The judging portion of the Child Development contest is designed to see how well 4‐H’ers have learned to make decisions that are appropriate for the age of the persons with whom they may be working. When we work with young children, adults or even older adults, we make choices constantly in the types of activities in which we involve them and even the foods we serve to them.

The contest is made up of four classes of items. Reasons will be required for one of these four classes. Each class contains four similar items -- numbered 1, 2, 3 and 4 -- and has an accompanying situation statement. The situation statement describes a parent/caregiver and gives the needs to be considered when he/she makes a decision to purchase or otherwise select the item or activity. Factors including these needs include the intellectual, physical and socioemotional level of the persons for whom the item or activity is intended.

Section I:     3 stations for non‐reasons classes 1 through 3         6 minutes each class

Section II:     1 station for 4th class with written reasons             15 minutes

1. Gives accurate comparison of each pair, top, middle, bottom.
2. Presents differences in an organized manner. Presents most important things first.
3. Uses the correct terminology for the family and child development discipline.
4. Where possible, uses positive approach to mention superior points of first choice in pair rather than weaknesses of second choice. Grants the lower‐placed choice an attribute whenever there is such an advantage.
5. After the three pairs are discussed, describes reasons for placing bottom choice last.

For each class, the contestant should read the situation statement, examine the four items and make a decision on the placing. The contestant should rank the items in order from best to worst choice.

Each class will have 4 choices.

There are 24 possible combinations for each class.

For example…

1234     2134     3124     4123

1243     2143     3142     4132

1324     2314     3214     4213

1342     2341     3241     4231

1423     2413     3412     4312

1432     2431     3421     4321

The contest superintendent determines the correct answers or ranking in each class of items prior to the contest. These rankings are called “placing,” and they become the basis for scoring. In addition to placing, the contest superintendent determines the cuts. Cuts indicate how close the superintendent feels the pairs were (the lower the cut, the closer the pair), so cuts determine the penalty a contestant receives when his or her placings do not agree with the official’s placings.

For example, if the placings determined by the superintendent are:

        4 ‐ 2 ‐ 1 ‐ 3

            1 6 4

Cuts

1 to 2 points for a close pair
3 to 5 points for a logical placing
6 + points for an obvious placing

Cuts may vary from one to eight for each pair of items within a class. The total for the three cuts may vary from three to 15. For instance, a cut of one indicates that the pair is almost the same. When you miss a  pair with a cut of one, you are penalized one point. When you miss a pair with a cut of six, you are penalized six points.

The individuals who have really learned the subject matter can apply age-appropriate items or activities. These individuals are separated from the lucky guessers when reasons are given. The purpose of giving reasons is to convince the judge that you saw and evaluated the class correctly. You will discuss top, middle and bottom pairs of the four placings of a class. Explain why you placed one time over another and the reasons why one item is better than another using comparative terms. Use a positive approach. Don’t talk about how one is worse than the other. In fact, there is a place on the judging form to write any good things about the item judged second best of the pair. That statement starts with “I grant that…”

The set of reasons is worth 50 points. Written reasons will be required for only 1 class.

Situation: You are babysitting for the children of neighbors. They have a 2‐year‐old and a 5‐year‐old. They are hungry for a snack. You can’t leave the house to go and buy snacks. The children are in your home. In your pantry you find peanut butter, a candy bar, doughnuts and oranges. You have to feed both children the same snacks or they will argue.

Class items:

1. Peanut butter
2. Candy bar
3. Doughnuts
4. Valencia oranges

Placing: 4 3 2 1

Suggested Materials to Study

Additional materials for study are available through your local Extension office. Included in the suggested materials is the Child Development and Family Life project book and various child development fact sheets.

Additional Notes:

Contestants should bring paper and pen to the educational experience to take notes. These notes will become important to the contest. Much of the educational program provides information that helps contestants to make better distinctions among choices within classes. Contestants will be given, by the superintendent, a blank 4”x6” notecard on which to transfer notes they determine relevant to the contest. They will be allowed to bring only that notecard into the contest.