Contents Competition…Ready or Not? Where Does the Trash Go? Nuturing Character in Cloverbuds Pumpkin Dessert 4-H Holiday Program Fun For Cloverbuds Campus Connection

Competition…Ready or Not?

Early in my career, I was an activity coordinator for an after-school program for kids ages 6-12. Every day, my coworkers and I offered a mixture of competitive and cooperative, active games. When the kids planned their own activities, they chose cooperative games and games of skill over traditional competitive games. We were puzzled. How could this be? Don't all children love competitive games? Isn't competition The American Way? This sparked my interest in competition and kids. Through observation and research over the years I have discovered some interesting things.

According to research, young people are ready to be involved in competition when they:

• know how to play fair
• understand and obey the rules without too much adult supervision
• win with humility and lose with grace
• enjoy the skills of the competition, win or lose
• know that winning or losing is not an indicator of self-wort

These are difficult concepts to learn and often are not developed until kids are 12 or older. Each child develops these skills at different ages. There is no magic age when kids are ready for competition, and some people always prefer cooperative activities.

The next time you plan competitive activities for children, consider this data:

Age Readiness for of Group Competition

• 5-8 are not mature enough
• 9-11 may be introduced to competition if the emphasis is on participating, no winning
• 12-14 like the social aspects of competition rather than an emphasis on winning
• 15 and older enjoy the fun and social activity or competitive events and usually can handle the consequences

Whatever the age of the children with whom you live or work, participation, learning, and enjoyment are the ultimate successes in all your activities.

Mary Y. Deen, Source: WSU Cooperative Extension, CONNECTIONS. Vol.6, No. 3, Pg. 3

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Where Does the Trash Go?

If each person would pile the trash they throw away each year in their living room, it would fill the room up to an adultís shoulders. What can we do about all this trash?

Landfills eat up precious land and create risks to the environment. Landfills are not a good choice for our water and natural resources supply. They could make the air we breathe and the food/water we eat unsafe.

Making an ìEdible Landfillî can be a fun way to teach the importance of reducing trash while also explaining the complications of landfill development. Kids can ìseeî how landfills are made and how they take up valuable space on earth while also enjoying a yummy treat! This article and activity can be used to enhance the learning from Ohio 4-H Cloverbud curriculum lessons on ìThe Problem of Pollutionî and ìHelping Our Environment.î

Edible Landfill Activity

Dessert Landfill

1. Cookie crumbs (press into bottom of cup)
2. Fruit roll-up (lay on top of cookie layer)
3. String licorice (lay across bottom of landfill)
4. marshmallow layer (lay over and around licorice)
5. Vanilla pudding mixed with raisins, chocolate chips and skittles, (mix with pudding so this layer can be compacted using the back of a spoon)
6. Chocolate pudding
7. Vanilla pudding and candy layer
8. Final Chocolate pudding
9. Green sugar
10. Red licorice (broken into 2" pieces)

Real landfill

1. Packed into the bottom of the cup they represent natural dirt and rocks. (this layer is compacted by machinery so water is less likely to go through)
2. liner - can be re-compacted clay and/or heavy plastic (liner, along with leachate collection system keeps pollution out of the ground water beneath the landfill)
3. leachate collection system (collects liquid in pipes that are perforated on the top, liquid called leachate goes into a treatment pond)
4. sand or synthetic filter system used over and around leachate collection system so leachate will go into pipes.
5. trash layer
6. soil cover (trash is covered nightly with a layer of dirt or recycled newspaper)
7. additional trash dumped (in a landfill this would continue until the cell was full, our landfill will probably be full with two dumpings)
8. Final cover/cap (when a landfill cell is closed it is covered with 5 - 7 feet of topsoil, this is domed so that water will run off rather than through the trash.)
9. Grass cover (when a landfill is closed grass is planted to avoid erosion of the cap)
10. Methane gas collectors (placed vertically into a closed cell to collect methane gas which is produced by decaying trash)

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Nuturing Character in Cloverbuds

The basis of the Ohio Cloverbud program includes developing life skills that are intended to help children develop into persons of "character." 'What does it really mean to be a person of character and how can we teach this to our children?

The foundation of developing good character falls into six areas or pillars: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, caring, fairness, and responsibility.

