Family and Consumer Sciences

Live Smart Ohio

Ohio State University Extension

Relationships

What Stays Here and What Leaves Here

When I was a child, my family would eat dinner together most nights of the week. One family rule specifically stated, “what’s said at the table, stays at the table”. That didn’t mean that we could not talk about our casual family discussions at other times and places. It did mean that our family table […]

WRITTEN BY: Patrice Powers-Barker, CFLE, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Lucas County

REVIEWED BY: Lorrissa Dunfee, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Belmont County

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • pixabay

REFERENCES:

  • Ali, D. (2017). Safe spaces and brave spaces: Historical context and recommendations for student affairs professionals. NASPA Policy and Practice Series. Issue 2. Retrieved from: https://www.naspa.org/images/uploads/main/Policy_and_Practice_No_2_Safe_Brave_Spaces_DOWNLOAD.pdf
  • Bates, J. and Yelland, E. (2018). Family Rules, Family Relationships, and the Home: Reconceptualizing Policy, Systems, and Environmental Change in the Family Context. The Journal of the National Association of Family and Consumer Sciences. Volume 13. Retrieved from https://www.neafcs.org/assets/documents/journal/2018%20jneafcs%20final%20updated.pdf
  • Jahn, T. Making and enforcing rules. Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County. Retrieved from: http://warren.cce.cornell.edu/family-community/parent-pages/discipline/making-and-enforcing-rules
  • Peterson, R. and Green, S. (2009). Families first – Keys to successful family functioning: Communications. Virginia Cooperative Extension. Retrieved from https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/350/350-092/350-092.html
  • Torretta, A., & VanderWey, S. (2019). Creating group norms by using full value commitments in experiential education programming. Journal of Extension, 57 (3), 3TOT8. Available at https://www.joe.org/joe/2019june/tt8.php

Boredom is Not a 4-Letter Word

When I was a child, I was conditioned to never utter the words “I’m bored”. My mom would threaten to assign me chores whenever she heard those words escape my lips! I don’t blame my mom for encouraging me to keep busy, find things to do and avoid boredom in my childhood. I recognize that […]

WRITTEN BY: Jenny Lobb, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension Franklin County

REVIEWED BY: Patrice Powers-Barker, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension Lucas County

SOURCES:

  • Belton, T. (2016). What Happens When We Shield Kids from Boredom? Greater Good Magazine. https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/what_happens_when_we_shield_kids_from_boredom
  • Dean, J. (2014). Being Bored Can Fire Up Your Creativity. PsyBlog. https://www.spring.org.uk/2014/06/being-bored-can-fire-up-your-creativity.php
  • Miller, C.C. (2018). The Relentlessness of Modern Parenting. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/25/upshot/the-relentlessness-of-modern-parenting.html?mc=aud_dev&ad_name=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D&adset_name=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&campaign_id=%7B%7Bcampaign.id%7D%7D&ad-keywords=auddevgate&subid1=TAFI&dclid=COOX7taO1eACFUlsAQod6MoIAQ
  • Paul, P. (2019). Let Children Get Bored Again. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/02/opinion/sunday/children-bored.html?fbclid=IwAR0t5Pd8XucDN06kW26cUDXhPO5x1CctJazuZKhxgEItADCaSZHw0ZtMtUc

Finding Help When Feeling Hopeless

Suicide is an uncomfortable subject and one we do not talk about frequently. According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States.  It is the second leading cause of death for individuals ages 10-34. September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. It is a time […]

WRITTEN BY: Lorrissa Dunfee, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Belmont County, dunfee.54@osu.edu

REVIEWED BY: Misty Harmon, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Perry County, harmon.416@osu.edu

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • https://pixabay.com/illustrations/depression-voices-self-criticism-1250870/

SOURCES:

  • “Risk of Suicide.” NAMI, Aug. 2019, www.nami.org/learn-more/mental-health-conditions/related-conditions/suicide.
  • “Suicide.” National Institute of Mental Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Apr. 2019, www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/suicide.shtml#part_154971.
  • “Suicide Statistics.” AFSP, 16 Apr. 2019, afsp.org/about-suicide/suicide-statistics.

Congratulations! You are a Role Model

In the springtime, our county Extension team trained staff on easy activities they could offer to children at summer programs in the community. One of our messages to the adults: “Congratulations! You are a role model to the children”. The same message extends to parents as well as all other adults who have children within […]

WRITTEN BY: Patrice Powers-Barker, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Lucas County

REVIEWED BY: Melissa J. Rupp, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Fulton County

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
  • Patrice Powers-Barker

REFERENCES:

