Extension
It Starts With Us
Developing Life Skills Among Youth and Families
Youth and Families
Davidson, Easley, Williams
Family and Consumer Science
Agriculture
Leadership
Communications and Expressive Arts
How we live life is ever-changing but learning basic life skills is still as important as ever. Learning to practice healthy habits, select clothing to emphasize one’s best appearance, create and live within a budget, prepare nutritious meals safely, nurture children, create a safe and pleasant home environment, practice common courtesies, and form relationships with others—all of these skills are basic to everyday life. Reality is that today’s youth and adults are busier than ever. Many of these basic life skills are not consistently taught or are learned at home or school. Extension projects equip adults and youth with these skills. As with any other Cooperative Extension program area, when it comes to the development of life skills, a strong case can be made for the need to go beyond the mere transfer of knowledge to giving people the opportunity for a variety of supportive, related learning experiences to significantly increase the program’s influence. Extension programs often offer basic learning activities on a specific topic of interest but the addition of activities that support that interest (such as fair exhibits, related subject matter workshops, camps, field trips, and decision-making judging contests) significantly increase the development of life skills. In a study by Olson, Croymans, and Ji (2014), participants reported that participating in 1 or 2 educational opportunities influenced the development of critical thinking and decision making skills, and participating in 6 to 8 opportunities significantly increased the program’s influence by adding development of life skills in leadership, planning/organization, the wise use of resources, useful/marketable skills and accepting differences.
Participants will:
- Be responsible and contributing individuals and family members.
- Gain and maintain employment through life skill development.
- Contribute to a safe, pleasant, and productive home and family.
Participants will:
- Utilize and practice life skills in projects and life situations
- Project a positive image and self-confidence
- Practice responsible consumer and financial decision-making
- Practice healthy eating choices
- Make choices that lead to responsible and beneficial results
- Adopt habits and skills that contribute toward employability in the future
Participants will:
- Gain knowledge and develop life skills through projects and programs
- Understand the decision-making process
- Gain skills in setting a goal and developing a plan of action
- Learn to read and follow instructions
Initial Outcome: Participants will gain knowledge of life skills and seek to practice them.
Indicator: Participants will attend and participate in Extension programs and practice life skill activities
Method: observation, judging rubics and surveys
Timeline: July - June
Intermediate Outcome: Participants will be capable of communicating, cooperating, resolving conflict, producing economic activity and making wise economic decisions to support a healthy lifestyle
Indicator: Observation and demonstrated abilities
Method: surveys, observation, pre-post test evaluations
Timeline: July-June
Long-term Outcome: Youth and Families will be strengthened through mastery of life skills gained through Extension programs
Indicator: Participants will exhibit behaviors conducive to those of competent and contributing citizens
Method: observation, surveys and pre-post test evaluations
Timeline: July - June
Audience: Adults, youth and families
Project or Activity: 4-H Expressive Arts (music, drama, visual and dance)
Content or Curriculum: KET Arts curriculum, variety show competitions
Inputs: extension agents, volunteers, local schools
Date: September -August
Audience: 4-H Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Communications (Speeches and Demonstrations)
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Speak Up, Building Bridges, UK publications
Inputs: extension agents, volunteers, local schools
Date: August -April
Audience: 4-H youth
Project or Activity: 4-H School Clubs
Content or Curriculum: 4-H curriculum
Inputs: 4-H agents, 4-H assistant, volunteers, local schools and staff
Date: weekly (August -May)
Audience: 4-H Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Community Clubs
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Curriculum
Inputs: 4-H agents, volunteers
Date: monthly
Audience: 4-H Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Summer Camp
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Curriculum
Inputs: extension agents, Camp Staff, 4-H volunteers (adult & teen)
Date: yearly: summer
Audience: 4-H cloverbud age
Project or Activity: 4-H cloverbud Camp
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Cloverbud curriculum, camp resources
