General Conference with kids

Twice a year our church holds General Conference where the prophet, apostles and other  leaders are able to address the members through out the world (and anyone else that wants to listen) in five two-hour session over two days. It wasn’t always one of my favorite things. When I was little, we would have to go to the church building to hear the broadcast. I remember going to the church with my parents. The church was so full that we always ended up in the overflow area. I would kneel on the hard wood floor and use my chair as a table, so that I could color in my coloring book while my parents listened. It was a long weekend for a little girl! But I noticed how important it was to my parents. When I was a teenager, we were able to hear conference at home over a broad band radio at home. I loved being able to work on quilts with my mom while we listened. (I always do better listening when I do something with my hands.) Now we can watch online, or on TV in the comforts of our own homes.  I love the scriptural insights, the feeling of peace, and hope that their messages give me. I also love that I can reread and relisten to the addresses. There are so many things I miss the first time around.

 

I wanted Lily and Zeke to start looking forward to conference the way I do. I also wanted them to start listening to all the session.

I looked up different activities for them to do: build a fort, coloring packets, magnet games, pipe cleaners with beads, candy, etc. I planned slight variations of things for them to do for each session. Some of the activities held their attention for quite awhile, others only for a few minutes. I wanted to have puff balls adhered to magnets that the kids could use to play with on cookie sheets. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find glue that worked well with the puff balls. So that was a bust. (I think I’ll try hot glue next time.)

 

Their favorites:

Building a fort with the kitchen table and blankets.

Candy dishes: five bowls filled with different candies. Each candy is assigned a different word. I chose: prophet, temple, missionary, scriptures, obey. Whenever they heard one of those words, they got the assigned candy. (In Zeke’s case, he helped himself to salt water taffy regardless of the word that was said.)

Pipe cleaner and beads: Lily loved playing with them, but just made bead sticks. Next time, I want to have pictures of shapes and other objects she can create to inspire her to do even more things with the pipe cleaners.

Play Dough: the kids love playing with play dough.

 

Last week, Lily asked me if Monday was going to be General Conference. She was so disappointed to find out it wouldn’t be until October. She was hoping to play some of the games again! (I so wanted to do a happy dance right then and there, but I tried to restrain my celebration.)