Where will you be in 10 years? It’s a simple yet powerful question we ask to 5-year-olds in our Extended Family for Kids programs, to 50-year-olds in our Extended Family Success for Life lessons, and to everyone in between. Across all of our programs, we use a version of our “Picture This” activity to help both children and adults imagine, and begin shaping, their futures.
Each participant receives an 11×17 sheet of blank paper and a set of markers, along with an invitation to dream. What will life look like a decade from now? For some, the vision includes becoming a teenager, earning a driver’s license, or owning a first car. For others, it’s retirement – peaceful days spent at the beach, in the mountains, or enjoying the comfort of home.
Dreams are essential for keeping hope alive. As participants share their drawings, Program Leaders guide meaningful conversations about what it takes to turn those dreams into reality. Together, they break big aspirations into manageable, actionable steps. The “Picture This” lesson helps participants create a roadmap, one that transforms distant hopes into achievable goals. For many, seeing their future take shape on paper is the first time those dreams feel real and within reach.
Equally important, we remind every participant – your circumstances do not define your future. Whether you have a loved one who is incarcerated or have experienced incarceration yourself, your dreams are still valid, still possible. For some, this realization lifts a tremendous weight. For many, it’s a turning point. By the end of the lesson, participants often leave feeling empowered, hopeful, and ready to take the first step forward.
“Picture This” is a simple idea with a profound impact for our program participants. If you are interested in bringing Extended Family programs to your community, contact Daphne@extendedfamilyhelp.org. We are now scheduling Extended Family for Kids Leader Training and have limited space available. For more information, visit www.extendedfamilyhelp.org, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X @extendedfamilyhelp.