MSU Extension

Many volunteers are experts in the field and may have years of experience and knowledge on the subjects of the clubs they oversee. Some do not. However, what they both have in common is they truly care for the wellbeing of the youth and they want youth to come away with a fulfilling experience. Building a strong youth to adult connection is a goal of 4-H. However, without building good relationships in the beginning and maintaining that, youth may shut down, act out or not receive that quality experience expected in 4-H programs.

Michigan State University Extension has the following ideas volunteers may try to incorporate or develop in their clubs to make a connection and build a positive relationship. These can be useful, especially if you are a new volunteer or have new participants in your club.

Learning style

Getting to know your youth or participants can be beneficial in many ways. Make an effort to learn their capabilities and learning style. What are they good at and what may they need work on? This assessment may take time, but even asking upfront what they think about learning or how they learn can build a greater understanding of themselves and respect from you. With this knowledge, you can guide your teaching and instruction efforts to meet those strengths and weaknesses.

Help youth recognize the weaknesses and feel comfortable getting out of their comfort zone to try something new. With this effort, youth can gain confidence by playing towards their strengths and overcoming their weaknesses. The key is knowing the talents and troubles each youth brings to the table and how they take in information.

Build trust and respect

Building a strong relationship incorporates gaining respect and trust, which allows you to handle any discipline issues more easily. A word choice our certain subject may hit a nerve in a youth, but if you know that beforehand, you can address it. If you have built a trusting and respectful relationship, this can be handled effectively. You may know what has triggered an outburst or how best to handle it if you have set those expectations upfront and have been consistent with them.

Setting the ground rules, expectations and a routine early can give structure and understanding to the situation and make the youth participants feel more comfortable to share feelings and concerns that could have led to discipline problems or lack of engagement. Keep referring back to those expectations, but be flexible enough to adjust them as the club develops.

Question

A questionnaire at the beginning of the club season can be a valuable tool. You can gain insight on the strengths and weaknesses and possible issues or concerns. Just asking some general information like years of experience on a topic can start it off. However, you may also ask about their likes and dislikes about learning, the style they learn best at or how they obtain information. Some youth may be too young to grasp this, so you may phrase the questions in another way.

A simple greeting

A greeting at the door may be a little thing, but it can mean a lot. In doing this before your meetings or instructional time, you can gage each youth and how they are feeling that day. You may ask how their game went last night, how the big science test went or how the new puppy is getting along.

If you can address these issues before you begin, you are able to relieve possible stress or anxiety, and you become aware of any issues beforehand that might affect their ability to learn. It also shows you care about them as a whole person, building your respect for them and that will be reciprocated. These small acts build that rapport with the youth and make it a safer and enjoyable environment where they can learn.

The whole person

You may ask what the youths’ interests or activities are outside of the club. Here is where you might find connections, understand any stress factors or understand any influences they may be bringing to class. Do they work, have pets or play sports? You can also ask what their goals are for this year and what they want to take away from the club experience. This may be their first time in 4-H, or they may be setting out to win a state award. It’s best to know upfront what their needs and desires are and then tailor your teaching efforts to match.

These are amazing kids, and when you let them learn in a safe and accepting environment, they will show that off. As an adult volunteer, building a relationship with the youth you serve can enhance that experience and make it so much more pleasurable and fulfilling.

Visit the MSU Extension website for more information on Michigan 4-H programs and club practices offered.