10/04/20: This week we welcomed our family by having them roam the house to find particular items from the list we provided. Everyone enjoyed sharing the “find an item that is special to you” and why they considered the item to be special. It was a fun activity that got everyone up and moving around. It also made a great segue into our lesson because the items were tied to a special person that gifted them.

Once we settled back down, we dove into our lesson on role models and influences. First we explained what an influence is and how people can influence us for better or for worse. We took things a step further and began thinking about those in our lives that we look up to and why. Each of the people mentioned were placed on a sticky note on our virtual board. At first, getting the names was like pulling teeth. However, when we started talking about the traits of each person, more names started flowing. Our “people you know online” portion was empty because the youth aren’t allowed on social media in the home. The names consisted of friends, family members, and celebrities.

After this activity we extended our discussion to include our closest friends, why we consider them to be friends, and what it takes to be a good friend.

Our family has faithfully been sending videos and pictures of them playing the games we’ve been able to provide, completing the independent family session activities, and cooking their EFNEP meals together as a family. Even though the family was strong when we first met them, they have been using the material covered in the sessions to grow even closer!
