4-H is a Family Event!

4-H lingo, registration forms, choosing a book, enrolling in judging, enrolling in the fair, premiums, weigh ins and move in for livestock. 4-H projects are truly something that parents must be a part of for the youth to be successful. They often say it takes a community to raise a child, but I believe it takes a 4-H family to complete a project.

Now, don’t let that scare you out of joining 4-H. While it is a family event, it can be fun and useful for everyone! Cooking projects teach safety in the kitchen, quick recipes, and you may even get a night off in the kitchen to try a homemade meal! For those youth interested in hobbies, finding the right hobby that a family can enjoy together can be fun also. I have seen families that train their dog together, take pictures, learn about small engines, or even explore their family genealogy.  Projects often become the hard efforts of a youth member, with the support of a highly enthusiastic family member. Projects have the ability to bring families closer, improve communication, and give your child a new passion for something you might find equally compelling.

Being a 4-H parent also means that you are engaging in helping your child learn about their new responsibilities as a club member. Sometimes youth are forgetful, so parents are needed for gentle reminders of upcoming deadlines. Of course, this is always received pleasantly or with a groan of “yes mom/dad, I know”. Looking back at the kind and sometimes necessary nudging from my own family I realized they were helping me learn from what I did in a way that only experience itself could teach.

Through the projects, the club meetings, the fun events, and the socialization parents and youth alike begin to see the family effect that 4-H has. It works very nicely with the Ohio State University Extension’s impact area: strengthening our families and communities, and preparing our youth for success.

Looking for a good way to build your family relationships? Take a look at joining 4-H! Enrollment begins January 1, 2014 and is due no later than April 1, 2014. You can contact the OSU Extension Office at (419) 238-1214 for more details!