Family Life

Family Life requirements

1. Prepare an outline on what a family is and discuss this with your merit badge counselor. Tell why families are important to individuals and to society. Discuss how the actions of one member can affect other members.
2. List several reasons why you are important to your family and discuss this with your parents or guardians and with your merit badge counselor.
3. Prepare a list of your regular home duties or chores (at least five) and do them for 90 days. Keep a record of how often you do each of them. Discuss with your counselor the effect your chores had on your family.
4. With the approval of your parents or guardians and your merit badge counselor, decide on and carry out a project that you would do around the home that would benefit your family. Submit a report to your merit badge counselor outlining how the project benefited your family.
5. Plan and carry out a project that involves the participation of your family. After completing the project, discuss the following with your merit badge counselor:

   a. The objective or goal of the project

   b. How individual members of your family participated

   c. The results of the project

6. Do the following:

   a. Discuss with your merit badge counselor how to plan and carry out a family meeting.

   b. After this discussion, plan and carry out a family meeting* to include the following subjects:

   1. Avoiding substance abuse, including tobacco, alcohol, and drugs, all of which negatively affect your health and well-being

   2. Understanding the growing-up process and how the body changes, and making responsible decisions dealing with sex

   3. How your chores in requirement 3 contributed to your role in the family

   4. Personal and family finances

   5. A crisis situation within your family

   6. The effect of technology on your family

   7. Good etiquette and manners

   Discussion of each of these subjects will very likely carry over to more than one family meeting.

   *This conversation may take place with only one or both of your parents or guardians.

7. Discuss the following with your counselor:

   a. Your understanding of what makes an effective father and why, and your thoughts on the father's role in the family

   b. Your understanding of the responsibilities of a parent.

The official source for the information shown in this article or section is: Boy Scout Requirements, 2016 Edition (BSA Supply SKU #621535)

A FREE workbook for Family Life is available here! with the maps, charts, links, diagrams, and checklists you need! Or click here to print just the Family Life requirements.

meritbadge.org has PDF and DOC versions of Boy Scout merit badge workbooks, Webelos workbooks, and Cub Scout workbooks.

• Per the BSA: "You should read the merit badge pamphlet on the subject." Pamphlets (books) are at local Scout Shops and online at ScoutStuff.org.
• "Get a signed Merit Badge application from your Scoutmaster." An online, printable Word doc file version is available.

• Boy Scout merit badges: American Cultures - American Heritage - Citizenship in the Community - Citizenship in the Nation - Citizenship in the World - Communication - Disabilities Awareness - Family Life - Genealogy - Personal Fitness - Personal Management - Public Speaking - Reading - Scholarship - Traffic Safety
• Venturing: TRUST Award - Quest Award - Ranger Award electives: Physical Fitness - Backpacking
• Webelos activity badges: Citizen - Communicator - Family Member -Fitness - Scholar; Other resources: Flag Ceremonies
• Cub Scout belt loops & pins: Citizenship - Communicating - Heritages - Language and Culture - Physical Fitness

• An Introduction to Merit Badges – how to get started, who chooses the counselor, etc.
• Merit Badge Worksheets & Requirements – with the revision dates, diagrams, charts, checklists, logs, and links you need.
• Merit Badge Application – offers online resources to let you print "Blue Cards," etc.
• Merit Badge FAQ – answers dozens of questions like: Who can be a counselor? Can requirements be added or removed?
• Merit Badges Requiring Prior Approval – Certain requirements need prior approval. Most do not. Here is the list.
• Also see: List of how many boys have earned each Merit Badge – Merit Badge policies – Merit badges required for the Eagle Scout rank – Merit Badge Days
• Additionally: List of Merit Badges by Field of Study – Merit Badge Pamphlets & Libraries
• Merit Badge Counselors must complete Youth Protection Training, file an Adult Application (and Merit Badge Counselor Information Form); and be approved by the local council. (See the Guide for Merit Badge Counselors for additional details.)