Volume 4, Issue 2

Positive Youth Development

We are featuring a series of nine articles related to the topic of positive youth development. This issue deals with the second of the eight critical elements.

4-H Cloverbud Program Critical Elements – A Welcoming/Inclusive Environment

The Cloverbud group should provide its members and leaders a welcoming/ inclusive environment where there is a sense of belonging; where group members are encouraged and supported; where members are offered encouragement with positive and specific feedback. Healthy 4-H Cloverbud groups celebrate the success of all members – taking pride in the collective efforts of all.

The following are a few tips to consider in making your 4-H Cloverbud group a welcoming/inclusive environment:

• Use cooperative-learning techniques as children work together on activities. See the article below on cooperative learning.
• Engage children in noncompetitive activities and events. Do not set up category or class distinctions. Arrange times for individual sharing and small group activities.
• Value and respect the diversity of all participants in your group. Provide opportunities for members to share similarities and differences among their families (ethnic background, family traditions, careers, etc.). Create celebrations that respect culture and diversity.
• Get fathers involved in 4-H Cloverbud programming. See the article below that discusses father involvement in 4-H Cloverbuds.

Cooperative Learning

Youth learn in many different ways. Sometimes they learn individually; sometimes competitively; and still sometimes cooperatively. We need all three types of learning. Cloverbuds was designed for cooperative and individual learning. Competition should be used sparingly with this age group, since development of self-esteem is generally not stable in this age group.

Cooperative learning is youth working together to accomplish shared goals; a way of learning that helps youth achieve, work better with each other, develop problem solving skills, and feel better about themselves and their ability to control their lives. Cooperative learning provides shared leadership. It does not put one child in charge of a team; each child is responsible for leadership within the team.

The elements of cooperative learning include face-to-face interaction, positive interdependence, individual accountability, social skills and processing. For a fact sheet on these elements, contact your local Extension Office.

Father Involvement in 4-H Cloverbuds

Active father involvement in early childhood programming has positive benefits for children’s social, emotional, and cognitive development. Often fathers are less engaged than mothers in 4-H Cloverbud groups. Some suggestions from the book Getting Men Involved: Strategies for Early Childhood Programs by James Levine, Dennis Murphy, and Sherrill Wilson include:

Expect male involvement. Announce that male’s (fathers and other significant men in 4-H Cloverbuds lives) are welcome at 4-H Cloverbud events. Often, men do not participate simply because they have not been asked – so ask them!!

Show men that they are welcome. Meet and greet fathers when they drop off/pick up their children. When talking to Dads, praise their children’s progress and recognize the father’s contributions.

Provide meaningful experiences for men when they do participate. Some men may feel uncomfortable when working with young children. Offer suggestions on how they might be involved and provide some "masculine" activities that they can do with their children when they attend your group meetings.

Source: Ted Futris, The Ohio State University Extension, Cloverbud Connection, Spring 2002.

Written by: Sheri Seibold, Extension Educator – Youth Development from University of Illinois Extension.