In the first lesson, we wrote about the qualities of a good friend. Now let's consider a similar, but probably more difficult topic, the qualities of a good family member.

Classroom Discussion Questions

1. Where are you in the birth order in your family? Are you the oldest, youngest or in the middle in your family? Do you think the oldest child has a special role in a family? Are there privileges that the youngest child enjoys? Do you think that the middle child in a family has a lesser role?
2. What are your roles in your family? What changes in your role, if any, would you make if you could?
3. Do you think young people should have responsibilities in their family? Can you expect that adults do all the work at the home? Why not or why? Be prepared to defend your answer with reasons.
4. Do you have grandparents living with you in your family? What should be the roles of older members of our families living with us such as elderly grandparents?
5. How do you see your responsibilities in your own family? What are they? Did you choose them? Are you happy with them? Would you change any of them?
6. Are there differences between the responsibilities that girls and boys, fathers and mothers should have in a family? Should there be chores that are "girl's chores" and "boy's chores?" Can girls take out the rubbish as well as boys? Can boys do dishes as well as girls?
7. Do you think responsibilities are fairly divided among your family members? If you don't think so, how would you makes changes that would be more fair? Do you think you should do more - or less? If so, why?
8. Do you have jobs to do daily or weekly? What are they?
9. Do you get paid for your job? If so, how much? Do you think kids should get paid to do chores in the home? If you think you deserve better pay what can you do?
10. How do you negotiate with your "employers" - parents? Include some tips for those who would like to get better paid... and send them to the KidCom Who-Am-I? room. .
11. Do you think your negotiation tips can be used in other areas you want to change? If so, in what areas?
12. How have you changed as a family member over the past two or three years? Do you think that you will see your place in the family from a different point of view as you get older? How do you expect to change over the next few years? Do you think you will need reminding when it is time for chores as you get older?
13. Are there rules in your family? Do you think rules are important for a family? Defend your answer. Would you be happier if there were no rules at all in your family?
14. Who decides what rules are to be used in your family? Do you have any voice in the rules that you must follow? Do you think kids should have a voice in the family rules?
15. Does your family have clearly spoken (or even written) rules for these responsibilities, or are such things understood in some other way?
16. Should a child's room be his own place and not subject to family rules? Do you think you should be able to decorate your room in any way you wish?
17. If you become a parent what rules do you think you will make in your family? Will you give your kids a chance to help make family rules?

Classroom Activities

1. Do a survey of your class and find out what place in the family birth order each student holds. Place yourself into three groups: the oldest, the middle children and the youngest. Each group discusses what the advantages or disadvantages of these positions and then presents this to the whole class. Be sure to share these ideas in the KidCom Who-Am-I? room. .
2. In small groups brainstorm the roles of the father, mother, children and grandparents or other family members who live with you. Make a display board with pictures that define these roles.
3. As a class group define together some of the roles that you have in a family. Include such things as: caregiver for pets, babysitter for younger siblings, etc.
4. Divide the class into smaller groups of boys and girls. List all the chores that you have to do in your home. Report these to the whole class. Use a Venn diagram or other graphic organizer to list these chores. Which chores are done by boys and girls? Which chores are done mostly by boys? Which chores are done mostly by girls?
5. Write a persuasive letter to your parents asking for more allowance or pay for your chores. Be sure to include at least three valid reasons to persuade them.
6. Plan a debate titled, "Every Family Should Have Rules." Chose the side you will favor - Pro or Con.
7. Create a "Family Rules" guideline for your family when you are older and have children of your own. Share these in the KidCom Who-Am-I? room.
8. Invite an elder in the family of one of your classmates to talk to the class about being an older member of the family.
9. Read about the Japanese "Coming of Age Day" in the KIDLINK Multi-Cultural Calendar. It is found in the January holidays. Do research to find out if any other countries celebrate this right of passage from childhood to adult.
10. Families are expensive. Make a survey about how much it costs to provide for an average family in one week in your class. Talk to your parents and make a list of all expenses including food, mortgage, phone, insurance, car, petrol, movie, sweets etc.

    While working with this activity, please consider these questions:

    • What do we really need to have a good life?
    • Are there "things" we could do without?
    • Do material goods make us happy - or are there other values in life?
    • Does your feeling of having a good life grow with the amount of money you spend?

    Post the results from your survey in the KidCom Who-Am-I? room. Make graphs comparing the results from the other messages in the room.

11. Make a survey in your class about the number of people who work at home or somewhere else, what kind of work they do and what they get paid every week or month.

    Please add comments about:

    • The amount you are paid.
    • If you work outside your home, do you share your money with your family?
    • What can you buy for the money you get?
    • How many movie tickets or hamburgers can you buy?
    • Send the results from your survey to the KidCom Who-Am-I? room.
    • Make graphs comparing the results from the other messages sent to the KidCom Who-Am-I? room.
12. Write some rules you think would be necessary to improve things in your classroom. Vote and choose in your class which are the most important rules. Put the rules chosen in a list in your classroom for everybody to remember. Try to follow the rules for a week. Tell us what happened.

Once, again, please respond to the postings of others, but be sure to keep in mind that, in the modern world, people are extremely diverse. What seems clear and right in one family or community may not work at all in another, so be thoughtful and kind in your reactions.

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