WHY HAVE ACTIVITY DAYS? 

It is a wonderful way for Latter Day Saint Girls to learn to become Latter-Day Saint women and Latter Day Saint Boys to learn to become Latter-Day Saint Men.  These activities provide them a time to discover, to learn new skills, to grow in self confidence, and to watch role-models with diverse talents.
 

    A.  One principle for leaders to remember as you plan your activities is: What the hands do, the heart and mind remembers.  Seeing and hearing are ways to learn, but doing becomes a part of who they are.  Activity Days are like a laboratory session for the principles taught on Sunday.
 

    B.  Reach out to others:  There will be girls and boys in your ward who can be reached through weekday activities, but might not ever get to church on Sunday.  This is a wonderful opportunity to reach out and help them feel loved and welcome.  This may be the only place they may hear prayers said, open the scriptures, or see a nurturing person in action.

                1.  Help your girls/boys feel comfortable in bringing their friends to the activities.
                2.  Help them be sensitive to others and to help everyone feel welcome.

    C.  People who give their time to teach and nurture children are like the planters of trees.  Even though they may never sit in the shade or taste the fruit of the trees, it's enough to watch over the seedling and know that good things will grow in time. 
 

II.    HOW TO HAVE SUCCESSFUL ACHIEVEMENT DAYS
 

    A.  Be prepared

    B.  Have a purpose.  There needs to be a point to what you are doing.  It is not enough to just keep them busy and out of trouble.  Teach a skill, build fellowship or any other worthy goal.

    C.  Physically involve them.
 

III    AT THE ACTIVITY

    A.  Begin with prayer, keep a roll of who comes and what you do.

    B.  Let those who don't come know that you missed them and keep them informed of future activities.

    C.  Listen:  Give them room to talk and listen to their concerns and you will know what you need to teach.  Encourage the girls to visit with one another, but quickly and gently intervene to make sure that no one is left out or teased.
   

    D.  Keep confidences.  Build their trust
   

    E.  Be a leader.  While it is important to be a friend, it is much more important to be their leader.  Girls are not really just sugar and spice.  They can be rowdy, mean, eat like horses, and can be rude.  But they can also be tender, generous, kind, loving and thoughtful.  A leader's job is to prune the bad and nurture the good.  Leaders who set standards and mold gently month after month do make a difference.
 

    F.  Set ground rules.  When they arrive set ground rules for the activity such as: stay with group, have a buddy, do not go into certain rooms, etc.  There is always one person in a group who is drawn like a magnet to any piano and has a need to  play chopsticks constantly.  Set the rules....maybe they can have a time to play  when the activity is done.  If they seem restless, maybe you can tell them that later there will be time for cart-wheels on the lawn.
 

    G.  Correct bad behavior.  When you face behavior that is out of line, don't look the other way and hope it will go away.  It won't.  Sometimes we are afraid to ask someone to stop a certain behavior.  Remember you were called to be a leader and teacher, not to be a buddy and you need to show the right way.  Usually when a child is out of line, they know it.  Even if they are upset when you ask them to stop, it is only temporary.  If you do not correct the child, they assume that their behavior must be all right with you.
 

    H.  Lead with a spirit of love.  Don't embarrass or lecture.  Keep a sense of humor. Remember that smile and a hug can be your best tools at times.  Always approach them with a spirit of love.  Calmly explain that you expect their best.  Over time, children have an interesting way of becoming just what is expected of them.