Celebrating Family

By Tirrell H. Kimball

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Theme and Description

Explores concepts of family, including non-traditional family structures. Seeks to give each child a sense of belonging and a sense that his or her family is unique, precious, and as real as any other.

Goals for Participants

To explore concepts of family;
To understand that families have a variety of structures;
To feel a sense of belonging to a family;
To affirm one's own and others' families.

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Age Range

5 to 14

Size of Group

Very flexible. With sufficient leadership, can be used with the entire church school.

Space Requirements

A large meeting area for all participants. Areas or rooms for smaller group work.

Number and Length of Sessions

5 sessions
Length: 1 hour

Leader Training

No special training required

Leader Preparation

1 1/2 to 2 hours

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Strengths

Affirms the diversity of families in congregations and society.
Can be used with a wide age range.
Each session has a variety of engaging activities.
Provides an opportunity for the entire congregation to focus on the theme in a worship service.
Includes a good bibliography.

Limitations

Provides little leader background information. Does not give guidelines for handling such issues as adoptive, blended, foster, multiracial, gay, and lesbian families; divorce; or death.
Requires leaders to gather books and other resources not sold with the curriculum.
May be seen as "too young" by older children or youth.

Adaptability

Well suited to small church schools with few children in a wide age range.
Can be the basis for intergenerational programming.

Unitarian Universalist Values

Affirms the inherent worth and dignity of every person; justice, equity, and compassion in human relations; and acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations. Explicitly affirms diversity.

Reviewed on June 30, 1996

Unitarian Universalist Association
25 Beacon St. | Boston, MA 02108 | 617-742-2100