Family and Consumer Sciences

Live Smart Ohio

Ohio State University Extension

families

Lessons from a Flopped Pie

Usually, we can anticipate certain life events and traditions every year like celebrating at birthday parties, or joining cookouts in the summer, or hosting gatherings for holidays. Because of Covid-19, this year has not followed typical expectations. When families experience significant unexpected events, they are called nonnormative transitions or unanticipated transitions.  Examples include job loss, […]

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

REVIEWED BY: Laura Stanton, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Warren County and Misty Harmon, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Perry County

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • Patrice Powers-Barker

SOURCES:

  • Brinkman, P. (2016). Eating Healthy During Stressful Times. Ohio State University. https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-5244
  • Eva, A. (2017). Why we should embrace mistakes in school. Greater Good Magazine. https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/why_we_should_embrace_mistakes_in_school
  • Heer, C. & Rini, J. (2016). Stress Coping Methods. Ohio State University. https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-5242
  • Leonard, J. & Cofer, J., (2020). Pumpkins: Not Just for Jack-O-Lanterns and Pies. NC Cooperative Extension. https://randolph.ces.ncsu.edu/2020/10/pumpkins-not-just-for-jack-o-lanterns-and-pies/
  • Lindberg, E. (2019). Practicing gratitude can have profound health benefits, USC experts say. University of Southern California. https://news.usc.edu/163123/gratitude-health-research-thanksgiving-usc-experts/
  • McGinnis, D. (2018). Resilience, Life Events, and Well-Being During Midlife: Examining Resilience Subgroups. Journal of Adult Development. 25(3): 198–221. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6105201/
  • Mindfulness Practices. Wexner Medical Center. Ohio State University. https://wexnermedical.osu.edu/integrative-complementary-medicine/resources/mindfulness-practices
  • Myers-Walls, J. & Willis Hepp, B.(2019). Overview and Introduction. NCFR Report: Nonnormative Transitions. Winter 2019. https://www.ncfr.org/ncfr-report/winter-2019
  • Powers-Barker, P. (2015). Spilt Milk – To Cry or Not to Cry. Live Smart Ohio. Ohio State University. https://livesmartohio.osu.edu/mind-and-body/powers-barker-1osu-edu/spilt-milk-to-cry-or-not-to-cry/
  • Tonseth, C. (2018), Anticipated and Unanticipated Transitions as Triggers for Adult Learning. Creative Education. 9(2). https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation.aspx?paperid=82379

Green is Our Theme

Before leaving for work on week-day mornings, my spouse quietly practices a daily family routine. He kisses our sleeping son on the forehead and says “I love you. Make today a green day.”  In our child’s elementary classroom, colors are used for a daily behavior chart. Green means “ready to learn” and it is the […]

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

REVIEWED BY: Whitney Gherman, MSW, Educator, Marion County

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • Pixabay

REFERENCES:

  • Veritas. (2018). 3 Benefits of Family Routines and Rituals. American College of Pediatricians. https://www.acpeds.org/3-benefits-of-family-routines-and-rituals
  • Lobb, J. (2020) Flattening the Curve. Live Healthy Live Well. Ohio State University Extension, Family and Consumer Sciences. https://livehealthyosu.com/2020/03/16/flattening-the-curve/
  • The Importance of Family Routines. (2007). Caring for Your School-Age Child: Ages 5 to 12. American Academy of Pediatrics. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/family-dynamics/Pages/The-Importance-of-Family-Routines.aspx
  • Managing Stress for a Healthy Family. (2019). American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/helpcenter/managing-stress
  • Holmes, P. (2016). Helping Young Children Through Stressful Times. Ohio State University. https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/flm-fs-8-99-r07
  • How to Grow Peas – Part 1. (2016). Smart Gardening. Michigan State University Extension. https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/how_to_grow_peas

Don’t Worry, Be Happy

Yes, now you have that song stuck in your head, you’re welcome. As I hum the song, I can’t help but to smile and to reflect on things that make me happy. To give the definition of happiness may seem silly, since most of us understand what it is, but according to positive psychology researcher […]

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

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

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • https://pixabay.com/photos/family-sea-vacation-beach-summer-2432568/
  • https://pixabay.com/photos/african-african-american-afro-3797905/

SOURCES:

