Earning the Family Life Merit Badge is a major milestone on the Path to Eagle. As one of the required merit badges for Eagle rank, it teaches Scouts how to take responsibility at home, communicate effectively with family members, and develop leadership through everyday life. This badge isn’t about camping or knots—it’s about building stronger relationships, understanding family dynamics, and stepping up in ways that truly matter.
Whether you’re just starting the journey or checking off the final few badges before your Eagle Board of Review, mastering Family Life is essential. In this complete guide, we’ll walk you through every requirement—step-by-step—with tips, real examples, and insights to help you succeed. Use this post alongside your merit badge workbook and counselor discussions to get the most out of the experience.
Timeframe/Difficulty
The Family Life Merit Badge requires a serious time commitment—especially due to the 90-day household project in Requirement 3. Because of this, it’s recommended that Scouts start this badge early and plan ahead. While the concepts are easy to understand, the badge challenges you to stay consistent, take initiative, and reflect honestly on your role in your family. It’s not just about doing chores—it’s about becoming a more thoughtful and dependable family member.
Tips For Success
- Start the 90-day project early – This is the longest part of the badge, and delaying it could push back your timeline for Eagle.
- Communicate with your family – Most requirements involve open discussion or teamwork. Be respectful, listen actively, and take notes for your reflections.
- Use the workbook daily – Tracking your chores, projects, and thoughts in real-time will save you from scrambling later when meeting with your counselor.
Complete Guide
***This guide is only intended as a starting point for your research. Directly copying the information offered here is plagiarism. Doing your own research will allow you to get the most out of this badge and maintain the 12 points of the scout law. A scout is trustworthy!***
1. What Is a Family?
Requirement 1: Prepare an outline on what a family is and discuss this with your merit badge counselor.
Tips:
- A family is a group of individuals living together who support each other emotionally, physically, and financially.
- Include different family structures: nuclear, blended, extended, single-parent, and chosen families.
- Think about the roles families play in society and in your personal development.
- You could reference trustworthy online resources like this article for the HRSA.
Example:
“A family is where individuals love and support each other. Families teach responsibility, values, and how to care for others.”
Use the workbook to write down your ideas and be ready to explain them in a conversation with your counselor.
2. Understanding Family Roles
Requirement 2: Discuss the following with your counselor:
a. Your understanding of what makes a happy family
- A happy family communicates well, spends time together, supports each other, and shares responsibilities.
b. The duties and responsibilities of parents and children in your family
- Parents often provide income, discipline, and structure. Children may help with chores, schoolwork, and contributing to family life.
c. The importance of family activities
- Activities like meals, game nights, or trips help strengthen relationships and build trust.
d. The effect of religion, culture, and family traditions
- These shape a family’s values, practices, and identity. They offer a sense of belonging and purpose.
e. The roles of the extended family
- Grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins often offer support, share wisdom, and help raise children.
f. Your idea of how to handle conflict within the family
- Listen first, stay calm, talk respectfully, and try to find a solution that works for everyone.
Tips:
- Use real-life examples when discussing these topics.
- Reflect on what you’ve learned from your family and how you contribute.
3. 90-Day Chore Project
Requirement 3: Plan and carry out a project that includes the completion of household tasks for 90 days.
Tips:
- Choose daily or weekly chores like cooking, vacuuming, laundry, or pet care.
- Keep track in your workbook for the full 90 days.
- Show consistency and personal growth over the period.
Example Chore Schedule:
| Week | Chore 1 | Chore 2 | Chore 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-2 | Trash | Dishes | Vacuum |
| 3-4 | Laundry | Cooking | Dusting |
You can use this chore list from care.com as a starting point for creating your own.
4. Family Project
Requirement 4: Plan and carry out a family project.
Tips:
- Pick a project that involves multiple family members and benefits the whole household.
- Examples: Clean out the garage, paint a room, start a garden, or organize a shared space.
- Work as a team and keep track of your planning and progress.
Example:
“We cleaned and reorganized the garage together. I made a plan, assigned tasks, and we finished over two weekends.”
5. Personal Project
Requirement 5: Plan and carry out a project of your own that benefits your family.
Tips:
- Unlike Requirement 4, this project should be done mostly on your own.
- Ideas: Cook meals for a week, organize your closet or family photos, build a shelf.
- Track your progress and reflect on how it helped your family.
Example:
“I planned and cooked dinner every Friday for a month. I chose recipes, shopped, and cleaned up.”
6. Family Meeting
Requirement 6: Talk with your family about each person’s role. Hold a family meeting to discuss needs and problems. Report on the results.
Tips:
- Set a time when everyone is available.
- Make an agenda that includes discussion topics (chores, communication, schedules).
- Take notes and share your reflections with your counselor.
Example:
“During our meeting, we discussed how to balance chores fairly. We agreed to a new system that made everyone feel heard.”
7. Discuss Family Life With Counselor
Requirement 7: Discuss the following with your merit badge counselor:
a. Your understanding of growing up and family life
- Growing up involves more responsibility and independence. Family life teaches values and structure.
b. Your role in your family now and how it may change as you grow older
- Right now, your role may involve chores and schoolwork. As you grow, you may help more with finances, caregiving, or decision-making.
c. What you think is meant by “a functional family”
- A functional family communicates, resolves conflict, supports each other, and adapts to change.
d. Your thoughts on the responsibilities of a parent
- Providing for the family, setting rules, teaching life skills, offering love and support.
e. Your thoughts on how the actions of one family member can affect the entire family
- Every action can impact family mood, finances, stress levels, and relationships.
Tips:
- This requirement is reflective. Be open and honest.
- Think about how family life shapes who you are and who you want to become.
Conclusion
The Family Life Merit Badge helps Scouts develop important life skills: responsibility, leadership, communication, and empathy. Completing this badge takes time and effort, but the lessons learned will benefit you for a lifetime.
Stay organized, take your projects seriously, and use your workbook to track everything. Talk openly with your family and counselor. You’ll not only earn an Eagle-required badge—you’ll become a better son, sibling, and future parent.
