practicing kindness can help heal a broken world important...

Cooperative Extension Service

Campbell County

3500 Alexandria Pike

Highland Heights, KY 41076

(859) 572-2600

Fax: (859) 572-2619

www.campbell.ca.uky.edu

JULY 2020

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

Effective immediately, our

building will not have access to

the public. We are still here to

answer your questions, feel free

to call us at (859) 572-2600 or

email us at

[email protected] if you

have any questions. This

decision was made in response

to recommendations from the

University of Kentucky and the

CDC to keep our employees and

clientele safe.

Practicing Kindness can Help

Heal a Broken World

Source: Kerri Ashurst, senior extension specialist for family and relationship development

2020 has been a tough year, as

Americans have faced many

challenges. As a result, many of

us are experiencing emotional,

mental, physical and financial

struggles. We need kindness

more than ever.

Kindness is any act you do that

benefits others. Research

shows that people who help

others in various ways are

happier and have an overall better feeling of well-being than those who don’t

practice kindness.

Kind acts do not have to take up much of your time or cost you a lot of money.

They can be as simple as calling your friends and family to check on them,

running an errand for an older neighbor, or letting someone with only a few

items check out in front of you at the grocery store when you have a full cart.

You can be kind to others by listening to them, if they come to you with their

problems. While you may not feel like the best person to lend support, rest

assured that you are the person they choose to confide in. That shows trust.

Extend kindness beyond the reach of your immediate contacts by doing good

deeds for complete strangers. You can pay for the person’s order behind you in

the drive-thru. You can offer to purchase or provide a nutritious meal for a person

who is experiencing homelessness. Donating items, time or money to a charity of

your choice is always a good way to practice kindness.

This year, with its deep divisions, has challenged us to take a look deeper into

ourselves and review our values, morals and priorities. This makes kindness even

more essential than ever. Be kind to others and be willing to listen to them, even

if their opinion differs from yours. Be respectful, open-minded and try to

understand their perspective.

While kindness may not magically fix all of the world’s problems, it certainly will

help start the process. For more information about kindness and other ways to

nurture healthy relationships, contact the (COUNTY NAME) office of the

University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service.

- July 2020 Family & Consumer Sciences

What Is Bullying?

Parents today have a lot to deal with

while raising a family. In addition to

everyday activities such as meal

preparation, homework and finding

time to be together as a family, some

families deal with an additional force

that is out of their control—the

classroom or neighborhood bully. It is

easy to think back to our own school

day experiences and remember the

class bully. He was usually the largest

(or the toughest) kid in the class who

dominated the playground and

terrorized his fellow students on the

bus ride to and from school. But

today’s bullies are not just the

toughest and meanest boys. Today’s

bullies are girls and boys of all ages

and sizes, and they bully in many

different kinds of ways.

In general bullying involves

aggressive behavior that is intentional

and involves an imbalance of power

or strength. Bullying is usually

repeated over time and can occur in

several forms: physical bullying

(hitting, kicking, pushing,

intimidation), verbal bullying (name-

calling, threats, rumors), and other

types of bullying (making faces, social

exclusion, and cyber bullying).

Cyber bullying occurs when a child is

harassed, threatened or embarrassed

by another child using technology

such as the Internet, text messaging,

You Tube, and mobile phones. Cyber

bullying is a particularly scary form of

bullying because we live in a very

technical world that is made up of

computers, cell phones, social

networks and online chat rooms. Not

all of these avenues of technology are

monitored by parents and caregivers.

Cyber bullying is quick and allows a

bully to keep his business at arm’s

length. It can also be challenging for

a victim to track the bully. Children

and young adolescents may not even

identify cyber bullying as “real”

bullying, but it can be just as or even

more damaging than physical

bullying.

