LaRue County CES

Title:

Acquiring Basic Life Skills in Family and Consumer Sciences

MAP:

Enhancing Life Skills and Fostering Youth & Family Development

Agents Involved:

M. Wilmoth

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

4-H Communications and Expressive Arts Core Curriculum

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

4-H Youth Development Programming

Situation:

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. Many schools no longer include family and consumer sciences classes in the curriculum. Reality is that today’s youth and adults are busier than ever. Many of these basic life skills are not consistently taught to youth at home or at school. 4-H family and consumer sciences 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.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Environmental outcomes.

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.

Intermediate Outcomes:

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

Initial Outcomes:

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

Evaluation:

Impact indicators:

• Number of youth who reported that they followed instructions step-by-step to do or make things themselves.

• Number of youth who reported that they followed safe practices.

• Number of youth who reported that they showed another person how to do what they learned to do for themselves.

• Number of youth who reported that they set a goal and accomplished it.

• Number of youth who demonstrate increased or routine use of life skills learned through 4-H in daily life.

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: LCMS 8th Graders

Project or Activity: 4-H Reality Store

Content or Curriculum: Reality Store Curriculum

Inputs: Students will participate in the 4-H Reality Store. The 4-H Extension Agent will coordinate with the FRYSC and the LCMS counselor to plan the event and to educate the students before and after the event.

Date: November 2019

Audience: LCHS top 25 Juniors

Project or Activity: American Private Enterprise Program (APES)

Content or Curriculum: APES Curriculum

Inputs: 4-H Extension Agent will work with local committee to plan the annual event, work with the high school counselor to secure participants, plan the agenda and local industry tours.

Date: November 2019

Audience: LCMS 6th Graders

Project or Activity: Dollars and Sense

Content or Curriculum: Dollars and Sense It's Your Reality Curriculum

Inputs: 4-H Extension Agent will work with 6th grade teachers to plan and coordinate the event for all LCMS 6th graders.

Date: March 2020

Success Stories