  • Greater Good Magazine. Happiness Defined: What is Happiness? Found on 4/10/19 at https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/happiness/definition
  • Greater Good Magazine. Happiness Defined: Why Practice It? Retrieved on 4/10/19 from https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/happiness/definition#why-practice-happiness
  • Harmon, M. (2019). How to "buy" happiness and better health. Found at https://livesmartohio.osu.edu/money/harmon-416osu-edu/how-to-buy-happiness-and-better-health/
  • Harvard Men's Health Watch. (2017). The pursuit of happiness. Retrieved on 4/10/19 from: https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/the-pursuit-of-happiness
  • Ho, L. (2019). How to Be Happy: Why Pursuing Happiness Will Make You Unhappy https://www.lifehack.org/610387/why-its-impossible-to-be-consistently-happy
  • Kloppers, M. 10 Things To Stop Caring About If You Want To Be Happier. Found on 4/10/19 at https://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/ten-things-stop-caring-about-you-want-happier.html
  • Locke, R. (2018). 10 Scientifically Proven Ways To Stay Happy All The Time. Retrieved from https://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/10-scientifically-proven-ways-stay-happy-all-the-time.html
  • National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI). Mental Health Conditions. Retrieved on 4/10/19 from: https://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Mental-Health-Conditions
  • Suttie, J. (2019). How Understanding Evolution Can Help Us to Be Happy. Greater Good Magazine. Found at https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_understanding_evolution_can_help_us_to_be_happy

Thank you

When I was a kid, my mom would remind me to say “Thank you” when someone gave me a gift or did something for me. Now, as a mother, I remind my own kids to say “Thank you” for those same reasons. For some people it is simple and easy to show gratitude and appreciation, […]

WRITTEN BY: Misty Harmon, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Perry County, harmon.417@osu.edu

REVIEWED BY: Jami Dellifield, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Hardin County, dellifield.2@osu.edu

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • https://pixabay.com/en/thankful-thanks-grateful-thank-you-1081614/

SOURCES:

  • http://ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/welcome/features/2015-2016/11/20151125_gratitude.html
  • http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2012/08/health-benefits.aspx
  • http://news.uga.edu/releases/print/research-links-gratitude-positive-marital-outcomes-1015/
  • https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/tips_for_keeping_a_gratitude_journal/
  • https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/ten_ways_to_become_more_grateful1/

Achieving a ‘Lifetime of Happiness’ in Marriage

It’s wedding season!  I love browsing the greeting card aisles, reading each to find the perfect wedding day expression for friends tying the knot. Most of the options – in some heartfelt way – include wishes for a lifetime of happiness. It’s a fitting wish for newlyweds, but how does it come true? There has […]

WRITTEN BY: Joanna Fifner, Extension Educator, Ohio State University Extension, fifner.2@osu.edu

REVIEWED BY: Jenny Lobb, Extension Educator, Ohio State University Extension, lobb.3@osu.edu

SOURCES:

  • http://news.rutgers.edu/research-news/wife%E2%80%99s-happiness-more-crucial-her-husband%E2%80%99s-keeping-marriage-track-rutgers-study-finds/20140911#.V3FyMY5nhDQ
  • http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/marriage.aspx
  • http://news.health.com/2016/02/17/this-is-the-secret-to-a-long-and-happy-marriage-according-to-research/
  • http://www.happify.com/hd/the-science-behind-a-happy-relationship/
  • http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17059309

REFERENCES:

  • http://www.happify.com/hd/the-science-behind-a-happy-relationship/

Nature Deficit Disorder

That phrase was coined by author Richard Louv in his book “Last Child in the Woods” to describe the phenomena of children and youth becoming disconnected from nature. Adults can certainly suffer from nature deficit disorder, but chances are, most adults spent more time outside as children than our kids do today. Research is linking […]

WRITTEN BY: Shannon Carter, Extension Educator, Family & Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Fairfield County

REVIEWED BY: Candace Heer, Extension Educator, Family & Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Morrow County

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • Photo taken and edited by Shannon Carter; original idea for text on picture taken from popular press

SOURCES:

  • Children and Nature Network. https://www.childrenandnature.org/about/nature-deficit-disorder/
  • Kellert, Stephen R. Building for Life: Designing and Understanding the Human-Nature Connection. Island Press, Washington. 2005.
  • Li, Qing. Effect of forest bathing trips on human immune function. Environ Health Prev Med. 2010 January; 15(1): 9–17. Published online 2009 March 25. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2793341/
  • Louv, Richard. Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder Algonquin Books, 2005.
  • PBS.org. Getting Your Kids to Plug Into Nature. http://www.pbs.org/parents/experts/archive/2012/03/getting-your-kids-to-plug-into.htmling Your Kids to Plug Into Nature

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