Tuesday, April 19, 2011

The Ohio Association of Family and Consumer Sciences 2011 Annual Meeting


Three Child & Family Studies seniors presented their research at the OAFCS Annual Meeting in Toledo, Ohio, April 1-2, 2011.  The conference focused on current research, analyses and practices that address the issues concerning linking cultures as a means to enriching lives.  As a profession, FCS focuses on practices that promote cultural competence within families and communities; behaviors that enable a person/program to work effectively cross-culturally; and ways to improve understanding, appreciation, attitude and respect for different cultures.  Adjunct FCS Professor Eileen Ptacek co-chaired the event.
Dr. Cindy Moseman, Katie Mock, Sarah Ebinger, Abbey Latham, Dr. Deborah Sullivan
with Sarah Ebinger's poster at the OAFCS annual meeting
Undergraduate Research Symposium at The Ohio Statehouse Atrium
Posters from 25 institutions on display at the Ohio Statehouse

On February 16, 2011, two Family & Consumer Sciences students presented their research at the First Annual Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges Undergraduate Research Symposium, held in the Ohio Statehouse Atrium.  This event exposed state legislators to the research opportunities that students have at private colleges and universities within Ohio state.  Twenty-five institutions were represented at the Symposium. 



Leah Allen and Dr. Wilkins
Leah Allen, a Child and Family Studies major, advised by Dr. Jacqueline Wilkins, Assistant Professor, Family & Consumer Sciences, presented "Collegiate Athletes' Perceptions of Parental Involvement and Sport Success." 





Abbey Latham and Dr. Cindy Moseman

Abbey Latham, also a Child and Family Studies major, advised by Dr. Cindy Moseman, Chairperson of the Family & Consumer Sciences Department, presented "The Influence of Attachment Style on Electronic Communication between College Students and their Parents."




Abbey and Leah observe Ohio state lawmakers in the chamber

Child and Family Studies Students Create Learning Centers


Recently, four FCS students developed and ran learning centers for an Ashland County School Readiness Initiative titled "Talk, Read, Play...Together!"  Child and Family Studies seniors Abbey Latham and Sarah Ebinger designed and built the Discovery Zone center for children from the infant stage through age four.  The Discovery Zone consisted of various containers (coffee cans, shoe boxes, peanut butter jars, etc.) and items to place in the containers (blocks, balls, beanbags, etc.), with different activities based on the ages of the children.  Infants were encouraged to shake the containers and listen to the sounds, and try to fit different objects into the containers. Toddlers could stack containers and match lids to containers, and preschoolers counted objects and sorted items by size and color. 

Abbey Latham interacts with children at the Kroc Center
Katie Mock and Marley McDonough, also seniors majoring in Child and Family Studies, developed the Water and Bubbles center.  They provided tubs, sponges, cups, funnels, basters and small fish nets and created age appropriate activites for infants, toddlers and preschoolers.  They also created a bubble solution recipe that parents could take home and use for home craft time.


Katie Mock at the working with children at the Water and Bubbles Center
More than 40 parents and their children attended the succesful event that was held at the Salvation Army Kroc Center in Ashland.  It was sponsored by the Family and Children First Council of Ashland County and United Way of Ashland County.