Extension
It Starts With Us
Acquiring basic life skills in FCS and 4-H
Basic Life Skills
Kelly Bland and Nolan Petit
Nutrition and Food Systems General
Family and Consumer Science
Food Preparation and Preservation
Mental Health and Well-being – 4-H Youth Development
How we live is ever-changing, but learning basic life skills is still as important as ever. Learning to practice healthy habits, create and live within a budget, prepare nutritious meals safely, nurture children, create a safe and pleasant home environment, practice common courtesy, 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 the basic life skills are not consistently taught to youth at home or at school. 4-H and Family and Consumer Science projects equip youth with these skills.
As with any other Kentucky 4-H Core Curriculum area, when it comes to development of life skills, a strong case can be made for the need to go beyond mere transfer of knowledge to giving youth the opportunity for a variety of supportive, related learning experiences to significantly increase the program’s influence.
4-H often offers basic learning activities on a topic of interest to youth but the addition of activities which support that interest (such as fair exhibits, related subject matter workshops or day camps, field trips, and decision-making judging contests) significantly increase the development of life skills in youth. In a study by Olson, Croymans and Ji (2014), 4-Hers 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, wise use of resources, useful/marketable skills and accepting differences.
While many FCS skills can be learned through self-directed projects or school enrichment, it’s beneficial for youth to have the added experience and guidance of a trusted adult and the opportunity to form relationships with caring mentors. For many adults, long-term volunteering is not always possible but shorter-term volunteer roles create doable opportunities for more people to tuck volunteering into busy schedules. Special interest clubs and groups that meet for a few weeks or months broaden the possibilities. The volunteer efforts of multiple adults may be required to take the 4-H experience from club meetings alone to also include exhibits, field trips and more.
McLean County Youth 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.
McLean County Youth 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
McLean County Youth will:
• Gain knowledge and develop skills in Family & Consumer Sciences 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:
Indicator: Number of youth who reported that they followed instructions step-by-step to do or make things themselves
Method: Group discussion, observation, self-report
Timeline: 3-6 months
Intermediate Outcome:
Indicator: Number of youth who reported that they showed another person how to do what they learned to do for themselves
Method: Follow Up Surveys, observation, discussion
Timeline: 6 months to 1 year
Long-term Outcome:
Indicator: Number of youth who demonstrate increased or routine use of life skills learned through 4-H in daily life
Method: Follow-Up Surveys, Self-Report, Group Discussions
Timeline: 3-4 years
Audience: McLean County 8th Grade
Project or Activity: Reality Store
Content or Curriculum: It's Your Reality
Inputs: Agents, Volunteers, UK Specialist, Community Partners, Family Resource Center, Classroom Teachers
Date: March 2025
Audience: McLean County Youth
Project or Activity: Babysitting 101
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky 4-H Babysitting Basics 4 Fun and 4 Profit Member Manual
Inputs: Agents, Volunteers, UK Specialist
Date: Spring 2025
Audience: McLean County Youth
Project or Activity: Super Star Chef
Content or Curriculum: Super Star Chef (Basic Preparation Skills) (approved for SNAP-ed programming)
Inputs: Agents, Volunteers, Family Resource Center Coordinators, UK Specialist
Date: July 2024
Audience: McLean County Youth
Project or Activity: Cooking Club
Content or Curriculum: Cooking 101 (approved for SNAP-ed programming)
Inputs: Agents, Volunteers, UK Specialist
Date: 2024-2025