Cyber bullying can involve:

Sending mean, vulgar or

threatening messages or images

Posting sensitive, private

information and/or lies about

another person

Pretending to be someone else in

order to make a person look bad

Cyber bullying is a growing

problem. In a recent study led by

Cox Communications (2009), 655

13 to 18 year olds reported involve-

ment with cyber bullying:

15 percent had been cyber bullied

online

10 percent had been cyber bullied

by phone

7 percent admitted to cyber

bullying another person online

5 percent admitted to cyber

bullying another person by cell

phone

Symptoms of the Bullied Child

Since most children will not report

incidents of bullying, it is important

for parents to recognize the common

signs of a bullied child. These include,

but are not limited to:

Refusal to go to school

Bed-wetting

Health complaints (i.e. sleeping

problems, headaches, stomach

aches)

Lack of self-esteem (i.e. making

negative “I am” statements, fearing

new experiences and/or people,

lacking trust in others, having

difficulty making eye contact,

feeling sensitive to criticism, always

apologizing)

Depression (i.e. sadness, crying over

seemingly minor setbacks,

increased irritability, loss of interest

in previously pleasurable activities,

changes in appetite, changes in

sleep pattern, fatigue, poor

concentration)

Bullying 101 The Basics for Parents and Caregivers of a Bullied Child

Deana K. Reed, 4-H Youth Development and Amy F. Hosier, Family Studies/Contact Author

D uring the school-age years, relationships with peers become the

focus of a child’s attention. These years provide a child many

opportunities to grow, learn social skills and develop conflict

resolution skills. Unfortunately, sometimes relationships at this stage

can be negative and harmful to the development of a child or young

adolescent. Behavior such as teasing and name-calling can lead to

more serious situations that involve intimidation and verbal and

physical abuse.

Bullying is a serious issue that has been the subject of discussion for

several years. This publication will help parents identify the symptoms

of a bullied child, understand why they don’t report the abuse and

learn how to support them during their coping process.

Family & Consumer Sciences July 2020 -

Suicidal thoughts (i.e. anxiety,

withdrawal from friends and family,

making a will, giving possessions

away, making statements such as

“Maybe my family would be better

off without me”)

Acting aggressively toward friends

or family members they view as

weaker

Why Didn’t They Tell Me?

Sometimes parents and caregivers

are unaware of the degree of bullying

that occurs in a child’s life. Children

and teens do not always talk about

being bullied and parents may not

always think to question their child

about whether or not they are being

bullied.

Why don’t children tell their parents

about cases of bullying?

Child fears the reaction of the

parent or caregiver. Some parents

blame their child for being “too

weak” and take on the attitude that

the child deserves the bullying or

that the bullying will “toughen

them up.”

Child fears retaliation from the

bully.

Child may feel overcome with

feelings of shame and rejection.

Child does not want to bother or

worry parents or caregivers.

Child may fear that parents will

overreact and make the situation

worse.

Child may fear that their parent will

take action against his will.

Child may have the fear of being

labeled a “tattle tale” by friends or

classmates.

• Child may recognize that parents

lack resources to provide support.

Child may feel it is his responsibility

to stand up for himself.

The Good News about Bullying

As bullying continues to gain

increasing public attention, more and

more children are becoming

confident in reporting the abuse to

make it stop. Children are

increasingly telling their parents,

family, and teachers about bullying.

Family members—parents, siblings,

grandparents, and others—play key

roles in helping to prevent or stop

bullying, and to help children and

youth cope with bullying that they

already have experienced.

53 percent of regularly bullied

children told a teacher.

67 percent of regularly bullied

children told a parent.

Victims of bullying reported that

telling a family member had a

positive impact on their situation.

Students who did report a bullying

incident were more likely to tell

family members first.

Ways to Support a Child Who Is

Being Bullied

Nearly one-half of the parents and

caregivers of bullied children do not

know that their child is a victim.

How can parents support their

children and encourage their children

to talk if they are not aware of the

problem?

Keeping an open line of

communication with your child is

important to assure that your child

will come to you in a time of need.

