Volume 5, Issue 4

Positive Youth Development

Beginning with Volume 3 Issue 4 of The Cloverpatch, we have featured a series of ten articles related to the topic of positive youth development. In this issue, we will bring this series to a conclusion with a summary of the eight critical elements of positive youth development.

Positive Youth Development Critical Elements – A Summary

The 4-H Cloverbud group with the guidance of 4-H Cloverbud volunteers and the assistance of parents is an excellent educational experience for five to seven year olds. Through this series we have provided practical tips and suggestions for volunteers to strengthen 4-H Cloverbud groups using the eight critical elements of positive youth development.

Again, the eight elements are:

• A positive relationship with a caring adult
• A welcoming/inclusive environment
• A physically and emotionally safe environment
• An appropriately structured environment
• Opportunities to achieve competency/mastery
• Opportunities for self-determination
• Opportunities to value and practice service to others
• Active participation in the future

PYD Evaluation

Now that you have had an opportunity to learn more about the elements and to incorporate those into the 4-H Cloverbud group setting, we want to offer you an opportunity to assess your efforts and identify your successes. It is difficult for younger youth to understand and respond effectively to survey questions, even when helped by an adult (it’s also very time consuming). Therefore a special survey has been developed for adults who work with Cloverbud groups. Since the group environment is the most critical concern for Cloverbud-aged youth, the instrument focuses on the Critical Elements 1 – 4.

If you are interested in going through the PYD assessment process, contact your local Extension Office and talk to your Unit Youth Development Educator about completing the Cloverbud Adult Survey for your group.

Transition to the 4-H Community Club Setting

Spring is in the air and soon 4-H Cloverbud groups will be winding down for the year. Some special summer activities may yet take place on the county or regional level such as day camps or fair activities.

Now, however, is the time to discuss with 4-H Cloverbud parents and members, the opportunities for your seven year olds to transition to the regular 4-H community club setting. If your 4-H Cloverbud group is affiliated with a club, this may be easy. Still some planning to make the “formal transition” smooth and enjoyable needs to be done.

• Yet this spring, 4-H Cloverbud groups might start doing a more “project book type” activities at their meetings. Suggestions might include using the Aerospace I, Bicycle I, Child Development I or Health I project manuals for some activities.
  
  In addition, 4-H Cloverbud groups could borrow the Get Real! Get Active! video and activity book, which introduces youth to a variety of 4-H projects including dogs, diversity, theatre arts, and aerospace. The video segment introduces each topic and youth activities are provided to accompany the video. The 4-H Cloverbud leader could show the 7 – 10 minutes video segment, handout out worksheets and materials and lead an activity with the members to demonstrate 4-H club projects. The video is lively, current, colorful and kid friendly.
  
  
• Local Extension offices have a copy of a 4-H Cloverbud “Graduation Ceremony” that might be used for this milestone.
  
  
• 4-H Cloverbud groups might visit the county 4-H show and take time to look at some of the “other 4-H projects” that are on display. This could give older Cloverbuds some ideas of 4-H projects that they might take in the new club.
  
  If your 4-H Cloverbud group is not affiliated with a 4-H community club, then we would encourage you to work with the local Extension youth staff to make contacts with local groups in your area.
  
  
• Perhaps your entire 4-H Cloverbud group could visit a 4-H club, participate in recreation, refreshments, and the program. 4-H members could introduce themselves and share a little about their club. Matches between 4-H Cloverbuds and first and second year 4-H club members could be made so that the “transitioning” Cloverbud member feels welcome in the new environment. Their new “Big Friends” could serve as a mentor and helper for the transition year.
  
  
• If there are no 4-H community clubs in your area or if you have a large number of seven year olds ready to join 4-H, you may want to work with the parents and local Extension youth staff to form a 4-H community club in your area. The 4-H community club will provide “transitioning" Cloverbuds an opportunity to continue to learn new skills, meet new friends, participate in new projects and activities, and develop leadership and communication skills that will be helpful in school and their daily lives.

Written by: Sheri Seibold, Extension Specialist – 4-H Youth Development, University of Illinois Extension.