the assembly location. They can imagine their noise as being a real storm.Larger groups who have a lot of heavy people might want to use the yell, "EARTHQUAKE COMING!" After people settle down in the same area and the dust has cleared, they can all form a semicircle around the group of leaders.
When the assembly is completed, the older children will quietly sing a bedtime song as the younger children say "Goodnight," and their parents take them home.
Room use when families are divided into peer groups.Time Schedule:
Part 1: (6:00 to 6:30) - The younger children start early. They make use of half the gym while the preschoolers and adults meet in separate rooms.
Part 2: (6:30 to 7:00) - The families with older children have arrived, so the entire group is involved in some sort of organized peer or family group activities.
Part 3: (7:00 to 7:15) - The Twelve Minute Assembly: the entire group gathers for a short meeting which includes announcements, entertainment, and brief explanations of what each age group has been doing. The meeting ends with everyone singing a bedtime song as the parents with younger children take them home to bed.
Part 4: (7:15 to 8:00) - Activities resume. Teenagers can use the empty half of the gym.
The time schedule for an evening is designed so young children start at 6:00 P.M. This allows them to finish the program at 7:15 and go home to an early bedtime. Older children start later, so they have more time to eat supper. If some parents have children in both age groups, they can take their younger children home at 7:15, and then make arrangements so their older children can get home safely after 8:00.
Brief Summary Description:
With this recreation system, the leaders respond to the preferences of the group as they organize a combination of family activities and peer group activities.
This family program offers lots of opportunity for families to be together. The family goes together to the same place, they are together for the group assembley, and they all get involved when family activities are run (eg. indoor games, during a special family night, for tours, picnics, camping, etc.).
This family program also offers peer group activities because it is recognized that in the long run most people prefer activities with their peer group. Parents get tired of noisy children, teenagers want to do their own thing, children want a challenge, and preschoolers need to be protected. So, peer group activities work well. They give all family members a break so they can go home feeling refreshed.
Since family members are all engaged in similar activities in the same program, they develop similar interests, skills, concerns, and expectations. This gives them more things in common and so increases family strength. Also, having more things in common means that when they leave for home they are feeling refreshed, they have things to talk about, and throughout the rest of the week they will tend to spend more time together.
Comments Made by Professionals:
"We have received your material re the family recreation program and agree it has significant benefit for both child and family; also it exercises the potential for a preventive service . . . "
A/Operations Manager
Social Services, Edmonton
December 29, 1987."A quick review suggests that it has merit and demands more in-depth study."
Director - City Wide Services
Community Recreation & Culture Services Branch
Parks and Recreation, Edmonton
January 28, 1994."I have circulated it to our nine Centres for their interest . . . "
Acting Manager of Operations
Community and Family Services, Edmonton
February 7, 1994."I have instructed my staff to review your submission with the City Parks and Recreation personnel and to contact you for further discussion regarding the feasibility of implementing some of your suggesions."
Director of Social Services
Social Services Department, Calgary
January 26, 1994.
Advantages of This Program:
- Parents have less wasted time.
Since the entire family is focused on the one recreation program, parents only have to volunteer for the one program, and they only have one program to drive to. In this program, parents can take a break and enjoy their choice of recreation, and they can do it within an organization that is beneficial to their family.
- Families are together more.
They are all together during parts of meeting, during family activities, during the assembly, on outings, during special family nights, and when traveling to and from the meeting.This program works better than many current recreation choices. Today's parent often chooses to leave their family and go to a separate place to take a break, to do something of their own choosing. Today's parent also tends to drive each child to a separate place so the child can take part in recreation of their own choosing. This leaves the parent sitting and watching their child. Both of these tends to weaken the family. It is better for children to see and experience a healthy lifestyle.
- Family members develop more things in common.
They do similar things, are more aware of what other family members are doing, and can look forward to the same special events. Instead of developing separate interests and growing apart, this program helps to maintain family values as members enjoy similar things, develop things in common, and grow closer together.- Family activities in moderation can be a lot of fun.
- Parents model a healthy lifestyle.
With current recreation choices, instead of parents enjoying healthy recreation, parents take on the role of driver, servant, or observer.
- Children can develop their full range of talents.
In a variety program, the leaders have lots of opportunity to allow children to be helpers and leaders, to take the initiative, to take on challenges, and to explore their diverse talents.
- It is like an extended family.
It brings all members closer together, encourages a community type spirit, and can provide support to other family members. As a variety of relationships develop, everyone will tend to become committed long term members. As children get older, even as teenagers, they will tend to remain connected.
- Reduces child abuse.
Parents will tend to conform to the standards of the group. They will tend to treat their children at home in a way that is similar to the way they are treated while in the group.
- Prevents sexual abuse.
More adults will be involved so there will be little or no chance for a molester to operate. A molester would move on to other organizations which offer more opportunities to abuse.
- Costs less.
There is extensive and efficient use of the facilities.
A Key Asset of this Recreation System:
is that it allows for both family activities and activities in which families are divided into age groups. This family program uses peer groups because peer groups are usually more successful at providing a break. They ensure that at the end of an evening of recreation, all family members leave for home feeling refreshed, feeling like they want more contact with each other.
This family program doesn't run family activities all the time because adults can get tired of noisy children, young children like to make noise, teenagers prefer to do their own thing, older children like to be challenged, preschoolers need to be protected, etc. Therefore, peer group activities are an important option.
Key advantages:
- simplifies the schedule of today's busy parents
- all family members experience a refreshing break
- gives families more time together
- increasing the desire of family members to be together
- gives family members more things in common
- builds family strength
If you find this program complicated and fear a lot of complications, keep in mind that this system is used informally at many rural community gatherings, and nobody there has to make a real effort to organize things. It all comes naturally. They are accustomed to doing things that way.
Combine different age groups:
After the program has been established, things settle into a routine, and people stop feeling the program is too complex, the leaders can organize a third type of grouping. They can combine two different age groups, so that one age group can help or entertain another. [e.g. Some parents can help their children with crafts, after a bit of practice five to seven year olds can sing to parents, teenagers can prepare a craft for younger children or prepare a skit that is designed for 5 to 7 year olds to enjoy, teenagers can learn how to baby-sit, etc.] Also, the impressive part of what has been prepared can be presented at the assembly.My experience with combined age group activities, is that a special unique helping atmosphere is created when children of different ages get together and take on a new role. They become more considerate, caring, and nurturing. This develops important relationship skills which will help them later on when they grow up.
Many people have shown a lot of interest in this new recreation system. But up until now nobody has been willing to try it out.
If you believe this program is really worthwhile, please consider e-mailing its address to a Recreation professional or volunteer, to see if he or she would be interested.
If you try a group, or a modification of it, please let me know how it goes. In this way, others can learn from your experiences.
If you have any comments, questions, etc, contact the author.
to a detailed file: advice for professionals who want to start a program.
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Posted here since Jan. 10/01.