General Conference IDEAS for CHILDREN

An email I received from Elisabeth Wozniak:

Its General Conference time again and I am really excited about making this a meaningful experience for our family and young women's group. There is an EXCELLENT article in the March 2009 Ensign entitled, "Preparing Our Children for General Conference" that give great ideas for making general conference more meaningful for your family. Here is the direct link to the full article (http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&l ocale=0&sourceId=9e906c667a6af110VgnVCM100000176f620a____&hideNav=1)

I have also included some of the ideas in the body of this email that we plan on using with our kids.

Also attached are general conference activity packets for your kids based on their age group. Below are the links to the web site where I got them with the direct link if you want to download it from that site if you have problems opening the attachment. I am also attaching a questioner I made for last conference for our young women's group to use. It is not as professional as the other ones made, but it asks different questions. Our young women's group gets together for the Saturday morning session at someone's house and we enjoy a brunch/lunch before conference starts. So much fun!

Let me know if you have any great ideas about making general conference more meaningful for your family or young women's group. I always love new ideas!

Conference Packet for kids:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/13298891/2009-April-Conference-Packet

Conference Packet for older kids/teens:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/13587708/Conference-Journal-Older-Child

Some ideas for smaller children from the 2009 March Ensign article, "Preparing Our Children for General Conference":

They remove the center spread with photos of General Authorities from the most recent conference edition of the Ensign and hang it near the television. Each time a new speaker appears on the screen, the children study the poster and try to find the speaker's picture. They are rewarded with a sticker to place on the poster or in a notebook of their own. They quickly learn to identify the First Presidency and others by name, says Sister Sorensen.

The Sorensens set out a bowl of small treats for each session. Next to the bowl, they place objects that represent key words for that session. Each time the children hear one of those words spoken from the pulpit, they can help themselves to one treat. Sister Sorensen notes: "It's surprising to see how much young children can and do listen. Their enthusiasm is priceless as you hear them say, 'Mommy, he said temples!".

For the sessions that fall during typical mealtimes, the Sorensens prepare a picnic basket and lay out a blanket in front of the television. Brother and Sister Sorensen tell their children that they are like the families in the Book of Mormon who sat on the ground and listened to their prophet, King Benjamin, teach them about the gospel of Jesus Christ. We thank our children for allowing us to listen and praise them for their reverence and attentiveness. We bear testimony throughout the day of the things we have heard and felt and reiterate our love for living prophets and apostles.

Brother and Sister Sorensen make sure they spend time with their children before and after sessions. They let them have active or outdoor play to get out all their wiggles.
Love,
Elisabeth