The Ohio State Community and Adolescent Research (OSCAR) project targets students in 6th through 8th grades. OSCAR was conducted in middle schools in rural, suburban and inner city locations with participation range from 7 percent to 93 percent, depending on the school. The findings reported here focus on students from all eight middle schools - 2,105 young people. 

So how are young Ohio teens spending their time? Weekly, middle school students dedicate almost 4 hours on average to homework. That's less than one hour per day. In general, kids spend more time with family (over 6.5 hours per week). 

Typically, youths volunteer about an hour each week. However, 50 percent of students are not volunteering at all, whereas about 10 percent of the group is averaging more than 2.5 hours per week in volunteer work. 

Ohio boasts a strong 4-H membership and yet the study revealed that these students participate less than an hour a week in 4-H activities. Sixty-five percent of the sample surveyed spend no time in 4-H during the week. These findings seem to indicate that Ohio has the opportunity to provide more pro-social activities. 

Families have a big impact on kids and what they choose to do with their time. Over 50 percent of the students reported feeling very supported by their families, while less than 6 percent felt little or no support. Over 60 percent of the OSCAR youth shared they have very low levels of conflict in their home. In contrast, 11 percent experience family conflict almost always when family members are together. 

In general, families appear to be a very positive presence in the lives of adolescents. Efforts could be made to ensure this situation for all of Ohio's youth. 

Time spent in pro-social leisure activities and positive family relationships are just two factors that assist teens to become successful adults. Youth today face many changes and challenges, but most of today's young people do a remarkable job coping with these changes. 

by: Laurie L. Meschke, Human Development & Family Science, University of Minnesota

Editor's note: Laurie Meschke was an Ohio State University Extension specialist until earlier this year.

Children ages 3 to 11 tend to spend much less time these days in unstructured play. According to a University of Michigan study reported in the May 1999 issue of American Demographics, children today have 75 percent of their weekday time programmed. In 1981, only 60 percent of a typical kid's day was scheduled in some activity.

The Michigan study also revealed children spend more time in organized sports. The U.S. Youth Soccer Association had 810,800 registered players in 1981; today, the figure is 2.9 million.

Older children, teens ages 13 to 17, apparently spend less time in structured activities, according to a 1997 Gallup Youth Survey. Reported in the July 1998 American Demographics magazine, the survey asked teens how they spent time after school; 85 percent said they hang out with friends and another 76 percent said they watch television at home. Still, 64 percent said they play an organized sport; 43 percent work for someone other than a parent; 37 percent work for a parent; and 36 percent take music, dance, drama or art lessons.

by: Martha Filipic, Technical Editor, Ohio State University Extension

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Working less than 40 hours a week is becoming more common. Years ago, this choice meant a dead-end career, but that isn't the case in today's world. 

In a recent study conducted in the United States and Canada, about two-thirds of professionals and managers who worked less than full time in 45 different companies did not experience a stalled career. In addition, 35 percent of the study participants had been promoted while working less than full time. 

Participants had been with their current employer about 12 years and had been working a reduced work load for four to five years. Both women and men, parents and non-parents who worked less than full time felt greater control over their lives and more fulfillment in a variety of life roles. 

Success depended on  multiple factors:

• Strong performance record.
• Unique skill set in high demand.
• Flexibility in responding to work demands.
• Devoted to hard work and commitment.
• Organized, concentrated work style.
• Self-starter, takes initiative.
• Strong, clear personal values.
• Manages communications seamlessly.
• Supportive boss or supervisor and competent, supportive peers/subordinates.
• Organizational culture of employee-centered values.
• Widely publicized work/life policies.

The study also found: 

• Participants gained an average of 18 hours a week by working a reduced load.
• The participants' subordinates rated their effectiveness as 7.2 out of 9.
• Ninety percent did not plan to return to full-time work in the next three years.
• Ninety percent reported positive effects on their children, including better relationships with them and being able to spend more time with them.
• Ninety-one percent were happier and more satisfied with the balance between home and work.

by: Jan Thompson, Leader, Work/Life/Health Issues, Ohio State University Extension

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Here are some ideas to communicate better with your children:

• When the conversation starts with "Know what, Mom?" realize this is an invitation to pursue.
• Have eye contact and be physically close or actually touch your children when as you converse.
• Invite children to help you with activities, chores and errands. The more time you spend together, the better chance for conversation.
• When appropriate, express to your children some of the things going on in your life and request their opinions. Older children like to identify with "real life" situations and sometimes can relate it to an event taking place in their own life.
• Many times emotions are a part of the conversation. Help your children identify their emotions and why they feel that way. Don't disregard them with "don't worry about it," for that can compound the problem. They do have a problem and they need some help to work through the issue.

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Several students shared techniques for managing work, school and family:

• Cathy Skinner said, "Streamlining is a must. Don't over-extend on the elective, "volunteer" portions of your schedule. And, keep family first!" Weekends are catch-up time for housework and homework, which results in limited family time. She does ask her family to help out as much as possible.
• Nancy Baker said she could not make it without a supportive spouse to help with housework, meals and transportation of their kids. Nancy also said, "Keep communication open with your family members. Let your family know what to expect and what you expect from them." 
• Mary Rains enjoys walking down one flight of stairs to go from work to college, but she says she must be very organized and plan ahead. Keeping everything written in a day planner or calendar is a must.
• Evan Taylor tries to stay busy so a busy schedule seems normal. He does allow time on the weekends, though, to play golf and relieve a little stress. "I work 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday -Friday and at the phone company, it gets stressful. I just stay focused on one thing at a time and keep a positive attitude towards everything." 

by: Mary Longo, Ohio State University Extension, Marion County

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