Conference for Kids

What do you want children to get out of conference?
To recognize who the speakers are and their authority
To have a good experience
That this is not “a day off” Feel the spirit
Have personal spiritual experiences
Moments that inspire and change them

Focus
Duck pictures from Teaching No Greater Call Chapter 31 – One shows only a duck the other has grass, a pond and other details. The point of the picture comparison is that we need to simplify to make sure our children are getting what we want them to get out of conference and it's not being cluttered by other things. Prioritize what you want to get out of conference, focus, simplicity, clarity, choose wisely the activities so the purpose does not become cluttered and unclear.
 Chapter 31 LINK

BEFORE Conference
Inform the children that conference is coming up so they have time to be ready
Prepare mentally, spiritually & temporally (a plan of things to do)
Clean the house so you can focus
Think about easy meals buy your groceries beforehand
Manage your expectations
General Conference Count Down from September 2012 issue of the Friend – paper chain Conference Countdown
FHE on conference - matching game with short bios of the prophets and apostles with pictures of them from when they were children Prophets and Apostles Pictures of some as kids
Game: President Monson says…video Follow the prophet and do everything he says in the video. President Monson
During the week before pray for those who will speak and to be open to their counsel and to what we should do following conference.

DURING
Use personal revelation to determine what works best for your family. If watching it all live doesn’t work watch some live and use some for family home evenings. Adjust your expectations as to how your kids are doing and remember your purpose and what you want them to get out of conference but don’t miss out. Adapt how you receive the information to your family’s needs but make it a priority to get all you can out of conference.
“‘And they pitched their tents round about the temple, every man having his tent with the door thereof towards the temple, that thereby they might remain in their tents and hear the words which King Benjamin should speak unto them.’”
decorate tent (washable markers and a white sheet) or conference quilt (divide the sheet into parts and draw a picture for each song and a few of the talks) Use the sheet in the second session for a reverence tent with favorite blankets. Pillows and copies of The Friend.
m&m game – pick 2 words every time they are said you get an m&m, change the words if the game gets old. Another option is to use chocolate chips and collect them in a jar to make cookies after the afternoon session is finished. You could also use pennies then have the children pick something from a tithing slip to put them toward. Yet another idea is to use beads with certain colors for a topic and pick a bead when you hear the topic to make a conference bracelet/necklace.
Busy hands: Pipe cleaners - Clay- playdough – beads – finger knitting/knitting – coloring
Serving Hands - help teachers with assembling, cut/paste etc, fold laundry (Sat), match socks (Sat), Knit washcloths, bandages, make ribbon flowers as a Thank you for teachers, Make cards: Thank You cards for veterans at the VA hospital, missionary cards, Birthday cards for less active families, Bandages Info
Main topic pictures throughout conference THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITES!! Pages one and two of the primary conference packet. Link to pages
Conference picnics under the reverence tent – 72 hour kit food, special conference foods having meals during conference is another way to keep the kids busy. I prefer to use the break between session to run and play then eat during conference.
Bingo another favorite. We usually do the m&m game for the 1st session and Bingo for the 2nd. BINGO CARDS
afternoon session picnic, tea party, 72 hour kit food rotation – eat the food in your 72 hour kit. Adults: fast with purpose for conference, write in your journal your example has a great impact on what your kids will get out of conference.

HALF TIME STRETCH (Between sessions) Go to the park, bike ride, tag, blind man’s bluff, Hike the interurban, soccer, Chinese fire drill around the house, marshmallow fights, GET OUT OF THE HOUSE & MOVE!!

AFTER

Potluck with friends to discuss conference
FHE listen to talk, look up all the scripture references, use the scriptures to find a hymn to sing. Conference resolutions – what will you do? Ideals are stars to steer by not sticks with which to beat ourselves.