In today’s news article I would like to continue the theme of life skills and how they connect to 4-H.  So, while we are... 4-H Happenings: By Michelle Matthews

In today’s news article I would like to continue the theme of life skills and how they connect to 4-H.  So, while we are spending more time at home in an effort to reduce potential exposure to COVID-19, we can be teaching our kids skills needed for adulthood.

Ok, here is one skill that even adults struggle with-making change from a transaction.  While it’s true that most stores now have such modern equipment that a machine tells you how much change to provide, it’s still important to know how without the assistance of technology.  So, brush up on your own skills, and start working with your children and/or grandchildren.  Run some practice transactions by them, with an added incentive:  Every time they give you the correct coins back, they get to put the change in their piggy bank!

Another skill that is overlooked is the skill of preparing an envelope for mailing purposes.  I know this first hand!  Last school year our 4-H in school educational program focused on this.  It was alarming how many kids did not know the basics such as where the stamp goes, where to write the sender and receiver addresses, and the order in which the information goes.  I cannot express how important this skills is!  Yes, I am aware most bills can be paid online now, but there are many instances where one still needs to send something through the mail.  If it is not stamped or doesn’t have the correct address, it may never see its recipient!  

One final skill I will touch on for this week is responsibility.  One way to teach this is to allow your kids to be responsible for the family pet.  Do you have a cat?  Have them feed, water and clean the litter box.  What about a dog?  Put your kids in charge of taking them for walks as well as making sure they have fresh water and food.  Perhaps you have a fish.  Teach them to feed it regularly and change its water appropriately.  Putting your child in charge of another living being is an excellent way to teach responsibility as well as compassion.  

So, it’s time to tie this all in to 4-H.  How does making change, preparing an envelope and taking care of a pet relate to 4-H?  4-H members select a project area to focus on through their 4-H career, and all these activities directly relate to a 4-H project.  Making change has a connection to the Consumer Education project.  Preparing an envelope connects to the Communications project.  And finally, taking care of a pet relates to the Companion Animal project.

For a complete list of 4-H project areas, visit https://4h.tennessee.edu/Pages/4HProjects.aspx.  To enroll in a project or learn more about the Coffee County 4-H program, contact me at jmatthe1@utk.edu or Anna Duncan at aduncan@utk.edu.