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Families 101 Engaging multiage audiences Kathleen Olson, Family Relations, [email protected] Andrea Lorek Strauss, Environmental Science Education, [email protected] Nate Meyer, Environmental Science Education, [email protected]

Families 101: Engaging Multi-Aged Audiences

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Your program serves families, but does it really? Are your programs aimed at children while the parents mostly watch – orvice versa? What if your program could truly engage family members of all ages in learning together? This program highlights what the research tells us about the characteristics of strong families, family leisure behavior, and family learning in nonformal settings and provide strategies for strengthening your approach to whole family learning.

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Page 1: Families 101: Engaging Multi-Aged Audiences

Families 101Engaging multi‐age audiences

Kathleen Olson, Family Relations, [email protected] Lorek Strauss, Environmental Science Education, [email protected]

Nate Meyer, Environmental Science Education, [email protected]

Page 2: Families 101: Engaging Multi-Aged Audiences

The role of Extension

Page 3: Families 101: Engaging Multi-Aged Audiences

Collaborating across fields

Page 4: Families 101: Engaging Multi-Aged Audiences

Building nature‐engaged families

[phil_h], Flickr.com

Page 5: Families 101: Engaging Multi-Aged Audiences

What is a family?

Mance, Flickr.com

Page 6: Families 101: Engaging Multi-Aged Audiences

Bronfenbrenner’s ecological model

FAMILY

CHILD

SCHOOL

WORK

MEDIA

PEERS

NEIGHBORS

IDEOLOGY, LAWS, CUSTOMS

Microsystem

Mesosystem

Exosystem

Macrosystems

ChronosystemChanges in persons or environments over time

Page 7: Families 101: Engaging Multi-Aged Audiences

Characteristics of strong families

• Appreciation

• Democratic Decision‐Making

• Flexibility

• Communication

• Shared Values

• Quality Time Together

• Connections with Others

Page 8: Families 101: Engaging Multi-Aged Audiences

Family Leisure   Strong Families

• Co‐participation in leisure activities is positively related to family satisfaction, family interaction, and family stability.(Orthner & Mancini 1990, Freeman & Zabriskie 2002, West & Merriam, 2009) 

• Through leisure activities, families establish meaningful traditions and routines, which facilitates the transmission of values. (Friesen 1990)

Page 9: Families 101: Engaging Multi-Aged Audiences

Adventure Model

-Ewert & Hollenhorst

CompetenceR

isk

Skill & Experience

Frequency of Participation

Ris

k Pe

rcep

tion

Leve

l of S

truc

ture

Kin

d of

env

ironm

ent

PARENT

TEEN

TODDLER

PARENT

Page 10: Families 101: Engaging Multi-Aged Audiences

Leisure is challenging

• Families have gatekeepers. Mothers actively screen or qualify the program opportunity before allowing the child to become involved in the final stage of the purchase decision. (Howard & Madrigal 1990) 

• Leisure is more difficult for Moms. Mothers have a harder time enjoying family leisure, while fathers may find it easier to use this time for diversion and self‐expression. (Larson, Gillman & Richards 1997)

• Reasons to participate vary. Parents may perceive museums as places to learn and spend quality time with children . (Dierking, Luke, Foat,  Adelman 2001)

Page 11: Families 101: Engaging Multi-Aged Audiences

Cohesion is fostered when all family members are getting needs met.

‐ Iso‐Ahola 1980

Page 12: Families 101: Engaging Multi-Aged Audiences

Families become stronger when there is a dynamic equilibrium

Page 13: Families 101: Engaging Multi-Aged Audiences

Home is where it is…

Home and Community

53%

School14%

Sleep33%

-National Research CouncilHow People Learn

Family

Page 14: Families 101: Engaging Multi-Aged Audiences

Family involvement:

• Many programs lack a family involvement component.

• Programs face challenges in involving families.

• Programs use a variety of strategies to involve families.

• Family involvement in programs leads to family involvement in schooling.

• Family involvement adds value to programs.

Page 15: Families 101: Engaging Multi-Aged Audiences

Effectiveness of family involvement depends on:

• Levels of family participation in programs.

• Programs’ success in communicating and building relationships.

• Improvement in families’ engagement with program. 

• Value added to programs by engaging families.

Page 16: Families 101: Engaging Multi-Aged Audiences

Reaching disengaged families

“The difference between parents who participate and those who do not is that those who do have recognized that they are a critical part in their children’s education.”

(Delgado‐Gaitan,1991)

Page 17: Families 101: Engaging Multi-Aged Audiences

Designing for families

• Families don’t follow lesson plans

• Design services for whole families

• Provide opportunities for families to “break away” from main activity flow

• Support adults/youth in mentoring each other

• Design opportunities to facilitate social/physical interactions

• Let adults know about resources and ideas for continuing learning at home

Page 18: Families 101: Engaging Multi-Aged Audiences

Self Assessment: Engaging Families

• Consider the ways in which you engage families.

• How can you be more effective in the future?

• Describe 5 action steps to reach out and support families.

Page 19: Families 101: Engaging Multi-Aged Audiences

Thank you!Kathleen Olson, Family Relations, [email protected]

Andrea Lorek Strauss, Environmental Science Education, [email protected] Meyer, Environmental Science Education, [email protected]