814-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, July 1, 2000
Tammy, Brian
Hardworking Koontz Family
Has Many Projects
LINDA WILLIAMS
Bedford Co. Correspondent
BEDFORD (Bedford Co.)
Brian docs the field work.
Tammy raises flowers, vege
tables, and strawberries. Togeth
er they milk 60 or more Hol
steins. The Koontz family takes
every advantage of utilizing the
200 acres they farm.
The Koontz’ three children,
Brian, 11; Brad, 10; and Katie, 8;'
are just as busy helping mom
and dad with all the chores and
taking care of their 4-H projects.
This year, for the first time,
they will be participating in the
Bedford County Fair with their
Allegheny Foothills 4-H projects
Dealing With Kids
‘Home Alone’
Karen Bracey
Wyoming County
Family Living/4-H Agent
Developing Rules Of The
House
Rules play an important role
for children on their own because
the rules help anticipate prob
lems and arrange for solutions in
advance. Rules reflect parent(s)’
expectations and define bounda
ries for safety. If children under
stand the reasons for the rules,
they are more likely to follow
them.
Guidelines Fur Establishing
Effective Rules
• Try to have the child partici
pate in creating the rules.
• State rules clearly, specifical
ly, and in a positive manner. For
example: “The breakfast dishes
should be done and the table set
for dinner by 5 p.m.”
• If the rule involves a task,
make it a necessary one and ap
propriate for the child. It may be
unreasonable for a nine-year-old
to prepare dinner but appropri
ate for him or her to set the table.
• Build in an enforceable con
sequence with the rule. For ex
ample: After your math home
work is done, you may watch
television for a half hour. When
parents are not present to en
force the rules, enforcement
should begin shortly after par
ents arrive home. Remember to
check and enforce rules consis
tently.
• Remember that mistakes can
happen. Firmness, patience, and
flexibility will help you and the
child.
Some topics where rules might
r., Katie, and Brad sort strawberries to fill orders.
i
of sheep and goats. Their 4-H
leader, Michelle Anderson,
DVM, has jokingly told them
they have the most misbehaved
goats she ever saw. The 4-kids
are as lively as their three own
ers.
Brad likes the milking and
proudly says he is the best helper
mom and dad have. Brian Jr.
prefers the machinery, and Katie
lends a hand where she can but
especially likes the flowers.
Two years ago, Brian encour
aged Tammy’s horticulture tal
ents by building her a green
house. When he saw that project
take off, he built her the second
one.
help are homework, chores, play
privileges, care for siblings, snack
preparation, and television
watching. What are others for
your family?
Personal safety skills will help
children protect themselves as
well as reduce fears when they’re
on their own. Teach them this in
formation gradually rather than
all at once. Too much informa
tion at one time is difficult to re
member.
Present your children with a
number of situations and have
them act out their responses.
Simply telling them the informa
tion is rarely effective. It is quick
ly forgotten.
The telephone is the lifeline
between parent and child. If your
work situation permits, have
your child call when he or she ar
rives from school.
A call from parents once or
twice daily can provide a feeling
of security. A list of emergency
numbers should be posted by the
phone and children should be
taught how to use them and
what to say. Remember, it’s a
good idea to practice making
these calls.
The phone can also provide a
child with companionship. Some
children on their own will hold
long conversations daily with
friends who are also on their own
at home. If this is a matter of
concern to you because you can
not get through when you try to
reach your child, establishing
some rules will help.
One way is to set a maximum
time per call for example, 10
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--Shiusa
Safety Skills
The Telephone
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, L i v'-
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The first was 22x96-feet. The
new greenhouse is 22X48-feet. If
everything continues in an up
ward direction, they may add a
third next year.
“We don’t use new parts if we
don’t have to,” Tammy ex
plained. “We’ve attended auc
tions and become very innovative
with our heating and watering
systems.”
Her flowers bloom so profuse
ly, it didn’t take long for word
of-mouth advertising to bring a
steady stream of customers
searching for bedding plants,
potted plants, and hanging bas
kets.
The walnut-sized strawberries
The 4-H leader told Katie, Brad, and Brian that they have the most misbehaved
goats she has ever seen.
minutes maximum with a
15-minute (minimum) interval
between calls. Have a kitchen
timer available near the phone
for this purpose. Or, make a rule
that the phone must be clear for
five minutes beginning every
quarter hour.
Another strategy is to establish
set times when the child cannot
be on the phone for example,
3:45 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. this en
ables you to contact the child
during that time.
A major concern of parents
with children on their own is to
keep outsiders from knowing
that there is no adult in the
home. In some families children
< **■> »
s * *
Katie and Tammy work in the greenhouse, which has
developed into a sunup to sundown business.
are sold before they are picked
and Tammy has trouble Ailing
all of the orders.
She has sold vegetables to local
restaurants but also has a good
business selling to those who
want to put fresh veggies on the
table or in jars.
Tammy’s plant work begins in
November when she plants the
seeds in the basement growing
room of the 1894 farmhouse,
which they are also busy remod
eling.
Each year Tammy’s inventory
of flowers increases and while
she basically plants annuals she
is experimenting with perennials.
Vinca, petunias, snap dragons,
are told not to answer the phone
at all unless the “special ring” or
“magic code” is used. A special
ring or a magic code is a certain
number or a combination of rings
that the child identifies and
knows that he or she can answer.
In some families, children on
their own answer all calls. Direc
tions like the following can be
given to the child and practiced.
• Answer the phone pleasant
ly. Do not give your name.
• Never tell a caller that you
are home alone.
• Tell the caller that your par
ent can’t come to the phone right
now.
• Take a message-name and
and shasta daisies, are a few of
the colorful species which cause
the greenhouse to look like a pic
ture post card.
Produce includes mostly toma
toes, peppers, and green beans.
Eventually, Tammy hopes to
expand into cut flowers.
“We’re just a busy farm fami
ly,” Tammy says. “We work
from sunup to sundown, but we
like it, and we keep trying.”
Tammy and Brian met while
they were both in 4-H. They
started with 17 cows and a rent
ed farm and feel they have made
excellent progress in less then 13
years although it means nonstop
work.
phone number of caller.
• If a message seems like it is
very important and cannot wait
until a parent comes home, call
the parent at work.
• Do not give anyone your
parent’s phone number at work.
• If the same person calls more
than once and you do not know
the person, call your parent or
contact person.
• If someone calls with a
prank call tries to play a joke,
teases, threatens to hurt you, or
scares you hang up immedi
ately and call your parent. Don’t
answer the phone or door until
parent or contact person gets
home.