Cooperative Extension Service

Most families want to be involved in meaningful activities with their children but they often just don’t know where to start.

4-H wants to help families learn and work well together.

4-H projects encourage families to:

• Involve many members of the family to help their 4-H’er with project work
  
  
• Use the home as a center for learning
  
  
• Use family activities as 4-H project learning opportunties
  
  
• Use the club and community as learning resources
  
  
• Experienced 4-H families are a key to encouraging family involvement in 4-H.

Why Should Parents Participate in 4-H?

Parent participation in 4-H results in the following benefits:

• 4-H is a family affair, offering many opportunities where both child and parent participate with common interest, strengthening family ties.
• Active parent participation can strengthen and broaden the 4-H program in any local club or in any county.
• When parental support is positive, the club is likely to become stronger, larger, and more active.
• In clubs where parental support is evident, individual members receive more personal attention and guidance from leaders and parents.
• Club activities and events will develop and expand with the additional support of parents.
• 4-H can have a positive influence on the lives of thousands of boys and girls. This happens only when parents care enough to share their time, efforts, and talents.