Kids appreciate parents who do not

doubt their stories and who are

prepared to discuss strategies WITH

them. To help foster healthy

communication:

What Adults Can Do

Communicate acceptance.

Accepting the child for who he is

makes it easy to communicate with

him.

Use “Door Opener” communication

statements that do not include

evaluation or judgment. Questions

may include: “What do you think?”

“Would you like to share more

about that?” “Do you want to talk

about it?” “Tell me more, I want to

be sure I understand you.” Such

open-ended questions tell your

child that his ideas and thoughts

are important, that you are

interested in his ideas and

thoughts, and that you respect him.

• Listen attentively. Get rid of

distractions and pay attention to

what the child is saying. If you are

too busy to actively listen (i.e. on

the phone), tell your child then give

a specific time that you will give

him/her your full attention.

Talk with, not at, your child. Talking

“at” a child is a one-sided

conversation, but talking “with”

your child involves both people in

the communication process.

Use “I” messages.” “I” messages are

statements of fact. They tell your

child how you are feeling. (i.e.

Instead of saying, “I can’t believe

(continued on next page)


you didn’t tell me you were being

bullied!” Say, “I understand that

telling someone else about being

bullied is a hard decision to make.

I want you to know that you can

share this kind of information with

me and that I am here to support

you.”

Ways to strategize with a child who

is being bullied:

Listen carefully to your child and

gather information about the event

before reacting.

Find out about your child’s schools

anti-bullying policy. What is the

process for dealing with bullying?

What are the consequences to the

bully and support for the victim?

Contact your child’s teacher or

principal to discuss what has

happened.

Continue conversations with your

child even after you think the

problem has been fixed. Bullying

doesn’t just stop.

Spend time talking with your child

about bullying. Find out what is

happening at his/her school.

Being able to identify the symptoms

of the bullied child, understanding

why they don’t tell and keeping an

open line of communication with

your child will assist you in

supporting your child in the event

that he or she becomes the victim of

a bully. Bullying does not just stop;

your bullied child will need your ears

and, most important, your heart. Be

that supportive person that your child

needs to deal with being a victim of

bullying.

What Children Can Do

Share feelings and ask for help. Tell a

parent if you are sad or struggling

with something; they may not know

that you are having a problem.

Be kind. Little things might mean a

lot to your mom or dad, and being

kind opens the lines of

communication much easier than

fighting.

Show you care. It is important to let

your parents know that you care

about them. Some families show they

care by hugging and kissing, but not

all families are like this. You can show

someone you care about them by

respecting them and by being polite

and thoughtful.

For More Information

Stop Bullying Now, www.stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov/adults/default.aspx.

American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, http://aacap.org/page.ww?name=Bullying&Section=Facts+for+Families.

University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service Offices, www.ca.uky.edu/county/. Each county office has access to multiple resources on bullying for families.

Resources

Craig, G.J., & W. L. Dunn (2007). Understanding human development. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall, 287.

Cyberbullying. Retrieved December 14, 2010, from http://www.stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov/adults/cyber-bullying.aspx.

Ebata, A. (1995). Signs of alcohol abuse, depression and suicide. Retrieved December 14, 2010, from http://web.aces.uiuc.edu/vista/pdf_pubs/TRBLSIGN.PDF.

Evans, G., & H. L. Radunovice (2006). Signs and symptoms of depression. Retrieved December 14, 2010, from http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/FY/FY10000.pdf.

Fekkes, M., F. I. M. Pijpers, & S. P. Verloove-Vanhorick (2005). Bullying: Who does what, when and where? Involvement of children, teachers and parents in bullying behavior. Health Education Research 20(1): 81-91. Retrieved February 2011, from http://her.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2004/07/14/her.cyg100.short.

Humphrey, G., & B. R. Crisp (2008). Bullying affects us too: Parental responses to bullying at kindergarten. Australian Journal of Early Childhood 33(1): 45-49. Retrieved March 2011, from http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb6418/is_1_33/ai_n31677555/.

