Author: Julia Wilson
Planning Unit: Hart County CES
Major Program: Mental Health and Well-being – 4-H Youth Development
Plan of Work: Developing Healthy Lifestyles
Outcome: Initial Outcome
Mental health is a vital part of children’s overall health and well-being; it includes children’s mental, emotional, and behavioral wellness. According to the American Psychological Association, recent studies have shown that children’s mental health has been negatively affected over the past few years from social media and the Covid-19 pandemic. Learning to be mindful has had a positive effect on children’s mental health.
The Hart County 4-H Agent partnered with Family Resource to teach the Mindful Me curriculum during the fall of 2024 to 302 students in the Hart County & Caverna School district. The lessons focused on skills such as stress management, meditation, and emotional regulation, Activities used were positive affirmations, coloring, breathing exercises, and identifying feelings. Youth also made mindfulness jars. The 4-H Mindful Me curriculum was utilized.
At the end of the series, verbal evaluations showed the following as a result of the program:
100% of students said they had practiced on of the skills we had learned.
100% indicated they planned to use the skills they had learned.
100% indicated that they had " filled someone's bucket"- positive affirmations
90% said they had used they mini mindfulness jar at home
In addition over 1800 positive affirmation cards were distributed by the students in the schools and communities.
One of the teachers stated, "The kids have started bringing their glitter jars to class. They use them if they start to feel overwhelmed." One librarian said "I have had these kids since pre-school. I have never seen them be this quiet. I will be using singing bowl videos more often to help them calm down"
Edmonson County youth and volunteers were excited to return to 4-H Camp after missing the opportunit... Read More
The pandemic of 2020 brought our entire nation to a screeching halt. Except for first responders, th... Read More
The Hart County High School 4-H Teen Leadership Club focuses on leadership and community service pro... Read More
For over a year the Hart County 4-H program has had to shift from face-to-face contact with clientel... Read More