Page 49 - Meeting with Children Manual

Section 4

P a ge | 47

ACTIVITY 5. FAMILY PLAY GENOGRAM

Best for 7 years to teen
INSTRUCTIONS
Place large-sized paper (butcher’s paper) out on the floor with a pre-drawn genogram
of grandparents from both parent’s sides, parents and children. Use big circles and
squares so that the child can choose items/objects to place on the
Genogram.

Introduce the genogram to the child. You will have written the names on each of the
circles and squares. Ask the child to pick an item (figure/ object) that reminds them of
each of the people on the genogram. They have to pick one for themselves as well.
You may have to give an example – like you could pick a shell to be you… etc

Script
(Child or Youth’s name) you can see that I have a big drawing on the floor
with circles and squares on it. Girls are circles and boys are squares and
each one is for a person in your family.

If you are working with gender neutral, transgendered families or are considering
alternatives to gender reference, engage child to choose their own shapes for the
drawing.

Your grandparents are up here (point to top of diagram), here is your
mom and dad and you and your sister etc. (pointing to the various places
on the genogram). Over here are a bunch of different objects that you
can choose from. I would like you to pick one that reminds you of each of
the people on the picture and put the (toy or symbol) on the squares and
circles.

After the child chooses an object for each person (including him/her self) then
facilitate drawing a legend/key.

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