Lyness, D. (2009). Getting along with parents. Retrieved December 14, 2010, from http://kidshealth.org/kid/feeling/home_family/parents.html.

Matsunaga, M. (2009). Parents Don’t (Always) Know Their Children Have Been Bullied: Child-Parent Discrepancy on Bullying and Family-Level Profile of Communication Standards. Human Communication Research 35(2): 221-247. Retrieved April 2010, from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1468-2958.2009.01345.x/pdf.

Oliver, C., & M. Candappa (2007). Bullying and the politics of “telling.” Oxford Review of Education 33(1): 71-86. Retrieved February 2011, from http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/section?content=a770380561&fulltext=713240928.

Perkins, D. F., & E. Berrena (2002). Bullying: It’s not just child’s play. A guide for parents. Retrieved September 26, 2010, from http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/freepubs/pdfs/ui368.pdf.

Symptoms of low self esteem (n.d.). Retrieved December 14, 2010, from http://www.affirmations-for-radical-success.com/symptoms-of-low-self-esteem.html.

What to do if your child is being bullied. Retrieved September 27, 2010, from http://www.stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov/adults/tip-sheets/tip-sheet-21.aspx.

Winning ways to talk with young children (2004). Retrieved December 14, 2010, from http://umaine.edu/publications/4077e/.

Educational programs of Kentucky Cooperative Extension serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, M. Scott Smith, Director, Land Grant Programs, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Lexington, and Kentucky State University, Frankfort. Copyright © 2011 for materials developed by University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension. This publication may be reproduced in portions or its entirety for educational or nonprofit purposes only. Permitted users shall give credit to the author(s) and include this copyright notice. Publications are also available on the World Wide Web at www.ca.uky.edu.

Issued 7-2011

Bullying 101 (continued from previous page)

Deana K. Reed, 4-H Youth Development and Amy F. Hosier, Family Studies/Contact Author


M any of us enjoy the wonderful

taste of food cooked on a grill,

but cleaning the grill — not so much.

Regular grill cleaning is important to

help extend the life of your grill and

for food safety purposes. Plus, it

makes your food taste better.

The easiest way to remember to clean

your grill is to do so immediately

after using it. This way, you don’t

have a greasy, caked-on mess the

next time you grill.

You must have certain tools to clean

your grill properly. These include a

wire grill brush or other type of

scraper, a 5-gallon bucket, durable

gloves, and disposable sponges and

rags. You will also need warm water

and dish soap. Optional supplies

include baking soda and vinegar. If

you have a grill with exterior stainless

steel features, you will need to add

stainless steel cleaner.

After cooking, remove the food and

allow the grill to continue to burn to

remove residue. Once the residue has

burned off, turn off the grill. When

the grill cools but is still slightly warm,

use your wire brush to remove any

remaining debris on the grates. If

your grates have a nonstick coating,

only use a wooden or heat-resistant

plastic scraper to clean your grates.

If residue still remains, soak the

grates and other removable parts in

either warm water and dish detergent

or a mixture of 2 cups of vinegar and

1 cup of baking soda. Soak the grill

components in a sink or 5-gallon

bucket. Scrape the grates again after

soaking, if necessary. Allow the grill

parts to air dry before putting them

back on your grill. Remember to wash

your brush after each use.

Use a disinfectant to clean surfaces

like the grill’s side table that may

have held uncooked meat. Clean

exterior stainless steel components

with stainless steel cleaner or wipe

with a vinegar-soaked cloth.

Depending on the type of grill you

have, you may have additional

cleaning considerations. Consult your

owner’s manual for more information.

