FHE lesson preparation

[5ft Diva]

I know that a lot of you take turns in your family teaching FHE. What is the best way to teach children to prepare a lesson for FHE? Or maybe the better question would be how involved are you in the preparation process of the FHE lesson when your children are in charge? This applies to only older children, of course.

We've only been rotating for about 2 - 3 months now so this is pretty new to us and I'm finding that because my children aren't really putting a lot of preparation into what they're going to teach we're having some pretty sorry lessons. I'm kind of nervous to ask the question because I think it's going to mean more work for me, but your suggestions would be appreciated.

[bookworm]

I hope this answer isn't too much babbling- I feel like I over-do it on these threads sometimes

I guess it really depends on what you want FHE to be.

I personally just enjoy that my kids make an effort and participate! I have a hard time getting DH to prepare a lesson that would be up to par for my best-case scenario of FHE, much less my kids. I usually suggest my kids do something that will help them with Faith In God or Duty to God or scouts or use the "For the Strength of Youth" booklet or something like that. I am very much okay with simple, short lessons, as my younger 2 still don't have much of an attention span. When I teach, I try to really delve into whatever gospel topic I feel prompted to teach, but I don't expect that from my kids. I think it's all in what you expect and desire for FHE. Some of my kids' favorite FHEs have simply been us telling things we love about each other or playing games. I try to limit "family fun" nights to other nights, so that FHE can be gospel-instruction time, but it doesn't always work out anyway.

I figure, we're reading BOM almost every day together and having a.m. and p.m. family prayers most days, too, and we have numerous spontaneous spiritual and gospel chats, so FHE is a nice time to lay down some basic gospel doctrine, but if it isn't amazing, that's really okay.

As far as how much work I do on their lessons- I don't do anything for the older 2- they have to do it themselves and usually it's okay. They don't really prepare much ahead, and generally they don't put a lot of time into it, but I always remind them that afternoon, and suggest they say a prayer before deciding what to do. That's how I try to parent, though- I used to be much more controlling, but now I figure they can do it, so I let them.

One other note about FHE, I made a rotation wheel for FHE assignments and included "conducting, calendar and business" on it- when it's their week to conduct, they do it just like in a church meeting: Welcome to Family Night, our opening song and prayer will be... and then after the prayer we go over the week's schedule if there is anything major happening, or if there are any family topics to discuss. I felt prompted to do this, and I'm glad I have- it's good experience for them, and it sets up FHE as a semi-formal church meeting. Just thought I'd throw that out there. Even Katie can open and close the meeting. It's cute, too.

This is just my family, though, Diva- if you're feeling prompted that it's time for the kids to step it up, maybe you can have a little pow-wow with the older kids and go over what your expectations are and train them a little bit on how to do it the way you think it should be done. I will probably have to do that soon, as my oldest 2 are plenty old enough to be doing a little more in-depth stuff. I'm just pleased that it happens at all, right now!

[natickgirl]

Ditto what BW said. My oldest two (almost 11 & 9) pretty much do it all themselves. I don't have very high expectations, though. We're still in the process of establishing FHE as a routine, so anything they do is great. We try to keep it short & sweet, or it turns into either "family fight night" or "Mom is so sick of your goofing off that this 'meeting' is now over night."

Faith in God, scout goals, recap of Primary lessons, are all good idea-generators. We also have a formal introduction, song, prayer, weekly planning, etc. I need to step it up with my youngest, though. She's 6 1/2 and can definitely help with a lesson more. Also, we've shifted to having FHE on Sunday evenings because my husband often works late. It works for our family.

[bookworm]

Originally Posted by natickgirl

We try to keep it short & sweet, or it turns into either "family fight night" or "Mom is so sick of your goofing off that this 'meeting' is now over night."

That is so us!!!

[Dia Minha]

Our FHE are more like practices than performances. We rotate through a lesson, activity, treat, scripture, testimony, songs and prayers.

