I like puzzles! Jigsaw puzzles, brain teasers, crossword, and sudoku! I know you’re thinking “Thanks for sharing and so what?” Let me share a little of my experience with puzzles and how it ties to youth development.
One of my favorite time-occupying activities is to play sudoku on my phone. When I first started, I generally only played the easy games. I tried the harder ones a time or two and didn’t get it the first time so gave up.
As I’ve continued to play, however, I tried a couple of challenges and figured out some ways to help me be more successful. In addition, I realized that if I lose, it wasn’t a big deal and I just move on to the next one! As my experience increased, so did my confidence and skill level.
We often expect young people to know how to behave and handle themselves in a variety of settings where they have no or limited experience. 4-H provides opportunities for youth to begin learning at a basic level and gradually increase their responsibility and involvement in a project or activity. Many 4-H members start out with club roles of song leader or recreation leader and by serving on committees. A 9 year old just isn’t ready to be the club president but give that 9 year old a few years of learning and exposure to more complicated roles and at 15 or 16, they are ready to set the example for younger members!
In the same manner, providing our young people with small decisions allows them to build experience and confidence in their resources and skills when they need to begin making crucial decisions. We were fortunate to be able to fly with our kids a couple of times when they were young. They were handed our tickets and told to figure out our next gate and how to get there; of course, we were available as resources. As their confidence grew in their environment, they had more latitude to coordinate our travel. Would it have been easier if I had just done it? Sure! But I wouldn’t have raised two world travelers who were able to handle themselves when flights got rearranged and they – as high school students – found themselves flying into a foreign country and navigating the customs process by themselves.
Youth can start at a very early age to make decisions and learn about their resources.
Have them help you make a grocery list and then give them the list for shopping. Yes, you will be with them as a resource but they are learning about planning and budgeting as well as nutritional content. Do you have a garden space and a kiddo who is interested in how things grow? Provide them with resources and work through the planning process with them. One of our 4-H members works with her grandpa each year on their garden and her horticulture project. She is learning incredible things from a knowledgeable resource and is taking a larger role each year in the planning.
Starting with small puzzles helps all of us understand our resources, build knowledge, and increase our confidence in the decisions that we make!
Keep learning. Keep showing grace and kindness!
Michelle Beran is the 4-H and Youth Development Agent for the Cottonwood District, Barton County office. For more information on this article or other 4-H Youth and Development related questions email Michelle at mberan@ksu.edu or call 620-793-1910.