Cleaning your Outdoor Grill Source: Sarah Hanks, Senior Extension Associate


Audrey and Amber

Austin The Geiman Family with their baked products and succulent


ESSENTIAL SKILLS

# 1. Embrace life one day at a time

# 2. Focus on the positive

# 3. Make time for yourself

VIDEO SUMMARY: In a kitchen

scene, two single parents, Greg and

Kathy, talk about the importance of

helping out one another. Several

other solo parents reflect on the

benefits of taking time for

themselves. Then, specific

suggestions are offered for using the

Essential Skills highlighted on the left.

Essential Skill # 1 EMBRACE LIFE

ONE DAY AT A TIME The demands of single parenting can

be endless. It’s easy to become

overwhelmed, particularly when we

spend too much of our energy living

in the past or future. Taking life one

day at a time is a “must” for your

single parent survival kit.

Embracing life one day at a time is

also an invaluable personal growth

skill—a skill that doesn’t require any

extra time or energy on your part. In

fact, when you get really good at it,

you’ll find that focusing

wholeheartedly on the task at

hand actually relieves time pressure

and increases your personal energy.

Recalling fond memories is a

pleasure; we need to learn from past

challenges. Carefully planning for the

future is just as important. However,

most of us spend far too much

energy living in the past and future.

We regret what did or didn’t happen.

We worry about the future. We lack

faith, stress ourselves out, and set a

poor example for our children. All the

while, the precious opportunities

of the moment pass by half-noticed.

The goal is to take one day, one hour,

one moment at a time. Doing this is

not easy. It’s a skill that takes practice,

discipline, concentration and faith.

The world’s greatest athletes know

the importance and joy of living fully

in the present moment. They call it

being in the “zone.” The more they

do this, the more successful they

become. It works the same way with

the world’s leading business

executives, and it will work for

you, too.

Living fully in the “here and now”

offers additional benefits: You are

free from resentment. You can no

longer be oppressed by mistakes

from the past, no matter who made

them. Every moment is new, and each

relationship fresh.

By giving your full attention to

the present moment, you

automatically take good care of

the future. You also lighten your

load, enjoy life more, and

become much more effective

in whatever you are doing.

Here are some tips for living life one

day at a time, one moment at a time:

Set daily goals and work toward

finishing what you have set out to

do.

Break big tasks down into smaller

chunks. Say to yourself: “During this

hour I’ll enjoy doing the best I can

with the task at hand.”

Don’t focus on past mistakes. Learn

from them and move forward.

Know that you can handle anything

if you take it one moment at a time.

Anticipating what you think is

going to happen in the next minute

or the next week causes you to feel

burdened. Stop living in the future.

When you find yourself rushing,

take a few big, deep breaths and

slow yourself down into the present

moment. You’ll accomplish more

and do it better.

Occasionally focus for a minute or

so on breathing easily and gently,

letting your belly softly expand with

each in-breath. If you are spiritually

Piecing It Together ESSENTIAL SKILLS FOR SINGLE PARENT FAMILIES

A single father put it this way: “You gotta be kidding! Take time for personal growth? Hey, walk in

my shoes for a few days, and then tell me where I’m supposed to find time for myself.” It’s not hard

to understand what this father is talking about. Arranging time for our own personal growth and

enrichment can be a real challenge.

The good news is that there are ways to feed your personal growth that require little or no extra time.

We’ll share a couple of skills that will help you do this. But, you still need to carve out time just for

yourself. So we’ll also share some thoughts and suggestions that will help you in scheduling personal

time.

PERSONAL GROWTH AND ENRICHMENT


inclined, offer a prayer for those

around you, or give them a smile, a

word of encouragement, or a kind

thought.

The Gratitude Attitude. When

feelings of fear, stress, frustration or

depression start to creep in, practice

the Gratitude Attitude. Here’s how

you do it.

Simply take a few moments and

delight in the blessings that surround

you—the fresh air, the warmth of the

sun, the early morning singing of

birds, your health, your many talents,

the funny things your children do, the

friendship of a family pet, the

beautiful people in your life . . . even

the problems that stretch you and

bring out your inner strength.