The lesson usually just ends up being a story that the children liked from the friend. After they retell or read the story DH and I will ask them question about why they liked it and what we can learn from it. The person with the lesson also conducts the meeting, welcoming everybody and announcing what is next and who is doing it etc.

The activity and treat I think are self explanatory. As well as songs and prayers. We did have to make one rule that the person in charge of prayers has to say one of them, because we found that they were always just asking someone else to do it.

Having someone assigned to share a testimony is the way we have chosen as a family to teach our children how to share a testimony and what a testimony is. We talk about testimony phrases, such as I know and I believe, and that it is ok to express gatitude in a testimony, but that the most important thing is to bare testimony of Christ, the scriptures, Joseph Smith, the Prophet, the Holy Ghost etc.

We have been thinking for a while about combining songs and prayers and add share a talent. I think my kids would love to do this. My oldest could do a dramatic reading, my second magic tricks, and so on. They are always wanting to show something off and I think FHE would be a great opportunity for them to do so. Especially if we have visitors.

We have found that by keeping FHE short and sweet that it is more enjoyable for us all. We too have had many FHEs turn into FFN when lessons are not understood by the little ones or just go too long. I'm sure as the younger ones get older we will be able to increase the length and meanings of the lessons. Until then we find comfort in knowing we are following the council of the Prophets and will be blessed for our efforts.

[Erudite]

I'm with all of you. We have the am and pm prayers, the family scripture study, and the gospel moments. If FHE isn't super wonderful, that's ok. My two oldest do lessons by themselves and I have to say they're pretty impressive. One lesson by our 11yods was about Samuel the lamanite. All by himself, he'd set up a toy castle, brought action figures, gone through the scriptures, and made reading assignments. Then he had each of us read a part and he'd act it out on the castle. Pretty cool.

So cool, that we've had the same lesson about 3 times since then. That Samuel guy was neato, but let's learn about Nephi or Esther or Captain Moroni now. The little ones do the story from the Friend thing, which works well too. DH and I usually plan an object lesson so that then have something to put their hands on. My last lesson was on the "goad"...which is what Moms (and prophets and teachers, etc.) are. But the scriptures teach us that the goad is also a wise person who should be followed rather than resisted. I used a broomstick.

Anyway, if it's not Samuel the Lamanite, the kids use the Strength in God pamphlet and teach gratitude (we've had that a lot too.), and we did have a lesson on music that was fun, because DH and I showed the kids how to slow dance, which isn't an issue yet, but isn't too far off. The Strength in God pamphlet is just guidelines, so the older kids come up with questions that are supposed to spark discussion. We've been practicing that for some time so they know how to do it. The little ones get prompted in the questions, but they do know to say "good!" after each response.

FHE...fun stuff!

[Erudite]

Oh, I forgot to say...I have on my reminders each Sunday, to think about the FHE lesson for Monday. I don't think I've EVER planned ahead yet, but I remember reading it in a quick blurb in the Ensign, about a primary teacher who would spend an hour or more cutting stuff out for her class and then come up with something off the top of her head for her family home evening. She realized that "Mom" was her calling too and that if she'd spend an hour doing FHE planning on Sunday, then the FHE would come out a lot better. I remember being really struck by that good use of the Sabbath and put it on my reminders so that I can remember to do it....and I don't. But it's still a good idea!

[Big_Sissy]

These are great ideas. It's so nice to see that everyone else isn't much different than we are. It's also, so nice to see some great ideas.

I know FHE is very important. IMOP, it can make or break whether or not children go on Missions, get married in the Temple, or participate in many of the very important opportunities in this life. I believe following this inspired wisdom calls down the Angels in heaven to administer to our little ones, and help them make lasting correct decisions based on an eternal perspective.

You all are an inspiration, and I salute you for your hard work and dedication to making this happen. Having FHE is NOT easy, but it is SOOOO worth it.