Posted on No Comments on From Conference:The Science of Habit Formation: Strategies for Behavior Change in Extension Programs

From Conference:The Science of Habit Formation: Strategies for Behavior Change in Extension Programs

More from National ESP Conference…  I’ve been very excited about the sessions attended, conversations, and opportunities – good stuff, worth sharing (and hoping that next year we have more from our Lambda Chapter traveling together).

Yesterday, I attended a session about the University of Maryland Extension’s “Habit Shift Mindset” program. The program, offered to communities in Maryland, leverages emerging scientific research on habit formation to empower individuals to make lasting behavior changes. Habit formation, a growing area of research, shows that behaviors are deeply influenced by our environments and can become automatic through practice and repetition. But turning a behavior into a habit—and a habit into lasting change—requires intention and strategy.

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), a habit is more than a simple behavior; it’s a learned, ingrained pattern that transitions from effortful to effortless. The good news is that you can teach an old dog new tricks.  Neuroplasticity enables us to reshape our brain pathways, although returning to old habits remains easier if we aren’t consciously practicing our new ones. This highlights the importance of the “habit loop” — cue, craving, routine, reward. When a cue triggers a craving, it prompts a routine that ultimately brings a reward, reinforcing the habit over time.

Finding Your “Why” and Setting Goals
The Maryland team created The Habit Shift Mindset program to help individuals go beyond learning new information and transition it to behavior change, which we intend to do in Extension, but it isn’t easy. The curriculum helps participants to better understand that creating lasting habits starts with understanding your “why,” a powerful motivator that can keep you committed even when challenges arise. This idea, championed by thought leader Simon Sinek, encourages individuals to identify a purpose behind their behavior changes.

Overcoming Barriers and Shifting Mindsets
Habit formation often involves overcoming internal and external barriers. The Habit Shift Mindset program guides participants through identifying potential obstacles and developing solutions to reduce friction and discomfort, which are natural parts of the change process. Additionally, reframing narratives with positive language is essential; a negative mindset can sabotage goals and trigger procrastination due to feelings of threat or discomfort. Visual strategies like vision boards and written goals can help make these changes feel more achievable, reducing the “psychological distance” to long-term objectives.  So for example, if an Extension educator was delivering programming about family financial management and the participant was interested in saving money to buy a home for their family, a good educational strategy to help the participant go from learning what to do would be to vision board about homes, or ways that they could cut their spending.

Practical Application and Empowerment
The Habit Shift Mindset program also includes a workbook where participants apply each principle directly, promoting a sense of empowerment and accountability. Retrospective evaluations provide participants with insights into their growth and reinforce confidence in their ability to sustain new habits. Through strategies grounded in behavioral science, the University of Maryland Extension Habit Mindshift program equips participants to create meaningful, lasting changes.

These strategies felt very “right on” for Extension staff — they could be applied to any lesson planning with the intention of helping our participants not just learn about something – but start the process of setting intentions and changing behaviors.  By understanding the science of habit formation, setting clear goals, identifying barriers, and fostering a positive mindset, participants gain valuable tools to shift their behaviors and improve their lives.

Resources can be found here: https://extension.umd.edu/programs/family-consumer-sciences/nutrition-and-health/habit-shift-mindset/agnr.umd.edu/agnr.umd.edu/extension.umd.edu/programs/family-consumer-sciences/nutrition-and-health/habit-shift-mindset

Posted on No Comments on From Conference: Learning through Play: Kentucky’s Creative Approach to Kindergarten Readiness

From Conference: Learning through Play: Kentucky’s Creative Approach to Kindergarten Readiness

While at the National ESP Conference this week I attended a session about a University of Kentucky Extension program that features “learning through play”.  Well, they had me at “play”…not only do I love to play and create, but the concept of play and practice helping us (any of us) to be more ready is the foundation of my dissertation work.  This particular program, though, is very nicely meeting a need identified by their state and acted on by Extension – a great example of what Extension can do.

UK Extension has launched an innovative “Learning through Play” initiative to address kindergarten readiness by focusing on accessible, family-centered learning. The program targets various aspects of early childhood readiness by providing resources and experiences that support healthcare, professional development, childcare, family enrichment, and reading readiness. By creating a well-rounded support network, the program aims to foster stronger, more resilient communities.

The initiative, supported by state funding, brings together a coalition of local councils, collaboratives, and Kentucky’s Office of Early Childhood to create a structured plan called “Ready Families, Ready Communities, Ready Schools.” This statewide framework provides a comprehensive approach to early childhood development, incorporating family engagement, educational resources, and community involvement.

Ready Families and Communities: Virtual Learning and Career Awareness
Since 2021, Kentucky has assessed kindergarten readiness through targeted interventions, with updated evaluations conducted in 2023. Recognizing the importance of accessible learning, Extension introduced virtual learning sessions for daycare centers and parents, supporting learning extension at home. One standout feature of the program is a 12-night series of virtual bedtime stories. Each night, a different community leader — such as a police officer, librarian, or principal — reads a story focusing on career readiness, giving children a sense of the diverse roles within their communities. These sessions also introduce “code words” related to the stories, which families can collect and submit to receive a free set of 12 books. This engaging activity encourages both literacy and family bonding, laying a foundation for educational enthusiasm.

Monthly “Laugh and Learn” Events
“Laugh and Learn” sessions, held locally for families, offer monthly gatherings that provide snacks, stories, and activities to build large motor skills. These sessions provide hands-on, interactive experiences for families and young children to connect, play, and learn together. The program’s unique approach blends physical activity with learning, reinforcing skills essential for school readiness.

