Great Beginnings for Families
(Posted on 4/16/2008)
Parenting is no doubt the most important job many of us ever will have. Parents of infants and toddlers are urged to invest just 5 hours to learn new skills and meet other parents through the Great Beginnings for Families program. Great Beginnings is coming to Greenfield again with sessions set for Tuesdays May 6, 13, 20, 27, and Monday June 2nd from 9:00-10:30 a.m. at the Family Rewards Building located on the square.  Complimentary breakfast and child care will be available. For more information or to sign up call the Adair County Extension office at 743-8412 or 1-800-ISUE399.

Put Some "Fun" in Your Relationship
(Posted on 3/27/2008)
When was the last time you did something together with your spouse or partner that was fun? With a little effort and planning, couples can put some fun into their relationship, says Donna Donald, a family life specialist with Iowa State University Extension.

Nodaway Valley Voluntary Preschool Exploration Committee
(Posted on 3/11/2008)

Skies Still Can Be "Friendly" If You Plan Ahead for Air Travel
(Posted on 1/7/2008)
"Airline travel is more complicated than it used to be," says Donna Donald, a family life specialist with Iowa State University Extension. But traveling by air can be a good experience if you take time to plan ahead and prepare for those little unexpected delays.

"Time Out" for Kids
(Posted on 12/5/2007)
Football teams aren't the only ones who can benefit from a "time out," says Donna Donald, a family life specialist with Iowa State University Extension. Many parents use time outs to discipline their children. Time out can be a good way for both parents and children to cool off and prevent further misbehavior. Used properly, time out can be a learning opportunity, and that's the true meaning of discipline.

Fight Hunger in Adair County
(Posted on 11/19/2007)
Poverty is a reality for more than 1 in 10 Adair County residents. The Horizons project seeks to make sure people living in poverty have their basic needs met and to reduce the poverty level. The Food for Everyone Committee identifies several ways for community members to get involved.

Help Your Children Succeed At Learning
(Posted on 9/26/2007)
Parents can make a big difference in the attitudes their children have about school and learning. You can model to them that learning is an ongoing and enjoyable experience. Donna Donald, Iowa State University Extension family life specialist, says one place to start is by making the home an interesting and fun learning place.

Support Children's Connection to Nature
(Posted on 8/27/2007)
In our busy society, children are often on tight schedules of school, extracurricular activities and child care. Recent research suggests that children are exposed less and less to the world of nature. “However, children who interact with nature learn a wide range of valuable skills that will help them in school and life,” according to Donna Donald, Iowa State University (ISU) Extension family life specialist.

Reading Readiness Starts Early
(Posted on 8/9/2007)
Three simple strategies can help children prepare for reading when they start school. "Using these strategies daily along with reading books and other printed materials with children will put them on the road to success in school," according to Donna Donald, Iowa State University Extension family life specialist.

Negotiating the Step-Parent Role
(Posted on 4/17/2007)
Step-parents can feel like second class citizens. An important step to family harmony is for both the biological parent and the step-parent to decide on house rules. Rules must be worked out as a partnership or they will not work. Then hold a family meeting where the biological parent presents the set of rules.

Helping Teens Make Good Decisions
(Posted on 2/26/2007)
Why don't teens and adults see eye-to-eye on "risky" behaviors involving drugs, alcohol and sexual activity? Given differences parents can still help their teens make good decisions.

Adair County Community Directory
(Posted on 12/20/2006)
Check-out the new community directory. The Adair County Community Directory has been updated with important information from Child Care to a listing of Important Phone Numbers that everyone should have at easy reach.

Thrive By 5
(Posted on 12/13/2006)
Thrive by FiveTM: Teaching Your Preschooler About Spending and Saving--free activities and other resources for parents who want to encourage healthy attitudes about money in young children.

What About Grandfathers?
(Posted on 12/11/2006)
Grandparents play an important role in the development of their grandchildren. According to recent studies, 95 percent of people over age 65 who have adult children also have grandchildren. This means men today can expect to spend the majority of their adult years in this important role. Researchers have found that grandchildren who have a close relationship with a grandfather are likely to perform well in school, display positive emotional adjustment, have higher self-esteem and have a greater ability to develop and maintain friendships.

Impact Stories
(Posted on 10/2/2006)

Time with Grandparents Still Can Be Grand
(Posted on 8/22/2006)
Being a grandparent is not what it used to be; but it is one of the greatest roles you will play, and the payoff is priceless. Grandparents remain a vital connection between the past and the future, no matter the circumstances.

Conquer Your Time Traps
(Posted on 3/3/2006)
Families tend to over commit their time and energy and end up having too much to do and too little time in which to do it. We cannot manufacture more time, but we can make better use of the time we have.