Tips to Keep Your Family Engaged in Come Follow Me
Keeping your family engaged in Come Follow Me week after week can be rough.
I know exactly how it is. I remember the days of having young kids, trying to have Family Home Evening while one kid is standing on their head on the couch, another is grumbling that "so-and-so is touching me", and the third just keeps asking when it's going to be time for dessert.
By the time the 10 minute lesson is over with, you're on the verge of yelling at everyone, but since the windows are open, you refrain. Instead you try to keep from pulling your hair out and wonder why you bothered.
And then the next week maybe you don't.
Yes, we are all sisters in this challenge and I know my mom fought the same battle when I was young.
I was less than stellar in my efforts to hold Family Home Evening when my children were young, and it's one of those things looking back on that I regret. I wish I'd done better.
But it's never too late to start fresh!
You're not alone
Recently we had a teacher council meeting with all the Primary teachers, and since I am the Primary Secretary, I was invited. One of the topics that came up was how do the teachers feel the Come Follow Me study is going at home with the kids.
Reluctantly, a few of the teachers stated that they didn't think it was going so well. Since their lesson is supposed to be almost a review of what is happening at home, they felt like many of the kids didn't really know the lesson enough to answer the questions.
Then, a few weeks ago we had a High Councilman speak, and his message from the Stake was that we needed to do better at studying the Come Follow Me lessons in our homes as families.
Clearly, if you are struggling, you are not alone.
Simple steps to engage your family in Come Follow Me
Looking back on my years of trying to do Family Home Evening (and failing a lot) I realize my mistakes. For one things, I over complicated everything. For another thing, my perfectionism got in my way.
Maybe it was the pictures of the cute little family sitting in a circle engaged in the lesson that got me. My family didn't look like that.
But it is possible to engage your family in Come Follow Me lessons and they WILL get something out of it, even if you think they aren't.
Here are some ideas to help you get your family on track:
Need some help with planning?
Grab this Come Follow Me Organizer bundle to help you get started. Includes a weekly family plan and individual study plan, as well as a page for meeting notes and more!
Plan ahead
Break it down
Plan to do some small piece of the lesson each day. We all get more out of our scripture study or other reading when we take a few bites every day. As tempting as it might be to do one big "Come Follow Me Family Party" every week, it is really easy to burn yourself out if you try.
Introduce a theme for the week
Pick a scripture or quote that sums up the message you'd like your family to get from that week's lesson. It will be easier to engage your family in Come Follow Me if they have direction before you start. Introduce the theme for the week on Sunday or Monday night, and keep it simple. Post your theme somewhere visible to remind everyone what you're doing for the week.
Find activities you can do on the run
Having kids with activities all over town can make it tough to find time to sit the whole family down. There are all kinds of podcasts, scripture stories, or talks that you can listen to on the go. Find some songs that go with the lesson and learn/practice them in the car.
Keep it simple
Maybe all you have time for is a discussion at the dinner table. Or maybe you can engage your family in Come Follow Me at bedtime, right before prayers. Ten minutes of discussing a piece of the lesson or telling a story from the lesson right before kids go to bed is a great way for them to digest what you've told them
Look for help
There are a million great resources to help you engage your family in Come Follow Me each week, but be careful you don't get caught up in doing more than you can keep up with!
Did you know that the manuals for all the organizations are available on the website? Go to the church's website here and you can find the manuals. The lessons are the same, but some of the content and ideas are different. If you feel like the ideas in the lesson don't seem like what you're looking for, try another manual.
The Ensign also has all kinds of helpful information, including stories, talks, games and other activities that go along with the lesson. You can find helps to go with each lesson, and if you go to the website to access it, you can click links to things in the New Era and the Friend that can also help you engage your family.
RELATED BLOG POSTS YOU MIGHT LIKE:
- Having trouble studying your scriptures? Read 12 Tips for better Scripture Study
- Need help getting going again? Read Come Follow Me: 5 Ideas to Get You Started
- Start a scripture journal! Here is why you should: A Scripture Journal: What it is and Why you should be keeping one
Hands-on activities are best!
Kids learn best when they get to put their hands on things. You can find free downloadable coloring pages for almost every lesson. Let them make crafts or play a game, and it might be something they can do with minimal supervision while you're cooking dinner.
Let your family see you study
I have always believed in leading by example. The best way to show your family how important the lesson is to you is to make sure you are studying it yourself. Let your kids know you're doing it, and request some quiet time to get it done. You might be surprised when one of them wants to join you. And you can't teach what you don't know, so personal study is one of the most crucial things you can do.
HELPS FOR THIS WEEK'S LESSON:
Here are some great things that go with this week's lesson that you might want to use:
- The Wisdom of Him Who Knoweth All Things--a video by Jeffrey R Holland
- Your Body is a Temple a game from the Friend
- Learn about the importance of the body with this Fun Stop Activity
- Done With Swim Team an article from the Friend
- Multiplication Master a story from the Friend about learning and studying
Hope these things help you get yourself and your family engaged with Come Follow Me and back on track!