Extension
It Starts With Us
Growing Up Healthy, Fit, and Safe
Growing Up Healthy, Fit, and Safe (4-H)
Christy A. Martin, Sherri A. Coffey
4-H Family and Consumer Science Core Curriculum
4-H Youth Development Programming
4-H Health Core Curriculum
Healthy living is one of the three 4-H mission mandates. Moderate physical activity can reduce the risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, certain cancers, and high blood pressure. It can also reduce the stress experienced from everyday living. Developing safe living habits can also reduce the risk of injury and death. Choosing to live a healthy life contributes to a person’s overall mental, physical, emotional, and social well-being.
Increased numbers of youth maintaining positive healthy health habits.
Increased number of youth at a lower risk for serious disease and illness.
Increased number of youth at a lower risk for physical and emotional distress.
Youth adopt a physical activity plan.
Youth adopt strategies to keep themselves safe in their daily life.
Youth make healthy lifestyle choices and/or reduce risky behavior.
Youth adopt positive strategies to deal with stress.
Youth learn about the consequences of risky behavior.
Youth identify healthy was to handle stress.
Youth learn how to keep themselves safe in their daily life.
Youth can identify healthy lifestyle choices.
Outcome: Youth learn and implement techniques to mitigate and manage stress.
Indicator: 1/3 of youth implement techniques that lessen stress
Method: post-program survey
Timeline: upon completion of program
Outcome: Youth appreciate and/or implement physical activity in their daily life.
Indicator: 50% of youth participating in physical activity for health
Method: post-program survey; discussions with youth
Timeline: during and end of program
Outcome: Youth gain and implement knowledge to keep themselves safe from harm.
Indicator: 50% of youth gain knowledge on personal safety
Method: post-program survey
Timeline: upon completion of the program
Outcome: Youth recognize methods used by advertisers to promote their products. Youth make good choices for their life instead of being swayed by advertisements.
Indicator: 1/3 of youth make wise choices for their needs and not based on advertisements
Method: discussions with youth
Timeline: during and end of program
Outcome: Youth adopt practices to protect themselves and their future while on social media sites.
Indicator: 25% of youth use social media wisely and safely
Method: observations and surveys
Timeline: during and after program
Audience: Youth ages 9-18
Project or Activity: Physical activity and stress reduction
Content or Curriculum: GMK curriculum; Centering on Me curriculum
Inputs: facilities, youth, local schools, volunteer leaders
Date: February 2020 (4-H Health Month)
Project or Activity: Staying safe at home
Content or Curriculum: 4-H health curriculum; Code Name Home Alone
Inputs: volunteer leaders; curricula; local youth
Date: Fall 2019-Spring 2020
Project or Activity: Fire safety
Content or Curriculum: nfpa.org; 4-H health curriculum
Inputs: volunteer leaders; curricula; local youth
Date: October 2019
Project or Activity: Summer safety
Content or Curriculum: 4-H health curriculum; CDC
Inputs: volunteer leaders; curricula; local youth
Date: Spring 2020
Project or Activity: Advertising and the Media
Content or Curriculum: 4-H health curricula; Fashion project books
Inputs: advertisements in print and visual
Date: Winter 2020
Project or Activity: Social media safety
Content or Curriculum: netsmartz.org/parents (recommended by M. Mains)
Inputs: online resources, local youth
Date: spring 2020
Author: Christina A. Martin
Major Program: 4-H Family and Consumer Science Core Curriculum
Many life skills that used to be taught at home 30-40 years ago must be learned in other ways now. Cooking healthy meals is one of those life skills. With over 20% of youth ages 10-19 considered overweight or obese, Kentucky ranks third in the nation for overweight youth (stateofobesity.org). Learning to prepare healthy foods through proper cooking techniques leads to healthier adults because they can use these skills for a lifetime. Learning to cook also leads to more se
Author: Christina A. Martin
Major Program: 4-H Family and Consumer Science Core Curriculum
Nutrition education and healthy lifestyles were identified by local leadership councils to be an educational priority for youth to help combat obesity crisis in the state. According to the Trust for America’s Healthy Survey and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Kentucky’s obesity rate for children ages 10-17 has increased to over 21%. Instructing children with the aspects of healthy nutritional choices at a young age is critical to addressing issues of weight. The