Resource Packs for Learning at Home
Families also receive thoughtfully curated resource packets filled with tools that support creative play and development. These packets include items like pocket dice, markers, mini whiteboards, stickers, and other little tangibles chosen to develop gross motor skills. The materials encourage ongoing engagement at home and ensure that families have access to simple and exemplary learning resources.

Through these multi-faceted approaches, Kentucky’s “Learning through Play” initiative is building a solid foundation for early learning. By bridging the gap between families and essential resources, Kentucky Extension sets a powerful example of how communities can come together to support their youngest learners.

This program was designed for use by Family Consumer Science educators, but our workshop attendees also discussed collaborating with 4-H staff and volunteers.

See more details about the success of this program here: https://kers.ca.uky.edu/core/reports/Story/s/11703/2022

Posted on No Comments on Planning for Mayhem – Decluttering, Inventories, Insurance, and Safety Walk-throughs

Planning for Mayhem – Decluttering, Inventories, Insurance, and Safety Walk-throughs

I was reminded earlier this year of the value of a good safety walkthrough to keep things running smoothly.  A fellow executive director had experienced a flooding incident at their Association, and it was all hands on deck to rescue valuable supplies and materials.  Yikes! That’s all too near a threat for my association with our proximity to a large river. What tools and techniques can help prepare an association to manage emergencies and help prevent mayhem? 

Declutter Your Space

How many of us hold on to old stuff we no longer want or need?  When working with a team, getting rid of stuff can be even more challenging because no person ‘owns’ the materials. Unused items can marinate in a back room for decades.

Too much clutter adds to the challenges of safe emergency access and the ability to identify necessary repairs.  Decluttering is a process, and adding many people into the mix can make it easier (more hands!) and more challenging (more opinions!). Jackie Spencer’s upcoming webinar on Decluttering in January will be a great time to learn more about decluttering and renew your enthusiasm to finally tackle your program’s scary old boxes!

Inventory and Insure

An up-to-date inventory of your Association’s assets can be beneficial in an emergency. If your buildings or materials are damaged, you’ll want to know what has been impacted. You’ll also need to understand what is most critical to rescue/replace to get things up and running again. Relying on memory when you and your team are stressed can add more worry to your woes.

An up-to-date inventory of your association’s assets is helpful. In my association, we recently updated ours. We had a big decluttering day and removed all unwanted furniture and materials, donating and recycling whenever possible. Then, we used a spreadsheet to identify items and collections of materials and assigned estimated value and importance to maintaining operations. We are also updating our key cupboard to ensure everything is labeled accurately.  Both of these tools will help ensure that in an emergency, emergency personnel can access all areas quickly, and we will know what’s been impacted.

During a safety walk-through, I took 360-degree photos of each room, labeled pictures with the room and date, and backed them up on our server. If we file an insurance claim, this gives us helpful information about the area’s prior condition.  Finally, I reviewed our Association’s coverage with our risk management insurer to ensure everything was current and we had sufficient coverage. We can now easily maintain this inventory with an annual review, and it’s a great relief to know that we’re better prepared for an emergency.

Safety Walk-through

I use a regular annual safety walk-through to help manage risks at our Association. I schedule these in advance using my Outlook calendar and include our Association office manager as a second set of eyes. Using a locally modified version of the Stanford standardized safety walk-through form, we methodically go through each room for which we are responsible.

Here are a few tips I’ve learned to help you make the most of your safety walk-through.

  • At staff meetings, regularly share expectations for safety and office appearance. Let your team members know the WHY behind any changes in expectations. Don’t let problems fester—if something is out of compliance, address it quickly.
  • Prepare your teammates for the safety walk-through.  Let them know the dates and times it will happen, and share a copy of any forms you will be using.
  • On the day of the walkthrough, print out any forms you will be using and use a clipboard to take notes. Take measuring tape to ensure walkways and ceiling clearances conform to safety guidelines, and bring pens and Post-its to leave reminders if needed. Two sets of eyes are helpful to ensure you’re really seeing all the issues.
  • Be methodical – go one room at a time.  Take notes about what you see and any to-do items.
  • Open closets and sheds, and crawl under desks to check extension cords. Problems like to linger in dark corners! If replacement items are needed, these are added to the program wishlist.
  • When you find a simple problem that can be easily fixed (like extension cords not being plugged into extension cords or a reminder to close file cabinet doors), fix it immediately. There’s no time like the present to improve office safety.
  • Identify clutter that needs to be addressed,  any necessary repairs, and longer-term hazards. Note any ongoing issues and who is responsible for fixing them.
  • Take photos (part of inventory)
  • Once your walk-through is complete, follow up on any notes and to-do items, file your forms, and schedule your next walk-through. Review last year’s form before doing the next safety walk-through to see if you forgot to address anything.
  • Share findings with your team.  It’s helpful to let folks know what’s going well and where your group struggles.  Maybe someone has a suggestion for an improvement!

I hope sharing what I’ve learned about helping my Association prepare for mayhem is helpful to you.  May your basements be dry and your tripping hazards few!

Posted on No Comments on The Struggle is Real! Join us for a workshop on January 14 at 11:30am – Declutter Your Workspace Webinar with ESP

The Struggle is Real! Join us for a workshop on January 14 at 11:30am – Declutter Your Workspace Webinar with ESP

Join ESP Lambda Chapter to learn ways to “Declutter Your Workspace” and regain a sense of control over your work environment facilitated by ESP Member Jackie Spencer, Community & Economic Vitality Resource Educator from CCE Chemung on Tuesday, January 14th at 11:30 am.

Please register in advance for this meeting: https://cornell.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwkc-uqqD4pHd08qzJsRhufeEsiJ7LWlltl

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.