Linn County 4-H partnered with the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Child Care Solutions Action Group to provide a 4-H On Their Own and OK student workshop Nov. 3. On Their Own & OK builds skills in youth and incorporates ways for adults in the home to support this step towards independence.
Linn County 4-H empowers youth to develop life skills and gain confidence through research-based educational experiences. On Their Own and OK helps 4th-6th grade youth develop their self-care skills to make good decisions while staying home alone. With adequate education from parents, teachers, and community partners, young people can develop confidence in the skills they need for staying home alone safely.
On Their Own & OK reinforces how to act in an emergency, helps young people handle boredom without technology, and recommends age-appropriate chores.
Sixteen Mount Vernon students participated in the On Their Own and Okay program held at the Lester Buresh Family Community Wellness Center on November 3rd. After the workshop, youth participants reported increased knowledge about what to do if home alone during an emergency and increased knowledge in preparing healthy snacks while home alone. The Mount Vernon Fire Department joined the workshop as a guest speaker about fire safety in the home. Seventy-five percent of youth participants identified an additional question they had for their caregivers about staying home alone after participating in the program.
Families can utilize the Iowa 4-H On Their Own and Okay Family Guide as a tool to help identify if their child is ready to stay home alone safely for short periods of time. The guide can be found at https://store.extension.iastate.edu/product/16529. Examples of conversation starters between caregivers and their children about staying home alone include:
• How do you feel about staying home alone after school until we are able to return home after work?
• What kinds of activities are you interested in doing while staying home alone?
• What responsibilities are fair and expected while you are home alone?
• How does our family define and emergency, and what might you do during an emergency while home alone?
• Who does our family contact for help if problems arise while staying home?
The recent Mount Vernon program offering was provided with support from the Mount Vernon City Council, Mount Vernon Bank and Trust, Thrivent, and a private donation.
Youth-serving organizations in Iowa are encouraged to contact their local Iowa State University Extension and Outreach county office to explore partnership opportunities in administering this program. For more information on the Linn County 4-H Youth Development program, please contact the Linn County ISU Extension and Outreach office or visit the website at https://www.extension.iastate.edu/linn/.
Participants were not only treated to a thrilling tour of a firetruck but also gained invaluable lessons in self-reliance and emergency preparedness. On Their Own & OK goes beyond the excitement of the tour, instilling essential skills to navigate emergencies confidently.