Montana kids who participate in organized out-of-school
activities are better off in several ways than kids who aren't
involved in such activities, according to a Montana State
University study.
A research team led by Kirk Astroth of the MSU Extension Service
and George Haynes of the MSU Department of Health and Human
Development surveyed 2,500 Montana youth in fifth, seventh and
ninth grades from 21 randomly selected counties. They discovered
that youth who are involved in structured out-of-school
activities reported that they are less likely to get drunk,
shoplift or steal, purposely damage property for the fun of it,
use drugs to get high, smoke cigarettes, skip school without
permission, or engage in other at-risk behaviors.
"How kids spend their time outside of school can make a
substantial difference," says Haynes.
Though the difference for fifth-graders was minimal, the risks
grow steadily as students get older. Ninth grade students who do
not participate in any out-of-school activities reported that
they are:
twice as likely to smoke cigarettes
seven times more likely to have carried a gun to school
twice as likely to report that they have driven while drunk
nearly three times as likely to use drugs
twice as likely to have shoplifted
The researchers also found that young people who participate in
the 4-H youth development program for a year or more fared better
than their peers, including those participating in other
after-school activities. The survey showed that 4-H members:
are more likely to give money or time to charity
are more likely to help the poor, sick or others
get more A s in school than non-4 Hers
are more involved as leaders in school and community, and
are more likely to be looked up to as role models by other
kids.
Four-H youth also responded that they are more likely than their
peers to talk to their parents about serious issues like drugs,
alcohol and sex.
"4-H brought me closer to my grandfather," wrote one survey
respondent.
"I can cook so my mom won t have to all the time," wrote another.
The 4-H program is the largest youth development program in
Montana, says Astroth. Participants learn practical skills and
responsibility through hands-on projects such as photography,
woodworking, raising livestock, aerospace and cooking.
"This research shows that how kids spend their time out of school
is critical to their development," Astroth said. "Kids who aren t
involved in constructive out-of-school youth development programs
like 4-H are more likely to experience problems in school, get
lower grades, cheat on tests and experiment with drugs. After
all, a lot can happen in the out-of-school hours. Four-H makes
sure it s positive."
For more information about 4-H in Montana, contact your local
county Extension office; call the State 4-H Office at MSU: (406)
994-3501; or visit their Website: www.montana.edu/www4h
You can download the full report at www.montana.edu/www4h/4hsurvey.pdf. This file is one
megabyte in size and requires the free Adobe Acrobat Reader
software for viewing and a significant download time.