Definitions of the Six Pillars of Character

• Trustworthiness - Be honest. Don't deceive, cheat or steal. Be reliable - do what you say you'll do. Have the courage to do the right thing. Build a good reputation. Be loyal - stand by your family, friends and country.
• Respect - Treat others with respect; follow the Golden Rule. Be tolerant of differences. Use good manners, not bad language. Be considerate of the feelings of others. Don't threaten, hit or hurt anyone. Deal peacefully with anger, insults and disagreements.
• Responsibility - Do what you are supposed to do. Persevere: keep on trying! Always do your best. Use self-control: be self-disciplined. Think before you act - consider the consequences. Be accountable for your choices.
• Caring - Be kind. Be compassionate and show you care. Express gratitude. Forgive others. Help people in need.
• Fairness - Play by the rules. Take turns and share, Be open-minded; listen to others, Don't blame others carelessly.
• Citizenship - Do your share to make your school and community better. Cooperate. Stay informed; vote. Be a good neighbor. Obey laws and rules. Respect authority. Protect the environment.

Ways for Volunteers to Incorporate Character Traits into Cloverbud Groups

• Members develop rules of acceptable behavior during group activities.
• Present character building activities during cloverbud meetings. (Materials for cloverbud age children are available in many local OSU Extension offices).
• Character quotes of the week.
• Books, stories that illustrate character.
• Posters, songs, skits, videos that reinforce principles of character development.
• Community service projects.
• Prizes and awards for members as they exhibit good character choices.
• Praise good behavior.
• Take advantage of ‘teachable moments’ times when the character traits can be taught.
• Set a positive example by your words and actions!

Source: Good Ideas To Help Young People Develop Good Character. Josephson Institute of Ethics, Marina Del Ray, California. 1996-1997. Pages 5, 13, 14.

Vicki L. Reed
Extension Agent, 4H Youth Development
Muskingum County

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Pumpkin Dessert

Ingredients

• 1 cup cold milk
• 1 small package instant vanilla pudding
• 1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
• 1 cup canned pumpkin
• 1/2 cup graham cracker or vanilla wafer crumbs (optional)

Pour the milk in a mixing bowl. Add the other ingredients. Blend with a wire whisk or an electric mixer on the lowest speed for two minutes. Pour into dessert dishes. Garnish with graham cracker or vanilla wafer crumbs, if desired, before serving.

Enjoy!

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4-H Holiday Program Fun For Cloverbuds

Several years ago, Ashland County 4-H sponsored a 4-H Holiday Program for members and their families. It was an attempt to keep interest up during a traditionally ìoff season.î It turned out to be one of the best attended and most anticipated activities of the year. Children have the opportunity to make tree ornaments, gifts for relatives and friends and holiday decorations.

Although 4-H'ers of all ages are invited to the now annual Ashland County Holiday program, we always have a large number of Cloverbud participants. Why? Because it is an evening of family fun with lots of things to do!

Early in the summer, planning for the big night starts. All 4-H volunteers are welcome to help with this activity. Because of the large attendance, we plan many crafts, getting ideas from books, teachers, etc. We usually offer 20-25 activities each year. 4-H advisors and junior leaders are recruited to serve as teachers (this is an excellent opportunity to increase their speaking skills). A small budget is available thanks to the County 4-H Committee, but many items are donated. We also try to select low cost crafts. We hope this gives the 4-H'ers (and their parents too!) ideas for making simple, inexpensive gift and craft items at home.

This has been a great program for Cloverbud members because, aside from a day camp in the summer, we do not have many activities geared especially for them. It is also a wonderful way for the parents of our Cloverbud members to get involved with the 4-H program and share time with their children.

Kathy Blackford Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development Ashland County

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Campus Connection

Hello again! It is nice to make a Cloverbud Connection with you!

What do you think about giving parents ideas of things they can do with their children at home after Cloverbud get-togethers? Remember that at the end of most Cloverbud Curriculum Pieces there is a "Going Beyond" section which often recommends books for parents to read to their child or a continuation of activities to do at home.

Well here are a few more ideas that you may want to suggest to parents or caregivers when they pick up their child(ren). Under the "Community Expressive Arts" section, how about a Music and Movement Theme? Children can use a harmonica, tambourine, rattle, dancing ribbon, or drumstick to excite children about music and movement. Also include some singing with simple songs familiar to the child and family.

With "Consumerism and Family Science" curriculum pieces suggest parents to include children in activities around the house such as watering the yard or flowers (talk about why plants need water or that too much might hurt the plants). Have the Cloverbud children participate in grocery shopping, picking out fruits and vegetables, looking at prices, etc.

By having children involved with these "Going Beyond" activities they are spending fun time with their parent(s) or caregiver(s), feeling good about themselves, working on social interaction skills, and making decisions. All of these aspects are life skills to help children prepare for the future.

Well until next time, take care and have fun. I look forward to sharing more ideas with you soon.

Scott D. Scheer, State Extension Specialist, 4-H Youth Development, Preadolescent Education

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Keith L. Smith, Associate Vice President for Ad. Admin. and Director, OSU Extension TDD No. 800-589-8292 (Ohio only) or 614-292-1868