Taking a few moments to focus on

your blessings and express thanks will

soften your worries and bring you

into the present moment. If you’re

already feeling good, a dose of the

Gratitude Attitude will help you feel

even better. Make every day

Thanksgiving Day. This wonderful

habit of counting our blessings leads

into our second personal growth and

enrichment skill.

Essential Skill # 2 FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE

Abraham Lincoln said it well: “Most

folks are about as happy as they

make up their minds to be.” A

positive attitude is a choice. It starts

inside you, and it can make all the

difference in the world.

Focusing on the positive is a skill. The

more you practice, the better you

become. Don’t, however, misuse

positive thinking as an excuse to

avoid areas of pain or challenge that

need healing. Have the courage to

confront your problems directly and

look for the lessons they contain.

Instead of covering up painful

emotions, experience them and learn

from their rich wisdom.

The lives of most single parents are

filled with challenges. Problems that

come to you can be understood to

have a purpose. No matter how

painful, they contribute to your

learning and growth. They are

opportunities in disguise. So take

heart; try not to be discouraged.

Expect things to work out for the

best. And do everything you can

to make it happen that way.

Look on the bright side. Acknowledge

the bad things in life, but choose to

focus on the positive. Develop a “can

do” attitude. Become a possibility

thinker. Believe in your children and

their dreams. Expect good things to

happen; and make it a habit to focus

on what you and your children are

doing well. The more skilled you

become in seeing positive traits in

others, the more these qualities will

blossom within them and in you.

The following are some

suggestions for building your

positive thinking muscles:

Give yourself a pat on the back for

hanging in there and being a great

parent. Think about all you do for

your children. Feel the satisfaction

that comes from being a devoted

parent. Now take time to let the

good feelings soak in.

Talk with two or three people you

know who have great attitudes

about life. Ask them to share the

secrets to their peace, love and joy.

Think about your single parent

family and list as many “positives”

as you can.

Focus on a recent problem you

have struggled with in your life.

Identify at least three positive

things you learned as a result of

your experiences surrounding this

problem.

Welcome challenges as

opportunities for learning and

growing.

Talk to yourself encouragingly and

kindly, and frequently visualize

yourself reaching goals that are

important to you.

Accept responsibility for your own

happiness: It’s not what happens to

you that causes you to feel and act

in the way you do, it’s what you

choose to think and believe about

what happens that determines your

feelings and actions.

As much as reasonably possible,

surround yourself with positive and

supportive friends, co-workers and

family members.

Wherever you are, focus on what is

noble and positive so that you can

absorb these qualities. Behold

beauty everywhere.

Essential Skill # 3 MAKE

TIME FOR YOURSELF Do you love your children? Do you

want the best for them? Then you’ve

got to carve out personal time for

yourself. (Now go back to the

beginning of this short paragraph and

read it again—slowly, thoughtfully. It’s

that important!) When you take time

to nurture yourself, you feel better.

You’re calmer, more energetic, more

creative. You’re more fun to be with,

and you’re a better parent, co-worker

and friend. By your example, you

teach your child an important lesson

on self-renewal and giving your best

to those around you.

(continued on next page)


Take responsibility for creating time

for your personal enrichment. The

following suggestions will help you

get the ball rolling:

Using a calendar, schedule in

chunks of time just for you. Do this

a month, or even a year, in advance.

If your children are old enough to

understand, tell them what you are

doing and why. Then stick to your

plan.

Do something just for you. For

example, take a hot bath. It’s

relaxing, gives you time to think,

and reduces stress. Or set aside

time to read a fun or inspirational

book, or to watch a favorite

television program.

Give a friend or family member the

opportunity to spend a morning,

evening or entire day with your

children. Use the time to do

whatever your heart desires.

Build in a little period of quiet time

early in the morning or at another

time when you are

fresh. Use this quiet

time in a way that feels

good to you, perhaps

to relax and enjoy

nature, to put your day

in perspective, or to

commune with God.

Be adventuresome.

