Family Night Idea – Love is Contagious (she: Veronica)

Hello everyone! It’s Veronica and I’m so excited to back this month to share a fun Family Night idea. Even though Valentine’s Day is over, the month of love is still going strong!! I thought it would be fun to share a quick and easy Family Night about love. Of course we love our families, but sometimes it’s good to be reminded! There is great power in loving each other. When love is shown, there tends to be more patience, forgiveness comes more easily and there will always be more joy in our home. Just by loving each other. SO EASY…yet so hard sometimes. I thought it would be fun to explain how contagious it is when we choose to love. It rubs off on everyone. Even your cranky teenagers can’t escape the effects of love. So…on to our Family Night! (There are many ideas…just pick what fits best for your family).

 FAMILY NIGHT: LOVE IS CONTAGIOUS!!

 LESSON:

*Read John 13:34 together: “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”

*Discuss why it’s important for us to love each other. What are the good things that come from it? What are the struggles that come when we don’t?

*Ask how your home life would be different if there was more love being shown?

*Share specific ideas of how you can show love to each other. Ask if anyone has a personal example to share. (I think it’s so helpful when you can make it personal to them.)

VIDEO CLIP:

Here’s a short and beautiful clip on “Love One Another”.

OBJECT LESSON:

Items needed: paper towel, red marker, ball point pen, small bow of water

1. Talk about how we all need love. But, we’re also all capable of giving love. (Draw a heart on a paper towel with ball point pen (NOT marker) about 1 ” from the edge of paper towel.)
2. Explain that God showed us how to love. He loves us. And He helps us fill our hearts with loves towards others. (Color in heart with red marker.)
3. Talk about how important it is to spread love to each other, especially in a family. (Draw small hearts representing your family. Make them small and close to the top part of your red heart.)
4. When we choose to show love, it spreads. Just like a chicken pox is contagious, so is love. Soon, everyone call feel the effects of it. (Dip edge of paper towel in water and watch “love spread”.)

GAME: “LOVE POX”

Hand everyone a sheet of round red dot stickers. I found mine on Amazon here. *If you can’t find red stickers, the multi-color pack of yard sale round dot stickers would work as well. Explain how contagious an illness like chicken pox is. Love works the same way, especially in our families. When one person makes the decision to spread love, it catches on. Instruct them that they have 30 seconds to stick as many “Love Pox” as they can on each other. Say “GO!” and let them spread the love.

HANDOUT:

Print out the “Love Bug” here. If you would like a plain black and white one that your kids can color, print it here. (Laminating would make it last longer, but not necessary). Explain that the family will be “spreading” the Love Bug. When you see it in your room, on your bed, etc., it means that someone did something to show love to you. You might not know what they did for you, or who did it, but you will know that you are loved. Your job is then to “spread” it as fast as you can to someone else. When you are done with your act of “love”, leave the “Love Bug” for that person to find. (You may want to establish a specific place for them to leave it every time. For example, on the bed.)

Then print out this reminder to hang in your home.

DESSERT:

These couldn’t be more perfect! And super quick and easy to make! I’m a firm believer that you can never go wrong with Rice Krispie Treats!

Sweetheart Rice Krispie Treats