Iowa 4-H Clover Kid's Connection

The National Guidelines for K-3 youth groups recommends a ratio of 1 adult to every 6 children in Clover Kids. This adult-child ratio is important to providing the best possible program for the children involved. I know meeting that ratio is very challenging - but here are a few reasons to consider trying:

1. Opportunities for individual attention - and interactions/bonding within the group are increased. Children experience A POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH A CARING ADULT.

2. Supervision/safety is increased. Children in grades K-3 are still learning to associate choices and consequences. They might not think through the results of their actions, so increasing supervision is important to provide a SAFE ENVIRONMENT.

3. Adults can provide the framework to actively include everyone in the process regardless of their individual skill levels. The 1 to 6 adult - child ratio provides the framework needed for an INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT.

4. Children are more likely to get and stay ENGAGED IN LEARNING when there is an interested adult involved in the process. That can be difficult when the ratio exceeds 6 children to every adult.

5. The OPPORTUNITIES to experience MASTERY, BELONGING, GENEROSITY, and INDEPENDENCE are increased when adults are involved to encourage, engage, and educate children.

6. Adults can create opportunities for children to evaluate their experiences, experience service to others, and build on successes for future learning.

WHAT STRATEGIES HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL FOR YOU IN WORKING TOWARD THE 1:6 RATIO?

Posted by Joan at 08:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Did I get your attention?

Anyone who has worked with a group that had a child with ADHD in it knows what I'm talking about when I say "surviving" ADHD. It can be a very challenging experience and sometimes you just hope you can survive! Of course we in 4-H want to do more than just survive - we want to help children thrive! Here are a few ideas to help that happen:

I have a few ideas and a few resources to share:
1. Give the child something to do with their hands. I've had great success with a balloon filled with rice or sand. Just use a funnel to fill it and tie it shut. When a child has to sit and listen for an extended period of time, give them the balloon - making sure they know they can keep it as long as they just hold it. Don't be surprised if the rest of the group wants one - in that case - I just tell them they can make one later. (And make sure they get that opportunity.)

2. Keep directions short and simple. Get them DOING right away. I use picture directions whenever possible and I also plan long activities in short steps with stations set up for each section of the activity.

3. Don't add to the energy in the room. Plan quiet activities in between games, use a quiet voice, etc.

4. Keep communication open with the child's family. They will have strategies they use at home and that are used at school to share with you!

5. Remember to use good discipline and group management techniques - choices!

Check out the advice on this site:

http://www.adhd-made-simple.com/ADHD_Children.html

What strategies have you used?

Posted by Joan at 08:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Questions are the best group management and discipline tool! After a child makes a poor choice - asking a question keeps children in the process of problem solving the situation. By asking them questions, children learn how to fix the problem!

The delivery of the questions is critical - calm and empathetic - we feel bad that they have made a poor decision and we want to help them figure out how to fix it.

Here are a few samples:

First - we let the child know we see the problem - but without judgment on our part - Then, we ask the question. That lets children know we are interested and we believe they can do it!

I noticed you drew all over the table. I wonder how you are going to fix that?
I see you two are having a disagreement. What are you going to do now?
I notice that you seem angry about _______. What can you do now?

After they come up with ideas - we help them evaluate their options - "What will happen then?" That keeps the child thinking about the relationship between his/her choices and the consequences associated with them.

These are just a few samples - the point is to let them know you are there, give them the power to solve the problem!, and help them evaluate those ideas! It gets them thinking about the situation and lets them connect their choices with the consequences. It also is a HUGE self-esteem builder and teaches children that mistakes are a part of life and when we make them - we fix them!

Posted by Joan at 08:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Choices are an important piece of the Clover Kids program. Choices allows children to learn good decision making strategies - especially when they get to experience the consequences - good and bad - of those decisions. What opportunities do we have for offering choices?

We can let the children help us determine what topics we want to explore. Children can also choose between 2 activities that are going on at the same time. You can let children choose where to sit, what to eat, how to make open ended art and more! As adults, we make choices all day long, so encouraging CKs to start making them in our safe environment provides wonderful learning opportunities!

Choices also helps with group management and discipline. Choices eliminate power struggles. Choices also allows children to retain their dignity when they've done something inappropriate. It helps them understand that there are always options to fix any problems - and that helps them become self-sufficient problem solvers in the future!

I'd love to hear how you've been able to include choices in your program! It is an important part of the program!

Posted by Joan at 07:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)