# Meeting Agenda Topics Part of the Family Life Merit Badge Digital Resource Guide: [Introduction & Overview](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/family-life/guide/index.md) *6. Family Meetings* > **6b.** Prepare a meeting agenda that includes the following topics, review it with your parent or guardian, and then carry out one or more family meetings: This requirement asks you to cover seven specific topics in your family meetings. You don't have to tackle all seven in a single meeting — in fact, spreading them across two or three meetings is often better. Some of these topics are personal and sensitive. Take your time with them. --- ### Topic 1: Scout Oath and Scout Law in Family Life > **6b1.** How living the principles of the Scout Oath and Scout Law contributes to your family life You already live by the Scout Oath and Scout Law at troop meetings and campouts. But how do those same principles show up at home? Think about it: - **Trustworthy** — When your family can trust you to do what you say, everything runs more smoothly. Trust is the foundation of any strong family. - **Loyal** — Loyalty to your family means supporting each other, even when it's not convenient or easy. - **Helpful** — Helping around the house without being asked is one of the simplest ways to live the Scout Law at home. - **Friendly** — Being pleasant to live with matters. A kind word or a smile can change the tone of the whole house. - **Kind** — Small acts of kindness — making a sibling's lunch, letting someone else pick the movie — build a culture of generosity. - **Obedient** — Following house rules and respecting your parent's or guardian's authority, even when you disagree, shows maturity. - **Thrifty** — Turning off lights, not wasting food, and taking care of your belongings save your family money and resources. - **Brave** — It takes courage to admit when you're wrong, to apologize, or to have a difficult conversation with a family member. - **Clean** — Keeping your space tidy and taking care of shared areas shows respect for your family and your home. - **Reverent** — Respecting your family's beliefs, traditions, and values — even as you form your own — keeps the family connected. > **Tip** > > Pick two or three points from the Scout Oath or Scout Law that resonate most with your family life. Share specific examples from your own experience during the meeting. Real stories are more powerful than abstract ideas. --- ### Topic 2: Dangers and Addictions Facing Youth > **6b2.** The greatest dangers and addictions facing youth in today's society (examples include mental health challenges, use of tobacco products, alcohol, or drugs and other items such as debts, social media, etc.) This is one of the most important conversations you can have with your family. The dangers facing young people today are real, but they are also manageable when you have good information and a support system. **Mental health challenges** are more recognized today than ever before. Anxiety, depression, and stress affect millions of teenagers. These are not signs of weakness — they are conditions that can be understood and treated. If you or someone you know is struggling, talking to a trusted adult is the most important step you can take. **Substance use** — including tobacco, vaping, alcohol, and drugs — is a risk that many young people face. Nicotine in e-cigarettes is highly addictive and can harm developing brains. Alcohol and drugs impair judgment and can lead to dangerous situations. The best protection is understanding the risks and having the confidence to make your own choices. **Social media** can be a great tool for staying connected, but it also has a dark side. Cyberbullying, comparison culture, and screen addiction are real issues. Setting boundaries around screen time and being intentional about what you consume online makes a big difference. **Financial pitfalls** — spending beyond your means, accumulating debt, or falling for online scams — can start in the teen years. Learning to manage money now protects you later. > **Safety First!** > > If you or someone you know is in crisis, help is available 24/7. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline can be reached by calling or texting **988**. The Crisis Text Line is available by texting **HELLO** to 741741. You are never alone. > **Be Prepared! A Friend Asks You to Try Something You Know Is Wrong** > > Peer pressure is one of the biggest challenges you'll face as a teenager. Here's how to handle it: > > - **Know your answer in advance.** Decide now that you won't use substances. When the moment comes, you won't have to think — you'll already know. > - **Use a simple response.** "No thanks, I'm good" is enough. You don't owe anyone an explanation. > - **Remove yourself.** If the pressure continues, leave the situation. A real friend respects your choices. > - **Talk to someone.** Tell a parent, counselor, or trusted adult about what happened. They can help you process it. --- ### Topic 3: Growing Up and Changing > **6b3.** Discuss with a parent or guardian how bodily changes can affect the choices you make as you physically and mentally mature. Your body and brain are changing — and those changes affect how you think, feel, and make decisions. This is a conversation to have privately with your parent or guardian, not necessarily in the full family meeting. Here's what's helpful to know going in: - **Hormonal changes** affect your mood, energy, and emotions. Feeling irritable, emotional, or restless is normal. Understanding that these feelings are partly biological helps you manage them. - **Brain development** is ongoing throughout your teenage years. The part of your brain responsible for planning, impulse control, and understanding consequences (the prefrontal cortex) isn't fully developed until your mid-20s. This is why teenagers sometimes make impulsive decisions — it's literally how the brain works at this stage. - **Physical changes** affect how you see yourself and how others see you. Body image, self-confidence, and social dynamics all shift during adolescence. The goal of this conversation isn't to be embarrassed — it's to understand yourself better so you can make good choices even when your body and brain are sending confusing signals. > **Tip** > > This conversation can feel awkward, and that's okay. You might start by saying something like: "For my merit badge, I need to talk about how growing up affects my decisions. Can we talk about that?" Giving your parent or guardian a heads-up makes it easier for both of you. --- ### Topic 4: Personal and Family Finances > **6b4.