Here Are the YOUTH CAN TEACH Activities to make this year a “HAPPY” New Year for children and youth
Use the following article to give you details (a preview) of the 25 HAPPY activities.
TEACH ANY OF THESE ACTIVITIES anytime or follow these four topics (below) and teach them day-by-day or week-by-week at CHURCH or HOME as you set and achieve these goals in the new year. Enjoy!
TOPICS:
PARTS 1-2 (this page)
• HAPPY Family (#1-5 Activities)
• HAPPY Service (#6-11 Activities)
PARTS 3-4 (the following on THIS PAGE)
• HAPPY Choices (#12-20 Activities)
• Plan of Happiness (#21-26 Activities)
YOUTH CAN TEACH about HAPPINESS, so please let them teach with you. The best way youth can learn to teach is to know they have to teach it and explain it to someone. This way their testimony grows and their love for teaching and serving increases.
HAPPINESS is a blessing we receive when something good happens to us or we create something good. Anyone can be HAPPY all year long as they learn principles that can make us happy.
These HAPPY activities are in FOUR areas to follow by TOPIC or # to find “A state of happiness which hath no end” (Mormon 7:7) found in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
HAPPINESS skills can be compared to fishing, as Russell M. Nelson says, we need to be PATIENT, as “real change requires time—often a lot of time.” He quotes the Apostle Paul who counseled us to “run with patience the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1). He also said to have PERSISTENCE and PRAYER. See Instagram January 1, 2023).
ou set and achieve these goals in the new year.
HOW CAN WE PUT HAPPY THOUGHTS INTO OUR HEAD?
YOUTH CAN TEACH children and youth can’t be happy if they let bad thoughts inside their heads. This exercise will help them make better choices, replacing bad with the good, saying “I will fill my head with good instead.”
ACTIVITY:
Brainstorm to discover ways to think pure thoughts and how good thoughts will help make them happy. Help youth understand that their words and actions will become more pure as their thoughts become more pure. This all increases faith and a desire to keep the commandments. And the Holy Ghost can speak to your mind and heart more easily.
TO MAKE VISUALS:
1. Print, color, and cut out the visuals and thought word-strips. Mount head pieces together as directed, and laminate.
2. Using the pattern (shape), cut out a plastic head pocket from a piece of plastic (e.g., a sheet protector page) following the instructions on the pattern.
3. Glue thoughts on the back of the matching smile or frown faces.
WHAT CAN I DO TO FIND JOY NOW?
YOUTH CAN TEACH how to see the world around them differently. Use the HAPPINESS mirror motivator to memorize the Harold B. Lee quote “Happiness does not depend on what happens outside of you but what happens inside of you.”
ACTIVITY:
• Encourage the youth to post the Harold B. Lee quote on their mirror as a reminder that happiness comes from within. Talk about the outward trials and how we gain strength and joy by focusing on the gospel of Jesus Christ. Help them understand these three to be HAPPY: 1) prayer and scripture study, 2) keeping the commandments and 3) serving others.
• Discuss ways to notice good and lovely things in the world. Help them understand they hold the key to joy inside. Then, in their journals “What I can do to find joy now …” write their goals to obtain that inner happiness.
• WHAT CAN I DO NOW TO FIND JOY goal list – mirror motivator: Have the children or youth write ways they can find joy now, and remind them to work on these in the coming weeks, e.g., “Find a need and fill it (serve).”
WHICH CHOICES MAKE ME FEEL GOOD INSIDE?
YOUTH CAN TEACH children and youth that Heavenly Father gave us commandments to help us make right choices. Circles flip on the stick back and forth as fingers move the stick so flag reads: “I feel good inside” on one side and “When I keep the commandments” on the other side. Flag’s motion helps children think of action – it takes thought and work – action to keep the commandments; we don’t just think about them, we need to act on them to “DO.”
ACTIVITY: Create a round flip-flag to flip back and forth to show two images. The heart reads, “I Feel Good Inside,” and the smile reads, “When I Keep the Commandments.”
TO MAKE Print or copy, color, and cut out the activity on cardstock. Glue circles in places indicated. Place the circles back-to-back and glue a wooden craft stick in the center, between the two circles.
WHAT GOOD CHOICES CAN MAKE US HAPPY & SAD/BAD CHOICES MAKE US SAD?
YOUTH CAN TEACH others to ponder these good apple choices that make them happy and the bad choices that can make them sad (worms in apple). As they tell how they can REPENT of a bad choice they can get a new smiley apple to place on the tree (tossing the wormy apple).
ACTIVITY:
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WHAT CHOICES CAN WE MAKE TO MAKE US HAPPY?
YOUTH CAN TEACH children to think about choices that make them HAPPY or sad. They can un-mix puzzle pieces depending on the situation/choice they can show happy choices to build Happy Henry and sad choices to build Miserable Mac. Henry is HAPPY as he has the Holy Ghost to guide him, but Mac can repent and feel HAPPY again. Choices help.
ACTIVITY:
WHAT CHOICES MAKE US HAPPY?
YOUTH CAN TEACH children that HAPPINESS comes from choosing the right. As they turn the wheel, talk about ways they can choose the right and how these choices can help them to be HAPPY.
ACTIVITY:
1. Tell
#6
Be a HAPPY Camper backpacks with happy and sad decisions
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YOUTH CAN TEACH children 2
ACTIVITY:
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#6
Be a HAPPY Camper backpacks with happy and sad decisions
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YOUTH CAN TEACH children 2
ACTIVITY:
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#6
Be a HAPPY Camper backpacks with happy and sad decisions
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Be a HAPPY Camper backpacks with happy and sad decisions
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YOUTH CAN TEACH children 2
ACTIVITY:
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#6
Be a HAPPY Camper backpacks with happy and sad decisions
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YOUTH CAN TEACH children 2
ACTIVITY:
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