What would you love

to do? Let yourself

dream; then follow

your heart and take

some risks. Give your

home a fresh look,

launch into a hobby

that fascinates you, or

explore new people,

places and ideas.

We all need time for ourselves—time

for recharging our batteries and

nourishing our souls. Time for doing

what brings us peace and joy, time

for personal reflection and

enrichment. Make it a point to give

yourself this gift of personal time.

Guide your children in similarly taking

a little time here and there for

themselves.

Remember that you can use your life

as a single parent as a course for

personal growth and enrichment. It

doesn’t take extra time. You don’t

need to look anywhere else. It’s right

there in front of you, each and every

day—the frustrations and

disappointments, the opportunities

and joys. It’s in that bear hug from

your little boy and the sparkle in the

beautiful eyes of your teenage

daughter.

Family life is a training ground for

the development of love. This is

particularly true in single parent

households where unique

challenges test the character and

skills of all family members.

Prepared by project team members, this publication is

one part of the 10-part “Essential Skills for Single

Parent Families” series. Funded by Community

Connections for Children—Bluegrass Area

Development District.

Although this publication is copyrighted, you are

free to reproduce it in its entirety for non-profit,

educational purposes. Copyright © 1999

University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service,

Assistant Director for Home Economics Extension,

206 Scovell Hall, Lexington, KY 40546-0064.

Educational programs of the Kentucky Cooperative

Extension Service serve all people regardless of race,

color, age, sex, religion, disability, or national origin.

Piecing It Together (continued from previous page)


Ronda Rex

Campbell County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences

Kate Vaught Thompson Campbell County Extension Agent for

Family and Consumer Sciences

The Cooperative Extension Service prohibits discrimination in its programs and employment on the basis of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability or national origin. To file a complaint of discrimination, contact Tim West, UK College of Agriculture, 859-257-3879; Terry Allen or Martha Alexander, UK Office of Institutional Equity and Equal Opportunity, 859-257-8927; or the USDA, Director Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W Whitten Bldg., 14th & Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410, 202-720-5964.

Fun Summer Family Activity Submitted by: Sally Mineer, Extension Specialist for Professional Development and Katherine Jury,

Extension Associate for Substance Use Prevention and Recovery

E njoy the summer with your

family through the fun of water

at home. Many families may not be

traveling or have their own pool, but

that does not mean you cannot enjoy

the refreshing splash of water.

Kids of all ages enjoy water balloons.

You can use them for tossing and

catching games that improve

children’s hand-eye coordination.

Family members can toss balloons

back and forth to one another, or one

member can toss while the other tries

to catch the balloon in a laundry

basket held above their head.

Increase the difficulty of these

activities for older kids, by giving

them perimeters to stand in with Hula

Hoops or lines not to cross while

tossing. Adjust the game for the age

of your family.

If you can afford, water soaker toys

can be fun for everyone and help cool

you off.

Young children and toddlers may

enjoy an outdoor water table

experience. You can create this at

home by looking in the kitchen for

small plastic containers and a small

bucket, tub, or shallow tote. Younger

kids love filling and dumping water

from one space into another.

Bubbles are also a fun activity for

many ages! While you can buy them,

we’ve included a recipe for making

your own below. For additional fun

and experimentation, look around the

house for items to use instead of a

traditional bubble wand. You may

find that a slotted spoon, Wiffle ball,

or pipe cleaner bent into an

interesting shape makes big bubbles

as well!

Supply list: Water balloons

Laundry basket

Hula Hoops

Water soaker

Water table

Empty bucket, tub, or shallow tote

Empty plastic containers

Measuring cups, spoons

Plastic cups

Bubble Recipe: Ingredients:

1/4 cup liquid dish soap

1 teaspoon sugar

1 cup warm water

Instructions

Mix together liquid dish soap and

sugar in a container.

Pour in warm water.

Mix until the soap and sugar have

dissolved.

Blow bubbles!

Bubble and Water Play

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