  • 10 Tips: Be a Healthy Role Model for Children (2017). USDA. Retrieved from: https://www.choosemyplate.gov/ten-tips-be-a-healthy-role-model
  • Hurd, N., Zimmerman, M., and Xue, Y. (2009) Negative adult influences and the protective effects of role models: A study with urban adolescents. Journal Youth Adolescence. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2752426/
  • Knorr, C. (2017, October 18). New healthy media habits for young kids. Common Sense Media. Retrieved from https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/new-healthy-media-habits-for-young-kids?utm_source=DFD+stream+email+1&utm_medium=email
  • Krisbergh, A. Being a role model – The promise and the peril. The Center for Parenting Education. Retrieved from https://centerforparentingeducation.org/library-of-articles/focus-parents/role-model-promise-peril/
  • McNeill, B. (2010) The important role non-parent adults have with youth learning leadership. Journal of Extension. Retrieved from https://www.joe.org/joe/2010october/tt4.php
  • Nankin, F. and McMahon, J. (2017, April 12). Helping children overcome a fear of bugs. Public Broadcasting Service. Retrieved from: https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/helping-children-overcome-a-fear-of-bugs
  • Perkins, D. (2017, October 10). Parents making youth sports a positive experience: Role models. Penn State University Extension. Retrieved from https://extension.psu.edu/parents-making-youth-sports-a-positive-experience-role-models
  • Smith, L. (2015, March 2) Are we being the role model we should be? Live Healthy, Live Well. Retrieved from https://livehealthyosu.com/2015/03/02/are-we-being-the-role-model-we-should-be/
  • Staff as healthy role models. (2019). Action for Healthy Kids. Retrieved from: http://www.actionforhealthykids.org/component/content/article/39-step-3-challenges/1514-staff-as-healthy-role-models

Social Media Mania or Madness?

With summer here and most schools out of session, many youth are left to fend for themselves during the day while their parents or caregivers are at work. My husband calls it “the summer of sloth” at our house, because our kids sit around and play on their phones and computers or watch television for […]

WRITTEN BY: Misty Harmon, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Perry County, harmon.416@osu.edu

REVIEWED BY: Joseph Maiorano, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Harrison County, maiorano.2@osu.edu

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • https://pixabay.com/photos/snapchat-social-media-smartphone-2480959/
  • https://pixabay.com/photos/texting-mobile-phones-hands-two-1490691/

SOURCES:

  • American Academy of Pediatrics, (2018). Children and Media Tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Found at: https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/news-features-and-safety-tips/Pages/Children-and-Media-Tips.aspx
  • Anderson, M. (2018). A Majority of Teens Have Experienced Some Form of Cyberbullying. Pew Research Center. Retrieved from: https://www.pewinternet.org/2018/09/27/a-majority-of-teens-have-experienced-some-form-of-cyberbullying/
  • Digital Responsibility, (2019). Health and Technology. Found at: http://www.digitalresponsibility.org/health-and-technology
  • Hurley, K. (2019). Digital Self-Harm: Why Are Teens Cyber Bullying Themselves? Remedy Health Media, LLC. Found at: https://www.psycom.net/digital-self-harm
  • Jiang, J. (2018). How Teens and Parents Navigate Screen Time and Device Distractions. Pew Research Center. Retrieved from: https://www.pewinternet.org/2018/08/22/how-teens-and-parents-navigate-screen-time-and-device-distractions/
  • Lobb, J. (2016). Time for a Technology Break? Live Healthy Live Well Blog. Retrieved from: https://livehealthyosu.com/tag/digital-detoxing/
  • Mir, E. and Novas, C. (2019). Social Media and Adolescents’ and Young Adults’ Mental Health. National Center for Health Research. Found at: http://www.center4research.org/social-media-affects-mental-health/
  • Shafer, L., (2017). Social Media and Teen Anxiety. Harvard Graduate School of Education. Retrieved from: https://www.gse.harvard.edu/news/uk/17/12/social-media-and-teen-anxiety
  • U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2018) Health Risks of an Inactive Lifestyle. MedlinePlus. Found at: https://medlineplus.gov/healthrisksofaninactivelifestyle.html

The Case for Paid Parental Leave

When my son was born earlier this year, I was fortunate to have six weeks of paid parental leave made available to me by my employer. And, once that time was exhausted, I was able to take an additional six weeks of paid leave using my accrued sick time. The twelve weeks I spent at […]

WRITTEN BY: Jenny Lobb, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Franklin County

REVIEWED BY: Whitney Gherman, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Marion County

SOURCES:

  • Allegheny Health Network (2019). The 4th Trimester: Time to Take Care of Mom. https://www.mywishformoms.org/postpartum-resource/
  • Institute for Women’s Policy Research (2019). Work Supports for Reducing Maternal Mortality: The Role of Paid Family and Medical Leave. https://iwpr.org/get-involved/events/work-supports-for-reducing-maternal-mortality-the-role-of-paid-family-and-medical-leave/
  • Institute for Women’s Policy Research (2019). Work Supports for Child Health: The Role of Paid Family and Medical Leave. https://iwpr.org/get-involved/events/work-supports-for-child-healththe-role-of-paid-family-and-medical-leave/
  • Klerman, J.A., Daley, K. & Pozniak, A. (2014). Family and Medical Leave in 2012: Technical Report. https://www.dol.gov/asp/evaluation/fmla/fmla-2012-technical-report.pdf

Need Assistance?

If you are having issues logging into the site, need assistance with updates, or need to request an alternate format please send an email to the EHE Service Desk at servicedesk@ehe.osu.edu stating the nature of your issue and we will assist you. Thank you.

Follow us!

Are you a Live Smart Ohio Author? Log in here!