1 Guiding Our Children through a New Century A Look at a New Family & Consumer Science Family Resiliency Program OHCE Leader Lesson 2006

2 Where have we been? Where are we going? ► Walk down the path of child development and child rearing over the past decades ► Then look at current issues facing children and youth in our Oklahoma communities and how it impacts us ► Look at the plan to strengthen children, youth, families & communities

► Large % of children were from immigrants ► Poverty and health problems ► Child labor Theories of parenting & child development  Control a child’s behavior and punish bad habits  Early childhood experiences will affect later development  An individual personality is set at childhood

► Great Depression and unemployment Theories of parenting & child development  research began to look at growth and development patterns  child’s behavior develops in stages  ego development is a life time process

► Rock ‘n Roll/Elvis ► Mass Market Production---cars, TVs, appliances ► Increased birth rate - Baby boom generation Theories of parenting & child development  Mother/child attachment; emotionally connected  More focus on influence of child’s environment  Reinforcement of positive behavior  Flexibility & moderation (Dr. Spock)

► Civil Rights, Vietnam War, Watergate ► Women’s liberation, War on Poverty ► Disco, Oil shortages ► Increased divorces, single/unmarried parents Theories of parenting & child development  More resources & programs ---magazines, books, classes, Head Start  Children are motivated to learn to make sense of world  Natural & logical consequences  Addressing basic needs for intellectual/emotional growth  Parenting styles -authoritarian, permissive, authoritative

► Two-income households - Balance of work & family ► Internet, media & technology ► Greater diversity – family structure, culture, economic, religion Theories of parenting & child development  People, systems, and community influence child’s development --- child care, family, culture, faith community, school, policies  Understanding individual differences in children and effects of changing family lifestyles

► Terrorism – 9/11 ► Technology ► Global view ► Cultural changes  How will current issues affect our practices for children, youth and their parents?  What does research tell us can strengthen children, families & communities in the future?

9 Critical Issues in Oklahoma Statewide public listening sessions, county program advisory committees, & statistics identified: ► great concern for alcohol/substance abuse, teen pregnancy, violence, school and health problems, and other “risky” behaviors ► need for more positive experiences for children & youth to reduce risk of engaging in negative activities, including in home, school, and hours out of school ► lack of community and parental involvement regarding children and youth

10 Risky Behaviors in Children & Youth What does this mean to you? High Risk Behavior---

11 A Snapshot of Oklahoma ► Annually…  2,400 babies born to school-age teens  3,000 youth admitted for substance abuse treatment  8,000 young people quit high school  24,000 arrests involve juveniles  12,000 students and teachers are bullied

12 Costs & Benefits ► Many risks impact long-term productivity, healthy functioning, and costs to the community & state. ► Protective factors in home and community can reduce risks. ► Prevention, education, and early intervention are cost-effective investments capable of reaping long-term benefits.

13 How does this issue affect you and me? ► Increase use of county and state tax dollars to aid in the juvenile delinquent system. ► _______ ► ______

14 What Research Tells Us ► Many factors influence why some children have successes growing up while others face more challenges ► Specific assets or protective factors - experiences, skills, relationships, values and qualities - positively influence young people’s lives and reduce likelihood of high risk behaviors ► The average young person in the U.S. experiences less than 1/2 of these critical factors

15 Focus on Younger Youth ► Younger youth are participating in risk behaviors such as alcohol & drug use, sexual activity, delinquency ► More economical and effective to prevent problem behaviors than to fix them

16 FCS Family Resiliency Programs Address human and family development through programs that: ► Promote positive child & youth development ► Provide approaches to help children and families cope with challenges and transitions ► Teach skills for healthy relationships ► Strengthen parents and families

17 OK Cooperative Extension Response 5-year Family Resiliency Impact Program  Will address concern about high risk behaviors in children and youth by promoting positive child & youth development  To be implemented July 2006 through 2011  Approx. 26 county FCS & 4-H educators across the state are on this impact team  Some information will benefit all counties

18 Key Strategies Key Strategies Building strong assets for children & youth:  developing children’s positive social skills - reasoning, decision-making, communication, relationships, resistance, peaceful conflict resolution  parent involvement and skills for positive parent- child communication and family relationships  teacher/child care provider training to enhance quality of classroom and out-of-school programs  positive community support & activities

19 Research shows problem-solving skills positively impact… ► children’s social adjustment and behavior ► thinking of different solutions to problems ► resolving interpersonal conflicts ► reduction of physical and verbal aggression ► showing concerns for peers ► test scores and reading grade levels ► improved behavior and problem solving skills several years afterwards

20 I Can Problem Solve (ICPS) & Raising a Thinking Child I Can Problem Solve (ICPS) & Raising a Thinking Child ► Based on over 20 years research ► Focus on preschool through pre-teens ► Teaches children to think of different ways to solve everyday problems, consider consequences, recognize thoughts and feelings, communicate ► Aim is to teach children HOW to think rather than WHAT to think ► Training parents and teachers to learn and reinforce concepts is important

21 Let’s do an Example!

22 How can OHCE help? ► Mentor relationships with children, youth and parents in settings with ext. educator ► Support and funding for county program and educator ► Value and support parents and children – individually and as a community ► Learn more about the issues and what “assets” are important to children and youth ► Spread the word - educate others

23 Guiding Our Children through this Century ► The Leader Lesson packet and presentation ideas ► We appreciate the partnership of OHCE! ► Questions??

24 For more information, contact: Your county educator, district FCS specialist or Debbie Richardson, Parenting Asst. Specialist www.fcs.okstate.edu