Extension
It Starts With Us
Parenting and Life Skills Development
Achieving a Healthy Lifestyle
Joyce Doyle and Thomas Mann
Family Development General
Child Development Programs
Family and Consumer Science
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 s synergistic effort 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. Carroll County falls below the state average at only 47% of students are ready for kindergarten according to the Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development.
96,000 children in Kentucky live in kinship care. Kentucky ranks first in the nation for the most children in kinship care sitting in the county. 15,000 children are in kinship care due to removal from their home. In the Carroll County School System, approximately 10% of the students are involved in some type of foster care or kinship care. Kinship care providers need support.
- Carroll County families are able to:
- Increase the number of children who are “kindergarten ready” in the state of Kentucky
- Improve academic success for children in Kentucky
- The number of people who:
- Increase opportunities and access to more preschool learning activities outside of the home
- Increase number of children who are kindergarten ready in Carroll 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 caregiver advocacy for children in their car including legal, medical, social, and educational services
- Increase access of community services to caregivers
- Increase the number of children who participate in outdoor or environmental education activities
- Carroll County residents 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 (punctuation).
- Increase awareness of indicators of high-risk adolescent behaviors
- Identity key points of adolescent development
- Establish realistic expectations for teen behavior and explore changing relationships within families
Outcome:
Long-term.
Indicator:
Number of parents reporting improved gross motor skills, social-emotional skills, and early literacy skills with their child.
Method:
Kentucky Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Kindergarten Readiness Results.
Timeline:
2 – 4 years
Outcome:
Intermediate.
Indicator:
Number of children increasing their ability to express emotion.
Method:
Survey (Stories, Songs, and Stretches)
Timeline
1 – 1 ½ years
Outcome:
Initial.
Indicator:
Number of parents who express learning new activities to engage their children at home. Number of caregivers improving skills/knowledge in child development, discipline and guidance, legal issues, and advocacy.
Method:
Survey (Laugh and Learn Play Dates). Evaluation (Parenting a Second Time Around)
Timeline:
8 months – 2 years
Audience:
Preschool-Aged Children and Parents
Project or Activity:
Laugh and Learn Playdates
Content or Curriculum:
Laugh and Learn Playdates
Inputs:
FCS Agent, Carroll County Public Library, Early childhood Development Program, Carroll County Preschool
Date(s):
February 2023
Audience:
Preschool-Aged Children and Parents
Project or Activity:
Stories, Songs, and Stretches
Content or Curriculum:
Stories, Songs, and Stretches
Inputs:
FCS Agent, Local Preschool, Library, Money, Time
Date(s):
Fall 2022
Fall 2023
Audience:
Kinship Caregivers
Project or Activity:
Relatives Raising Relatives Support Group
Content or Curriculum:
Parenting a Second Time Around, Life Story/Memory Banking, Traditions, AARP Prepare to Care
Inputs:
FCS Agent, Extension Staff, AARP, Community Volunteers, UK Publications, Money, Time
Date(s):
Spring and Fall 2022
Spring and Fall 2023
Spring and Fall 2024
Audience:
Carroll County Residents
Project or Activity:
Girls’ Night Out
Content or Curriculum:
Crafts
Inputs:
Extension Agent, Staff Assistant, Volunteers, Time, Money
Date(s):
2022
2023
2024
Audience:
Carroll County Youth and Parents
Project or Activity:
4-H Homemakers
Content or Curriculum:
4-H Project Books
Inputs:
Extension Agents, Staff Assistant, Volunteers, 4-H Project Books, Time, Money
Date(s):
2022
2023
2024
Audience:
Carroll County Youth, 6th Grade
Project or Activity:
Botvin LifeSkills
Content or Curriculum:
Botvin LifeSkills, Adolescent Brain Health
Inputs:
Extension Agent, Extension Staff, Carroll County Middle School Staff, Money, Time
Date(s):
Fall 2022
Fall 2023
Audience:
Carroll County Youth, 5th Grade
Project or Activity:
Dollars and Sense
Content or Curriculum:
Dollars and Sense Facilitator Guide
Inputs:
Extension Agents, Extension Staff, Volunteers, UK Publications, Carroll County Middle School Staff, Money, Time
Date(s):
March 2022
March 2023
March 2024
Audience:
Carroll County Parents and Preschool-Age
Project or Activity:
LEAP
Content or Curriculum:
LEAP
Inputs:
Extension Agents, Extension Staff, Volunteers, Carroll County School System, UK Publications, Money, Time
Date(s):
March 2022
March 2023
March 2024
Audience:
Blind students from Carroll County and nearby counties
Project or Activity:
Kentucky School for the Blind Summer Camp Day
Content or Curriculum:
Soil science and gardening
Inputs:
Extension Agents, Friends of Camp Kysoc, Money, Time
Date(s):
June 2022
June 2023
June 2024
Author: Christy Eastwood
Major Program: Family and Consumer Science
It is estimated that one in 68 children are now diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, and yet, this diagnosis remains as misunderstood as ever. We simply do not live in a society that is accommodating or even accepting of those who are not “neurotypical.” Many adults have fond memories of the county fair, the rides, bright lights, loud music, fair food, and animals. Unfortunately, many children and youth who are autistic are oversensitive to things like noise, crowds, and
Author: Joyce Doyle
Major Program: Family and Consumer Science
Since school is out for the summer, many parents are seeking for someone to watch their children. I had two 4-H members who called and ask if I would offer a babysitting clinic including CPR certification. I reached out to see how many youth would like to take a babysitting class and had a lot of interest. After calling two agencies, I scheduled the CPR class with our local health department. The final list of participants was only eight but those eight was eager to get s
