It is estimated that about 90 percent of American adults will eventually marry (Cherlin 2009). This is a decline from several decades ago, and may be declining further as cohabitation becomes more common. Furthermore, Americans have been getting older when they walk down the aisle and having children out-of-wedlock has become more common. Some of […]
Group Size: 1 to 25 Time Needed: 15 to 20 minutes Goal: To encourage participants to think about what is really important in their lives and set priorities accordingly Audience: Couples, Parents, Teens, Singles Special Considerations: This activity may force participants to become noticeably uncomfortable prioritizing elements in their life which they may have never […]
This Collection focuses on three policy areas in which there has been extensive examination of their effects on family formation: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (welfare) programs; federal tax policies; and child support enforcement/responsible fatherhood programs. For purposes of this Collection, child support enforcement and responsible fatherhood programs are combined. This is not intended to […]
Group Size: 1 to 50+ Time Needed: 5 minutes plus discussion Goal: To examine conflict resolution Audience: Parents, Couples, Teens, Children, Singles Special Considerations: To keep it from getting out-of-hand, keep this one short. Couples in particular can be very competitive. If you have two facilitators, you can demonstrate the activity before participants begin. Resources […]
Table of Contents: Introduction Definitions and Acronyms Research on Youth Relationships Effectiveness and Benefits of Youth Relationship Education Youth Attitudes and Beliefs about Marriage, Relationships, Cohabitation and Sex Delivering Relationship Education to Youth Use of Media by Teens and its Impact on Relationships and Sexual Behavior Dating Violence Additional Resources / Curricula for Youth Links […]
Group Size: 11 to 25 Time Needed: 1 to 10 minutes Goal: Explore how it feels to handle problems on your own Audience: Couples, Teens, Parents, Children, Singles Special Considerations: May need to assist some participants inflate their balloons Resources Needed: One balloon per person Step-by-Step Instructions Ask participants to divide into pairs. Give each […]
Group Size: 1 to 50+ Time Needed: 15 minutes or more depending on length of discussion Goal: To find balance and promote self care as well to illustrate the importance of asking for help Audience: Parents, Couples, Teens, Children, Singles Special Considerations: Consider the physical capabilities of the volunteer you pick. Resources Needed: Index cards […]
Group Size: Any Time Needed: 5 minutes (discussion times vary) Goal: To discuss the challenges of change and the advantages of both preparing for change and experiencing change at your own pace Audience: Couples, Parents, Teens, Children, Singles Special Considerations: Do this activity before you actually present it to your group to assure that the […]
Group Size: Any Time Needed: 10 to 20 minutes Goal: To help participants understand that relationships can improve with work and to help them to distinguish between what can and cannot be changed. Audience: Couples, Parents Special Considerations: Participants’ views of the positive things they are able to bring into relationships may not be readily […]
Group Size: 10 to 50+ (must have a minimum of 10) Time Needed: 15 minutes Goal: To increase trust and risk-taking within the group while having fun Audience: Couples, Parents, Singles, Teens, Children Special Considerations: This activity may not be appropriate for people who have experienced trauma as the blindfolds may frighten them. If anyone […]