PARENTS 4-H PLEDGE I pledge my HEAD to give my child the information I can,
to help things be clearly seen and to make wise decisions.
I pledge my HEART to encourage and support my child
through both success and disappointments.
I pledge my HANDS to help my child's club;
If I cannot be a leader, I can help in many equally important ways.
I pledge my HEALTH to keep my child strong and well for a better world through 4-H, for my child's club, our community, our country, and our world.
A PARENT'S ROLE IN THEIR CHILD'S 4-H HORSE PROJECT
Aid in selecting, financing and managing.
Guide and support work without doing it for them.
Help plan the family schedule so your child can attend club events, and complete 4-H responsibilities for which they have volunteered, been elected or selected.
Encourage follow-through and completion.
Give praise and encouragement
Assist in gathering tools and supplies.
Encourage record keeping.
Provide support and transportation.
Assist organizational project and activity leaders.
Become a project or activity leader.
Serve on committees to plan and implement club activities or project meetings.
Become a certified 4-H volunteer
HOW YOU CAN HELP YOUR CHILD IN 4-H Remember, the 4-H horse project is simply a teaching tool and method for involving boys and girls in a worthwhile activity, "HORSES".
Give encouragement when your 4-H'er succeeds and and even more when they fail.
Whatever the rating or score received, help your child see progress made, things that have been learned, and goals that have been reached through common hard work and follow through.
From Rich Learner
Tufts University Professor
Director of The 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development
Author of the book "The Good Teen"
The teen years don't have to be difficult. The sterotype that teens are troubled is just that: a sterotype. Parents can take three actions to help their children through the teen years:
SPEND QUALITY TIME WITH YOUR CHILDREN.
TEACH YOUR CHILDREN LIFE SKILLS.
ENSURE THAT YOUR CHILDREN HAVE A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN THEIR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES.
When parents focus on these three actions, the 5 C's of POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT -
COMPETENCE
CONFIDENCE
CONNECTION
CHARACTER
CARING
will occur.
The bottom line - parents need to find out what their kids are interested in and take part in their lives. A great way for parents to ensure that their children have that connection with them or other caring adults is to get them involved in their local 4-H Youth Development Program offered across America by the Cooperative Extension System of state land-grant universities.