Fall 2003

Parent Information

The fourth of the eight critical elements of positive youth development is the opportunity to value and practice service to others. One way that parents of 4-H Cloverbud members can foster the appreciation of community service is through family volunteering.

Today, families are seeking quality time together. Family volunteering provides the comfort of engaging in a project with someone familiar whom will likely benefit from the experience. The Points of Light Foundation states that "volunteering together as a family provides quality family time, strengthens family communication, and provides opportunities for family members to be role models, while simultaneously allowing families to make significant contributions to their communities."

A person's family experience affects his or her volunteering behavior for life. Taking part in a positive experience with family members as a child increases one's likelihood of continuing to volunteer as an adult.

For 4-H Cloverbud members, volunteer projects should be as hands-on as possible. Children will get more out of charitable activities that are obviously connected to the social goals involved. If you and your child prepare some food together and bring it to a shelter, that will register more meaningfully than if you were to write a check to a shelter.

Children age five to seven can join activities that require some coordination, such as baking cooking or making modest gifts. They are also able to handle their own fund-raising efforts - collecting pennies for charity or making contributions to adopt an animal. At any age, your children will look to you as their role model. Your explanations will help them understand what you are attempting to do; your commitment and enthusiasm will inspire them to participate to the best of their abilities.

Written by: Sheri Seibold, Extension Specialist - 4-H Youth Development; University of Illinois Extension - State 4-H Office

Community Service Ideas for 4-H Cloverbud Members

Listed below are some age appropriate community service ideas for children age five to seven:

• Sort bags of food at a food bank
• Work in a community garden, plant bulbs, or maintain a family garden.
• Bake sweets and deliver them to seniors or shut ins.
• Enjoy a fundraising walk.
• Make sandwiches for the homeless.
• Harvest vegetables for a food pantry.
• Give a puppet show to shelter children or senior residents.
• Collect new or slightly used children’s books to share with daycare centers.
• Go through school supplies, puzzles or fun books to see what might be donated to others.
• Prepare food baskets for needy families for Thanksgiving.
• Play games, make popcorn, and visit residents at a local nursing home.
• Share a pet with seniors at a senior daycare center.
• Collect stuffed animals for foster children.

When the day of volunteering arrives, prepare your children by going over the tasks and establishing a positive mood. Your children may be entering a new environment so be sure to let them know it's okay to ask for assistance and that all questions are good. Getting ready will add a new dimension to mealtime discussions or car ride talks. You'll have a chance to talk about societal issues and learn about values.

Prepared by: Sheri Seibold, Extension Specialist – 4-H Youth Development; University of Illinois Extension – State 4-H Office

Read, Read and Read Some More

One of the best things we can do for our children is to build their enthusiasm and interest in reading. Children who enjoy having books read to them, or who enjoy reading on their own will develop in many ways. Reading can enhance their vocabulary, knowledge, as well as open doors to new areas of interest. Studies also show that children who are read to, or whom read at home are more successful in school. Reading can be a great bonding time for parents and their children too. So turn off the television and open a book and enjoy some time with your child.

Source: Nibbles...Ideas for Families, University of Illinois Extension.

Prepared by: Johnna B. Jennings, Unit Educator –
4-H Youth Development, DeKalb County

New Website Developed for Parents - Check It Out!

Being a parent is a tough job, but it is also a very rewarding job! This has often been said, but I don't think everyone always agrees. It is especially true in today's society - often times both parents are working full-time, kids are scheduled to the max (parents, too), and we don't know where to go for answers when we need them. Parenting advice is shared in a variety of ways, but most frequently we rely on information from family and friends. Sometimes parents need information from an unbiased and impartial source. Well, Extension has just the resource for you - a new website developed by the Family Life Team.

The Parenting News website is available at: http://parenting.uiuc.edu The site is organized so that parents can click on the age range that they'd like information about - birth to 5, 6-12 years, and teenagers. There is also an area especially for grandparents who are raising grandchildren. You may be asking - what is some of the information I will find on the website? There is a section on breaking news; a section for parenting newsletters; an option to customize the site and for e-mail notification when new newsletters are available; and, of course, a link to other relevant U of I Extension sites with information for parents.

We hope you take an opportunity to look at this new website and that you find the information presented there useful as a parent in today's world. Who knows it may have just the answer you are looking for and save you few gray hairs that are earned during the parenting years!

Prepared by Deanna Roby, Unit Educator 4-H Youth Development, Kane County

Holidays Around the World

Does your family have special activities they enjoy during the holiday season? People from around the world enjoy different activities to help celebrate their special holiday and to make it a time to remember.

Did you know that Jewish families celebrate Hanukkah and light a menorah? Or did you know Danish families light candles on a decorated Christmas tree? How about the fact that Islamic families celebrate their holiday, Ramadan, by fasting from sunrise to sunset for one month?

Our country has so much to offer because we are lucky enough to have people from many countries living together in America. It can be very fun to learn about people who have different beliefs and traditions. Take some time to explore a new culture this year.

For more information on different cultures and traditions, check out these websites or visit your local library for books on the topic.

Library of Congress / International http://international.loc.gov/intldl/intldlhome.html

Library of Congress / Country Studies (then search for “holidays”)
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/csquery.html

Mindspring – International Holidays http://www.mindspring.net/community/featurepgs/xmas98/dec12

eHows / Holidays and Traditions http://www.ehow.com/center/index.jsp?indexID=1047

Prepared by Katie Wagner, Unit Educator 4-H Youth Development, McHenry County

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