Category: Posts from Peers

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

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