Do you wonder at what age children learn to do different things? Are you curious what it takes to be able to care for young children? This project will help you explore the world of child development by learning how kids develop and discovering how to create safe spaces for children to learn and grow.
Show Your Skills
- Create a children’s game or puzzle, then share results
- Showcase a book you have written, illustrated, and shared with children
- Demonstrate the development of a fun and safe home-alone plan
Service and Leadership
- Collect puzzles, games, books, and toys for a local child care center or children’s hospital
- Assess the safety of community playground areas based on Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) guides
- Volunteer to babysit the children of friends or family
- Lead an activity at a Cloverbud meeting
Entrepreneurship
- Team up with local schools to provide babysitting services during parent only meetings, PTO meetings, Parent-Teacher Conferences
- Write a children’s book to share at a Cloverbud meeting or read at the local library
- Make baby blankets, toys or clothes to sell
Technology Connection
- Online platforms connecting potential child care providers and families
- Start a favorite activity blog highlighting appropriate activities for different age groups
- Research careers in Child Development
Connecting with a Mentor
- Teachers, aides, and staff from local schools to learn about careers including education and youth
- Local hospitals and pediatricians to learn about careers that involve medicine and children
- Local day care providers, after-school program workers, and library staff - careers that engage youth at different age levels
Events
- County and state fair exhibit classes
- 4-H project workshops
- Enroll in a first aid training for children and babysitting training course through American Red Cross
- Classes through local libraries and community centers related to child care
Project Manuals & Exhibit Requirements
- Child Development Level A: Building a Bright Beginning
- Child Development Level B: Building Blocks of Learning
- Child Development Level C: Building a Strong Foundation
- Child Development Level D: Building Relationships
Purchase manuals on the Shop Illinois 4-H Store.
If the above manuals are not available, the following resources can be used instead (or can supplement your learning):
- Youth Babysitting Guide (4-H Military Partnership)
- ABCs of Growing Healthy Kids (Better Kid Care)
- Illinois Early Learning Project
View exhibit requirements and scoresheets on the Illinois State Fair page.
Judy Schmidt, University of Illinois Extension, 4-H Youth Development Educator
Adapted with permission from North Dakota University Extension, 2017, 4-H Project Sheet.
Adapted with permission from University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Science Extension, 2014, 4-H Project Sheet.