Extension
It Starts With Us
Acquiring basic Life skills in Family and Consumer Sciences
Life skills
Reed, Cockerham
Family and Consumer Sciences 4-H Core Curriculum
Real Skills for Everyday Life
Nurturing Families (general)
4-H Youth Development Programming
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. A reality is that today’s youth and adults are busier than ever. Many of these basic life skills are not consistently taught to individuals at home or at school. Consequently, adult life can often fall short of the needed skills sets to function best in managing life skills. Family and Consumer Sciences programs can equip citizens young and old with these skills.
FCS and 4-H alike offers basic learning activities on topics of interest to local citizens but the addition of activities which support that interest (such as Homemakers lessons, workshops, public events, fair exhibits, day camps, field trips, and practical skills learned through project completion, significantly increase the development of life skills. 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. This suggests that the same would be true for adults.
While many FCS skills can be learned through self-directed projects at home or through school enrichment, it’s beneficial for participants to have the added experience and guidance of others 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 work volunteering into busy schedules. Special interest Opportunities that meet for a few weeks or months broaden the possibilities. For 4-H, the volunteer efforts of multiple adults may be required to take the experience from club meetings alone to also include exhibits, field trips and more. For groups like Extension Homemakers, opportunities are consistently available throughout the year. The Johnson County Extension Council, FCS and 4-H Councils, Extension Homemakers Council- all agree, that many of the Life Skills topics are necessary for stability for the home, the community and the individual.
Program 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 be able to:
-Utilize and practice life skills in projects and life situations
-Project a positive image and self-confidence
-Practice responsible consumer and financial decision-making
-Make choices that lead to responsible and beneficial results
-Adopt habits and skills that contribute toward employability in the future
Program Participants will:
-Gain knowledge and develop skills in 4-H and 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
Long Term evaluation methods:
*Indicator: Number youth who reported that they followed safe practices,
that they showed another person how to do what they learned to do for themselves, that they set a goal and accomplished it,
or demonstrated use of life skills learned through 4-H in daily life.
Method: Surveys, face to face conversations and follow ups
Timeline: following programs
*Indicator: Number of adults who report they apply skills to their everyday lives
Method: interviews, personal testimonies and formal evaluations when relevant
Timeline: following programs
Intermediate:
*Indicator: Number of Adults reporting practice of life skills
Method: formal evaluations following program
Timeline: throughout the year
*Indicator: Number of youth reporting practice of life skills, projecting positive self-image, consumer and financial decision making, responsible choices and development of habits that contribute to employability in the future.
Method: surveys, face to face follow up discussions and conversations
Timeline: annually
3. Initial Outcome:
*Indicator: Number of youth and adults attending programs and workshops and participating in hands on experiential learning activities.
Method: surveys, face to face follow up and conversations
Timeline: annually
1.Audience: Parents
Project or Activity: Parent Expo
Content or Curriculum: Promoting: Nurturing Parenting/Keys to Great Parenting, I am moving I am Learning, Block Party programs, FCS materials for Early Childcare trainings
Inputs: Early Childcare Council, Communities of Hope, FCS Council
Date: 2016-2019
2.Audience: Families
Project or Activity: Series on Blue to You (Homemakers Lessons)
Content or Curriculum: “Blue to You” curriculum
Inputs: Extension Homemakers
Date: 2017-18
3.Audience: Grandparents
Project or Activity: Grandparents and Grandchildren Together
Content or Curriculum: FCS Curriculum
Inputs: FCS Council
Date: 2016-19
4. Audience: Families, FCS Students, Single Parents
Project or Activity: Money Habitudes
Content or Curriculum: Money Habitudes and Managing in Tough Times
Inputs: FCS Council, Communities of Hope
Date: 2018-19
5. Audience: Youth ages 9-18
Project or Activity: Shooting Sports
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky 4-H Shooting Sports materials
Inputs: State specialists, Extension personnel, volunteer leaders and certified coaches and coordinators.
Date: annually Mar-Sept
6. Audience: 4-8th grades
Project or Activity: It’s Your Reality and Dollars and Sense
Content or Curriculum: State Curriculum
Inputs: State Specialist, Extension personnel, High School youth volunteers, community volunteers, Extension Councils, school systems and local businesses
Date: annually Nov-Dec and Feb-Mar
7. Audience: 9-12th graders
Project or Activity: Workforce Preparation
Content or Curriculum: UK Cooperative Extension World of Work Curriculum, 4HCCS Curriculum, Job Interviews Preparation materials
Inputs: State Specialist, Extension personnel, community leaders and volunteers, schools
Date: annually September-May
8.Audience: 4-12th graders
Project or activity: 4-H Project Book completion
Content or Curriculum: 4HCCS and UK Cooperative Extension Project books
Inputs: State Specialists, Extension Personnel, Leaders, schools
Date: Annually October-April
9. Audience: Parents of Young Children
Project or activity: Block Party for Preschooler at Parent Expo
Content or Curriculum National FCS material for school readiness
Inputs: FCS Agent, JC Early childcare council
Date: 2017
10. Audience: Daycare workers
Project: I am Moving I am Learning trainings
Content: FCS curriculum
Inputs: FCS Specialists, Directors, ECC
Date: 2017
Author: Dianna Reed
Major Program: Family and Consumer Sciences 4-H Core Curriculum
The Johnson County Extension Council identified acquiring basic life skills as a program priority for the 2017-2018 Plan of Work. To address this need, local schools, teachers and extension personnel worked together to provide an opportunity for local students to attend the 4-H Dollars and Sense Workshop. This was a free workshop hosted at the Johnson County Extension Office and was designed to encourage youth to earn good grades in school, finish their education and practice budgeting skills. I