Inputs: adult & teen volunteers, camp staff, extension agents
Date: Summer
Audience: Preschool children
Project or Activity: Preschool Garden
Content or Curriculum: Early sprouts, Sowing Seeds of Wonder, Master Gardeners
Inputs: Extension program assistants, local preschools, master gardeners
Date: May-June
Audience: general public
Project or Activity: C.L.A.S.S. (Continuous Learning Assures a Successful Society)
Content or Curriculum: UK publications
Inputs: Extension Agent, Extension program assistants, volunteers
Date: Fall and Winter semesters
Audience: 4-H Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Photography Clubs and Workshops
Content or Curriculum: National 4-H Project books
Inputs: extension 4-H agent, local schools (teachers and staff), 4-H volunteers, community speakers
Date: July - August
Audience: 4-H Youth
Project or Activity: SPIN (Special Interest) Clubs
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Materials and workbooks
Inputs: community volunteers, 4-H volunteers, 4-H agents, parents
Date: ongoing
Audience: Community Youth
Project or Activity: SPARK clubs (spark an interest in 4-H)
Content or Curriculum: 4-H materials, online resources, community resources
Inputs: community resource volunteers, extension agents, parents
Date: ongoing
Audience: adults
Project or Activity: Jabez Quilt Seminar (Statewide)
Content or Curriculum: FCS materials
Inputs: Extension Agents, Master Clothing Volunteers, volunteers, state specialists, and quilting experts
Date: Winter 2021
Audience: General Public
Project or Activity: Positive Employability
Content or Curriculum: Positive Employability
Inputs: FCS Agent and State FCS specialists
Date: Fall
Audience: Adults
Activity: Gardeners Toolbox Workshop Series
Content or curriculum: UK publications and specialists
Inputs: Extension Agents, staff, Extension Office, community garden, Extension specialists,
Date: monthly
Audience: Farmers
Activity: Farm Record book Workshop
Content or curriculum: UK publications
Inputs: Extension Agent and staff, farm record books and CD's, Volunteers, CPA,
Extension Office
Date: Winter
Author: Lora Davidson
Major Program: Family Development General
The body’s physical and mental decline associated with aging varies from person to person, but common issues can be a decline in memory, difficulty learning new things and trouble focusing from one task to another. Research shows that people who stay intellectually engaged are more likely to maintain their mental acuity. Quilting has been done for years to provide warm blankets for families, but in the last few decades retirees have turned to quilting to help fill the time gap
Author: Elizabeth Easley
Major Program: Science, Engineering, and Technology
The Problem:According to the Kentucky Department of Education, in 2021 on average, 51% of elementary students tested at below proficient in science in most Laurel County elementary schools. As youth move to middle school, only 63% of students tested below proficient, and in high school 88% of students tested below proficient in science. Today's youth need Science, Engineering, and Technology (SET) exposure and experiences to help them build critical thinking skills and build foundational kno
Author: Elizabeth Easley
Major Program: Leadership
Voting is an indicator of community and civic engagement. According to the US Census Bureau, 67% of Kentuckians 18 to 24 did not vote during the 2022 presidential election. Low turnout amongst the youngest voter demographic suggests the need for 4-H to provide experiences to increase youth leadership skills, social responsibility, and community awareness to develop active future community leaders.A robust leadership program, targeting fifth-grade and middle school-aged youth, was implemented and
Author: Elizabeth Easley
Major Program: Camping
The Laurel County 4-H Advisory Council has identified 4-H summer camp as a priority issue. 4-H summer camp helps youth develop life-long skills. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a skill is a learned ability. A life skill is an ability that is useful throughout daily life and enhances the quality of life. The Targeting Life Skills Model (Hendricks, 1998) highlights 35 life skills developed in 4-H programs to help youth succeed. At our 4-day summer camp, we focused on honing three life
Author: Lora Davidson
Major Program: Cook Together, Eat Together
Eating more fruits and vegetables is a critical behavior for health promotion and disease prevention. Despite the importance of eating more produce, it is also one of the most difficult eating behaviors to change. It has been reported that cooking more meals at home is related to increased fruit and vegetable consumption.A social marketing program to promote healthier, home-cooked family meals, Cook Together, Eat Together, was offered at the Laurel County Cooperative Extension Office
