During the summer months jam packed schedules, vacations, and other events can leave little time for family togetherness.

A family game night is a great way to bring everyone together and encourage team work. One of our favorite FOCUS game night activities to support teamwork is The Family Puzzle, because like a puzzle a family is made up of individual pieces that fit together to make the larger picture. We hope that you will enjoy this great activity to honor the special role that each person plays in the bigger puzzle of family life.

Materials needed:
1 puzzle piece printed for each family member
Card Stock or Poster Board
Scissors
Glue
Markers, Crayons, or Colored Pencils
Magazines (optional)

Directions:
1. Print out the template puzzle piece

2. Have each family member write their name on their own puzzle piece.

3. Ask each family member to draw or collage something on the puzzle that relates to the puzzle’s theme. The theme can be anything but some examples are:
• Something special you bring to the family.
• Something you appreciate about the family.
• One reason you love your family.
• Something special about your family.
• Your favorite family memory.

4. Once family members have completed their puzzle piece, glue it to the poster board or card stock, and then cut it out.

5. Fit the pieces together to make your family puzzle.
Use this opportunity to talk about how the individual puzzle pieces came together to make a whole puzzle, just as the individual family members contribute and are an important piece of the complete family.

FOCUS (Families OverComing Under Stress) is a resiliency-building program of the Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED). FOCUS is an eight-session training program for military families that is grounded in more than two decades of research and experience serving families dealing with stress and changes. FOCUS is specifically adapted for the needs of military couples, children, and families and provides training in core resilience skills. These skills increase closeness, support, communication, and adaptability.

For more info about FOCUS, visit at www.focusproject.org or www.facebook.com/FOCUSresiliencytraining.
Contact your local FOCUS site:
• Marine and Family Services, Bldg. 13150, Camp Pendleton, 760-859-6079, camppendleton@focuproject.org
• Dolphin Alley, Bldg. 265, NBSD, 619-556-6075, sandiego@focuproject.org

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