** Personal and family finances Money is one of the most common sources of stress in families, but it doesn't have to be. Understanding how money works — earning, saving, spending, and sharing — is a life skill that serves you forever. **Budgeting basics:** A budget is simply a plan for where your money goes. One popular approach is the **50-30-20 rule**: - **50%** goes to needs (food, housing, transportation) - **30%** goes to wants (entertainment, hobbies, dining out) - **20%** goes to savings and paying off debt Even if you don't have a regular income yet, you can practice this with allowance, gift money, or earnings from odd jobs. **Family finances:** Every family has a budget, even if it's informal. Understanding that your family's income has limits helps you make thoughtful requests and appreciate what you have. During your family meeting, you might discuss: - How does our family decide what to spend money on? - What are our biggest expenses? - How can we save money together? - What financial goals does our family have? > **Did You Know?** > > According to the National Endowment for Financial Education, 69% of parents report some reluctance to discuss money with their children. But families who talk openly about finances raise kids who are significantly better at managing money as adults. --- ### Topic 5: Family Crisis Situations > **6b5.** A crisis situation within your family and whom you can turn to for support during these situations. Every family faces difficult times — job loss, illness, divorce, the death of a loved one, natural disasters, or other unexpected events. A crisis doesn't mean your family is broken. It means your family is being tested, and how you respond makes all the difference. **Before a crisis happens**, it helps to know: - **Who can you call?** Make a list of trusted adults outside your immediate family — grandparents, aunts, uncles, family friends, religious leaders, school counselors, or Scout leaders. - **What resources are available?** Community organizations, hotlines, and support groups exist for almost every type of crisis. - **How does your family communicate during emergencies?** Do you have a family communication plan? **During a crisis:** - Stay calm and focus on what you can control. - Be honest about your feelings. It's okay to be scared, sad, or confused. - Help where you can — sometimes the most valuable thing you do is take care of everyday tasks so your parent or guardian can focus on the crisis. - Ask for help when you need it. Reaching out is a sign of strength, not weakness. **Family Support Network** — People and resources to know before you need them - [ ] Trusted relative (name and phone number) - [ ] Family friend or neighbor - [ ] School counselor - [ ] Scout leader or merit badge counselor - [ ] Religious leader (if applicable) - [ ] Local crisis hotline number - [ ] Family doctor or pediatrician --- ### Topic 6: Technology's Effect on Your Family > **6b6.** The effect of technology on your family Technology connects us to the world, but it can also disconnect us from the people sitting right next to us. This topic asks you to look honestly at how devices, apps, and screens affect your family's relationships. **The positives:** - Video calls let you stay connected with distant family members - Shared calendars keep everyone organized - Group chats make quick communication easy - Educational tools and entertainment bring families together **The challenges:** - Screen time can replace face-to-face conversation - Social media can create comparison and conflict - Constant notifications interrupt family time - Different comfort levels with technology can cause tension between generations During your family meeting, have an honest conversation about your family's relationship with technology. Some discussion starters: - How much screen time does each of us have on a typical day? - Are there times when devices should be put away (meals, bedtime, family outings)? - Has technology ever caused a misunderstanding or conflict in our family? - What's one rule we could all agree on to improve our relationship with technology? > **Tip** > > Rather than criticizing anyone's screen habits, frame the conversation around what your family could *gain* by being more intentional. "What if we all put our phones in a basket during dinner?" is more effective than "You're always on your phone." --- ### Topic 7: Etiquette and Manners > **6b7.** Good etiquette and manners. Etiquette might sound old-fashioned, but it's really just about showing respect for the people around you. Good manners make your home more pleasant, your relationships stronger, and your life outside the home more successful. **At home:** - Say "please," "thank you," and "excuse me" — even with your own family - Clean up after yourself in shared spaces - Knock before entering someone's room - Listen when someone is talking to you - Offer to help without being asked **At the table:** - Wait for everyone to be served before eating - Keep your phone off the table - Use napkins, not your sleeve - Ask to be excused when you're finished **In the community:** - Hold doors for people behind you - Make eye contact and greet people politely - Write thank-you notes for gifts and kindnesses - Be on time — it shows respect for other people's time **Online:** - Think before you post — would you say it to someone's face? - Respond to messages in a reasonable time - Don't share other people's personal information - Be kind in comments and group chats > **Did You Know?** > > The word "etiquette" comes from the French word for "ticket." At the court of King Louis XIV of France, guests were given small cards (etiquettes) with instructions on proper behavior. Today, good etiquette is your "ticket" to being welcome anywhere. --- ### Explore More Resources [Scout Oath and Law](https://www.scouting.org/about/faq/question10/): The official Scouting America page with the full Scout Oath and Scout Law. [What Causes Addiction, and Why Is It So Hard to Treat? (video)](https://youtu.be/hBC7i-vHWsU?si=wpVHlg5gMVe_RLhe): A clear, science-based explanation of how addiction works in the brain. [The 50-30-20 Rule (video)](https://youtu.be/OZQQMYfaBT4?si=1f9kNb_OVcyxd4NB): A simple explanation of budgeting basics that works for teens and adults alike. [Digital Safety and Online Scouting Activities](https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/safety-moments/digital-safety-and-online-scouting-activities/): Scouting America's guide to staying safe online. [Bullying Awareness](https://www.scouting.org/training/youth/bullying/): Resources from Scouting America for recognizing, preventing, and responding to bullying. [Evolving Technology: Will Family Life Ever Be the Same Again? (video)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFc_q9-KD8c): A thought-provoking look at how technology is changing family dynamics. ![A family sitting in a living room with notebooks, engaged in a serious but comfortable discussion, with devices set aside on a nearby table](https://ik.imagekit.io/doulacoop/tr:w-800/mbu-assets/merit-badges/family-life/guide/family-meeting-discussion?v=513ade95) --- - Previous: [Planning Family Meetings](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/family-life/guide/req6a/index.md) - Next: [Understanding Parenthood](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/family-life/guide/req7/index.md)