Extension
It Starts With Us
Family & Consumer Sciences Education - Individual and Family Development
Family & Consumer Sciences Education
Thompson, Turner, Harney
Family Development General
Child Development General
Aging-General
“School-readiness” is a broad term that refers to multiple precursor cognitive, physical, and social-emotional skills that indicate young children are prepared to learn and thrive in the school environment. A wide body of research shows a strong foundation in school readiness is indicative of school success. Emerging research also indicates that there is a synergistic effect when early learning activities activate physical and cognitive skills simultaneously, as opposed to doing so in isolation. However, in the state of Kentucky only 50% of children are deemed “school-ready” when they enter Kindergarten. These numbers indicate a need for more activities that support school-readiness by building multiple skill sets simultaneously.
People are living longer. Kentucky’s current population of seniors (65+) is 16.4% (2019 Census Data). By 2040, it is projected that every district will see an increase in the percent of the population that is age 65 and older (Zimmerman/KY by the Numbers). As the largest and fastest-growing segment of the U.S. population, older adults influence everything from consumer behavior to health-care costs (U.S. Census). While we may be adding years to life, there is concern about life quality. This is because a person’s life expectancy, the total number of years a person is expected to live, does not always match a person’s “health span”—time spent in good health (Institute of Medicine). The life expectancy of Kentuckians, 75.1 years, fluctuates as much as 9 years between counties and ranks among the bottom five states. Heavily influenced by life-long lifestyle behaviors and choices, including quality of diet, physical activity and tobacco use, the Kentuckian health span is also below national averages. Kentucky FCS can help individuals and families establish healthy lifestyle behaviors and relationships throughout the lifespan as way to positively influence optimal aging and help reduce issues such as chronic disease, obesity, opioid and alcohol abuse, and mental illness.
Increase the number of children who are “kindergarten ready” in the state of Kentucky.
Improve academic success for children in Kentucky
Campbell County adults of all ages will improve health span through lifestyle choices and behaviors related to overall health and well-being
Increase opportunities and access to more preschool learning activities outside of the home
Increase number of children who are “kindergarten ready” in Campbell County
Increase number of learning activities experienced at home
Increase child and parent social-emotional skills such as heightened self-awareness, responsible decision making, and self-management.
Increase access of community services to caregivers
Campbell County adults of all ages will adapt healthy lifestyle choices, including diet, physical activity, no smoking/binge drinking.
More Campbell County households prepare for caregiving
Older Campbell County participants will prevent falls
Campbell County participants of all ages will address mental health
Campbell County parents who participate will understand the importance of developmentally appropriate play to their child’s academic success
Increase child’s ability to express appropriate emotion
Improve child’s gross motor skills
Improve child’s early literacy skills including phonological awareness, print awareness, and vocabulary
Campbell County participants understand the importance of lifestyle choices and behaviors throughout their lifespan on their overall health, well-being, and life quality
Campbell County participants will learn how to make healthy lifestyle choices
Campbell County participants will learn that caregiver preparation is important
Campbell County participants will learn that disease prevention and early detection is important
Campbell County participants will learn about resources to enhance life quality, safety and to support aging families
Outcome: Campbell County participants will learn fun age appropriate activities to aid in their child’s healthy development.
Indicator: Number of parents who expressed learning new activities to engage their children at home.
Method: Laugh and Learn Play Dates Survey
Timeline: January - December
Outcome: Increase child and parent social-emotional skills such as heightened self-awareness, responsible decision making, and self-management.
Indicator: How many children increased their ability to express emotion after attending the program?
Method: Stories, Songs, and Stretches Survey
Timeline: July - June
Outcome: Increase number of children who are “kindergarten ready” in Campbell County.
Indicator: Several – (i.e. How many parents reported improved gross motor skills, social-emotional skills, and early literacy skills?)
Method: Kentucky Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Kindergarten Readiness Results
Timeline: July- June
Outcome: Kentucky’s overall health span increases
Indicator: Number of programs and policies identified, adapted, created, under evaluated to promote healthy aging in Kentucky
Method: Overall Health Life Expectancy increases in KY
Timeline: When COVID safe
Outcome: Adapt healthy lifestyles related to aging and longevity
Indicator: Of the total number of individuals/families who learned information about healthy lifestyle choices related to aging/longevity, the total number of individuals/families/caregivers who adapted their behavior
Method: 3-6-month Post Lesson evaluations: Keys to Embracing Aging
Timeline: When COVID safe
Outcome: Learn about prevention and how to adapt healthy lifestyles
Indicator: Total number of individuals/families reached with information to improve healthy lifestyle choices specifically related to aging/longevity
Method: Lesson Evaluations: Keys to Embracing Aging
Timeline: When COVID safe
Audience: Preschoolers and their caregivers
Project or Activity: Flowerbuds
Content or Activity: NEP resources, Leap, Stories, Songs, and Stretches, Horticulture publications, Laugh and Learn Curriculum
Inputs: Family and Consumer Sciences Agent and Horticulture Technician
Date: 1st Thursday of the month
Audience: Preschoolers
Project or Activity: Leap
Content or Activity: Leap curriculum
Inputs: Family and Consumer Sciences Agent and daycares/preschools
Date: Monthly during the school year
Audience: Preschoolers
Project or Activity: Stories, Songs and Stretches
Content or Activity: Stories, Songs and Stretches curriculum
Inputs: Family and Consumer Sciences Agent and daycares/preschools
Date: Monthly during the school year
Audience: Northern Kentucky Area Homemaker Learn with Us Lessons
Project or Activity: Book Club on Leadership
Content or Activity: KELD
Inputs: Northern KY Area FCS Agents and Homemaker Leaders/Volunteers, Homemakers and community, state specialists, community agencies UK FCS Curriculum and Publications
Date: Winter 2023
Audience: Youth ages 6-8 years old
Project or Activity: Grown-Up and Me
Content or Activity: NEP resources, Horticulture publications, KY Proud Recipes
Inputs: Family and Consumer Sciences Assistant and Horticulture Technician
Date: Fall 2023 and Spring 2024
Author: Kate Thompson
Major Program: Cook Together, Eat Together
According to the National Library of Medicine (2023), children are not consuming enough fruits and vegetables. Kentucky also has one of the highest rates of childhood obesity (Trust for America’s Health, 2023). Studies have found that children who learn how to cook are more likely to eat healthily as they age. Therefore, to address these concerns, Campbell County Extension offered a 3-part cooking and gardening series to children aged 6-8 and their caregivers called Grown
