As we work through the month of February, thinking about Trust as a theme, here are some resources for you and your family.
With Your Kids (Ideas to engage Trust as a Family)
Family Adventure Ideas
Obstacle Course (indoors or outdoors) Trust Building
Create an obstacle course of a tunnel (under a table or bush with a blanket covering), over monkey bars, across “Lava” on stepping stones (pieces of paper), hanging from a rope, balancing on a curb, blindfolded partner walks around trees, etc.
Invite your family to compete on the Obstacle Course, with points for:
- “Helpful comments through the tunnel,”
- “Family problem solving through the Lava,”
- “Trying again after falling off the balance beam,”
- “Trying something new,” etc.
Keep track of helpful points and make up some as your family goes along. The points are trust points, so invite your family to enjoy how much they built trust.
Games
Rock Game – as suggested by Liza Earle-Center, Director of Spiritual Exploration, UU Church of Montpelier, VT
“On night hikes I used to have a wide assortment of rocks, small, medium, smooth, rough… I’d pass one to each child as we sat close together in the dark. They’d spend a couple minutes holding their rock as I guided them through really getting to know it… then I’d collect them all, and would slowly pass them to one person, slowly one at a time they would get handed around the circle. When yours came to you, you kept it (while still passing the others to your neighbor. Eventually everyone has their rock back and is excited to have found it again! It takes trusting that you really DO know your rock well. This might be played in the daylight with blindfolds or an invitation to close their eyes as they pass the rocks.”
The Zipper Game ( a Trust Game which doesn’t involve risking a fall)
Suggested by Soul Matters member Liza Earle-Centers, UU Congregation of Montpelier, VT
https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/blog-posts/brent-vasicek/building-trust-in-a-classroom/
Trust Fall
Divide your family into pairs of roughly equivalent height and weight. In each pair, have one person stand directly in front of their partner, with their back turned toward them. Tell the person in front to close their eyes and fall backwards toward their partner. Their partner will catch them under the arms and take their weight gently to the floor, or lightly place the, back up to standing. Have the partners reverse roles.
Trust Fall Fail – as a warning if you decide to try one! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPOgvzVOQig
Stories To Read Together
Belonging – Fannie Barrier Williams
https://www.uua.org/re/tapestry/children/journeys/session4/132836.shtml
“Fannie Barrier Williams helped start a home for girls in Chicago, and she started a center where people could live together, no matter the color of their skin. She was part of the group that started the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (the NAACP), along with Frederick Douglass, Ida Wells Barnett, Frances Watkins Harper, and W.E.B. DuBois.
Fannie also worked with suffragists like Susan B. Anthony, helping women get the chance to vote. Because back then, remember, people thought that men were better than women. Women couldn’t own property or have a bank account or vote in elections.” – from the story.
Nothando’s Journey by Jill Apperson Manly (Author), Alyssa Casey (Illustrator)
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-ZWfw2kknA
“NOTHANDO’S JOURNEY is a journey in self-discovery, told through the eyes of a young girl named Nothando. The book tells of the Reed Festival, an important celebration in Nothando’s country of Swaziland in Southern Africa. Nothando and her brother venture into the unknown hills, in order to get to the festival on time. As Nothando explores the hills of Swaziland, she visits with various animals–Nothando moves freely with the animals and begins to become comfortable with who she is.” – Amazon. The video is great!
Theme Connection: Trusting in one’s abilities.
Family App Ideas
My PlayHome https://www.commonsensemedia.org/app-reviews/my-playhome
“Parents need to know that My PlayHome is a highly interactive, dollhouse-style app for kids. Kids can choose from five “types” of family members in generic white, Asian, and African-American skin tones; the characters include moms, dads, boys, girls, and babies. Kids can add all 15 characters (each has a different outfit, hairstyle, etc.) to their homes, allowing for flexibility in creating a variety of family types. They can create a mixed-race family, one with two (or three) moms, or one with only sons.” – Common Sense Media
Theme Connection: Our families are places of trust. You can build a family like your own.
Family Movie Night Ideas
Black History Month Movie suggestions
https://www.charlotteobserver.com/living/health-family/moms/article61781437.html
Theme Connection: Several movie suggestions which bring to life the paradox of distrust and trust which has marked the past history of racism in America.
The Muppet Movie (G)
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/the-muppet-movie
“Parents need to know that The Muppet Movie is a pretty likeable road trip romp with singable songs, but with some guns and slapstick violence.” – Common Sense Review
Theme Connection: Kermit has to trust in himself in order to undertake the road trip to Hollywood.
Ruby’s Studio: The Feelings Show (NR)
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/rubys-studio-the-feelings-show
“Parents need to know that Ruby’s Studio: The Feelings Show walks kids through the basics of coping with a myriad of emotions, including sadness, frustration, and anger in a unique format that incorporates puppets, animation, and advice from a panel of youngsters. The show’s vibrant hostess creates an inviting atmosphere that appeals to kids’ imaginations and encourages them to express themselves to parents just as the cast members talk to her.” – Common Sense Media
Theme Connection: Strong emotions need to be understood and reflected on in order for children to trust themselves and their feelings.
How to Train Your Dragon (PG)
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/how-to-train-your-dragon
Vikings and dragons, in a moving Pixar movie. Some scary parts means it might not be appropriate for under 7 years old. As suggested by Gina Montarsi Hundt.
Theme Connection: The boy, Hiccup, and his dragon, Night Fury, need to learn to trust each other.
Garrett’s Gift (G)
https://www.amazon.com/Garretts-Gift-Queen-Latifah/dp/097784871X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1454341659&sr=8-1&keywords=Garrett%27s%20Gift&tag=viglink125846-20
Garrett’s Gift is a thoughtful, inspirational look at the history of famous inventor Garrett Morgan and the origins of his idea for the traffic light. Kids will learn about his childhood, where the clumsy boy was often daydreaming, and how his offbeat way of looking at things led to a significant advancement in safety. There are a few moments of near-accidents that provide the backdrop for Morgan’s ideas. It offers historical information about significant achievements by African Americans and a discussion of where ideas come from. -Amazon
Theme Connection: We can trust ourselves in spite of our imperfections.
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