Extension
It Starts With Us
Making Healthing Lifestyle Choices
Adopting Healthy Lifestyle Choices for Overall Well-Being
Jolly, Stillwell
Health 4-H Core Curriculum
The Centers for Disease Control found in a nationally representative survey that only 29% of high school youth participated in at least 60 minutes of physical activity on each of the seven days before the survey. Participation in physical activity decreases as we age.
• Youth maintain positive health habits.
• Youth are at a lower risk for serious disease and illness.
• Youth are at a lower risk for physical and emotional distress.
• Youth are competent, capable, contributing adults as a result of their participation in 4-H Health programs.
• Youth adopt healthy behaviors that lead to a healthy lifestyle that include making healthy lifestyle choices, not engaging in risky behavior and handling stress.
• Youth identify healthy lifestyle choices.
• Youth understand risky behaviors and their consequences.
• Youth aspire to have higher self-esteem.
• Youth identify healthy ways to handle stress.
Initial Outcome: Youth will identify Healthy lifestyle choices
Indicator: Number of youth that report making healthy lifestyle choices
Method: 4-H Program health evaluation
Timeline: at end of school and/or program year
Intermediate Outcome: Increased adoption of healthy behaviors and lifestyle choices
Indicator: Number of youth that report not engaging in risky behavior
Method: 4-H program health evaluation
Timeline: given within 6 months to 1 year after their initial involvement
Long-term Outcome: Increased number of youth at a lower risk for physical and/or emotional distress
Indicator: Number of youth that feel good about themselves and higher self esteem
Method: 4-H program health evaluation
Timeline: Presented within 1 year upon their 4-H career
Audience: Clover Bud youth (ages 5-8)
Project or Activity: Clover Buds Club
Content or Curriculum: LEAP
Inputs: volunteers, parents, extension agents
Date: Monthly from fall to spring
Audience: 4-H youth
Project or Activity: Hot Stoves Cooking Club
Content or Curriculum: Food Science
Inputs: volunteers, teen leaders, extension agents
Date: Monthly from fall to spring
Audience: Elementary 4/5 school grades
Project or Activity: Organized 4-H school clubs
Content or Curriculum: Jump into food & Fitness
Inputs: teachers, extension agents
Date: Monthly from fall to spring
Author: Bonita Jolly
Major Program: Family and Consumer Sciences 4-H Core Curriculum
In today’s fast paced society, we are often more concerned about social media than our own physical well being. For instance, according to the 2016-17 data from the National Survey of Children’s Health KY ranks 3rd in the nation (19.3%) of kids 10-17 years of age being obese or overweight. At the same time it is reported that youth 12-17 in KY have a significantly lower amount of physical activity (a minimum of 60 minutes per day) than the national average of 18.5%.  
