FRIENDSHIP Activity (combined young women activity) Wilbur

One of my last activities that I helped out with was Sweetheart's activity. The Laurel's were in charge and she wanted to do a friendship night or speed friendship activity.  She found some of her favorite quotes that she liked and we had embroidery thread left over from a previous activity years ago, and she knew she wanted to do a chalkboard activity! The night went over great! 

She was over planned in case something didn't work out or if the girls just didn't like doing something. She had the room decorated with her quotes. If our printer worked we would not have done these by hand. My daughter is home for the summer from BYUH and she helped write these quotes to paper.  

The quotes were hung around the room. I had a spider from Halloween from years ago! That hung on the chalkboard and went perfectly with the Have you Ever had a Wilbur DAY

She read part of this and then added her own thoughts of what she observed in our ward and among our YW! I loved it.  The chalkboard activity was prior to reading the Wilbur Day story she asked all of the girls to go to the chalkboard and right what a good friend is.  Everyone knows what a good friend is but not everyone behaves like a good friend. 

2. This activity was making friendship bracelets and the idea was to start your bracelet and then everyone would switch chairs and tie a few knots on each others bracelets. But, that didn't work out so well and everyone did their own. Each person knew how to make a friendship bracelet or had the concept but executing the bracelets looked a little rough. The girls didn't seem to mind and that took the majority of the time.   Muddy buddies was her treat and the YWP brought watermelon! Which was nice and refreshing! 

3. They each brought home friendship seeds which she filled envelopes with pretzel mm's. You can use any colorful candy. We would have printed these as well but had a malfunctioning printer.  On each handout were 3 key things to being a good friend.  The link can be found here Scroll to the bottom of the page and you can also grab the printable!

4. If there were enough time we would have shown this video by President Uchtdorf STOP IT

Wilbur Day - YW combined activity (Unity, self esteem, friendshipping, bullying)

The idea of our activity came from this site   Wilbur often feels discouraged and alone and on one particular rainy day he felt so friendless, dejected and hungry. He threw himself down in the manure and sobbed.

Have you ever had a Wilbur day? When you have felt alone or discouraged? But, Wilbur was rescued and he was rescued by Charlotte, whom he didn't like at first. He thought her to be cruel and blood thirsty. (don't be judgmental and close yourself off to someone before you know them)

We asked for anyone who wanted to share about having a Wilbur day and who are what was their Charlotte.

Over time he discovered a true friend. She worked at her friendship. She saved his life by spinning messages that led people to believe all these things about him. Even Wilbur began to believe these things about himself too. (We have such a powerful influence of good on others and how others perceive each other and themselves).

Not only do we all NEED a friend like Charlotte but we all can BE a friend like Charlotte.

CHALK BOARD ACTIVITY

I had a spider from Halloween that we hung above the chalkboard and Sweetheart led the discussion and the activity. We asked them to write QUALITIES OF A GOOD FRIEND
once we had many good qualities of a good friend. She noted that we all know what qualities make a good friend. But, we always don't ACT like a good friend. She also pointed out that many of these qualities that were listed are Christlike attributes.

Jesus Christ is our greatest example of a true friend. I found these quotes for Sweetheart to share:
Marvin J Ashton says, " A true friend accepts you as you are and leaves you better and independent.

Wilbur felt sad lonely and worthless that he gave up and plopped himself into a pile of manure. Sometimes, people feel the same way and throw themselves into a big pile of manure too. Only the manure can be things of the world. Such as peer pressure, drugs, looking for happiness in things that will make you sad later.

FRIENDSHIP BRACELETS

She then thought she would have everyone make friendship bracelets and as they start their bracelets they could each tie a few knots on every girls bracelet to REMIND us that although different the gospel ties us together. We should always have a friend in one another. Let's not put each other down but tie knots of friendships.

We did not have enough time to show Pres Uchtdorf's video on Bullying called STOP IT!

REFRESHMENTS

Watermelon and passed out seeds of friendships- MM's with a quote and how to be a good friend.

THOUGHTS:: Sweetheart realized the Beehives really carried the activity. The Mia maids and the laurels sat in the back of the class and just talked with each other. It is good to realize these things and hopefully, she will be a more active part of all activities. I thought it was a fun night! All activities can be tied to a gospel principle and should be brought out in each activity.  Great job K!!!

It was a fun idea that my daughter, Sweetheart put together!

LOL- Is Anyone Laughing?

Is Anyone Laughing?

In my miamaid class which consists of girls who are 14 and 15 yr old girls we have an activity each week. Where we do something fun but also has a learning principle either practical or doctrinal. We all have various senses of humor and mine can lean on the snarky side. Working with beautiful wonderful girls they also can be highly hormonal due to all the changes in their bodies as well as things that come about in their homes and at school. We thought an activity like this would help us get to know one another's laughing points and understand each other better.

The Sunday prior to our week day activity I asked them to research and find you tube videos that were funny and humorous. (no swearing or any other in appropriate things) and to also come with some stories that they would share of something funny that happened to them personally.

The night was a GREAT SUCCESS the howls of laughter permeated the room and we even had a few belly laughs that lead to tears! These girls are hilarious!! We entered our room and sat around a table and we first talked about what is funny.  We then watched some of the video links that each of the girls had brought in and that set the setting! We talked about and shared each others funny stories that happened to each of us and the girls all shared in laughing with and not laughing AT! We also learned to be observant of each other.

I bought jolly ranchers (jolly) and Laffy Taffy. Did you know that Laffy Taffy has jokes on the wrappers? They do and they were funny! WE also had a few popsicles that had jokes on the sticks and read a few of those.

I read a few remarks and quotes from Russell Wilcox "Is Anyone Laughing?"   Cutting remarks are really hurting.

Putting someone down is no way to build a friendship. People may chuckle at a put down to save face but deep down negative humor hurts.
"Keeping a sense of humor helps us endure the trials of life. It is truly medicine to the soul. " True friends help you feel better about yourself.


A good way to know if your comments are building or hurting is how many times do you have to follow your comments with "just kidding" or Love you, mean it Just kidding is a cop out. God did not send us here to degrate each other but to bless each other. (D&C 108:7

Elder Marvin J. Ashton in the New Era March 2009 Sometimes the humor in my family crosses over and the teasing turns to hurt. There are questions and answers about humor and how to deal with things if friends or family hurt your feelings. They need to know their behavior is not ok and gives ideas how to help this.
Have a better relationship so that you are able to distinguish between being hurtful and playful.
Love and Serve
Don't say Hurtful things, talk to the person and be an example.
"One of the adversary's tactics in the latter days is to stirring up hatred among the children of men. He loves to see us criticize each other, make fun of and generally pick on each other. The way we treat the members of our family is as important as are some of the more noticeable gospel principles.

We also played fun games! One of my favorite games is where everyone gets a balloon blows it up ties it to your leg with a string or ribbon and you have to protect your balloon while still trying to pop another person's balloon.  We also had a balloon relay where you blow your balloon up, tie it off and be the first to pop it.  I also brought saltine crackers and we shoved them into our mouths and had to be the first to whistle. Silly funny games that got the girls to relax, let their guards down, and let each other in.