Kristen M. WilsonExtension Horse Specialist

Examine how youth have evolved: Family structure now and then What technology has done to today’s youth Behavioral changes

Look at a prospective to developing youth programs

Divorce was very uncommon, just 50 years ago it was less than 15% of married couples divorced.

Men were considered the “breadwinners”, and women were to run the household and raise the children. Think of the movie Mary Poppins, what role did women have and children have? The setting is 1910. How are children raised?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDbOK_fDu9Y

67% of children today live with both parents.

Children living in mother-only families is 24%.

Children living in father-only families is 5%.

Living without either parent (with other relatives or with nonrelatives) is 5%.

There are federal reforms to encourage two parent married homes for children. Why do you think the government is worried about single family homes?

Economic suffering- With only one parent money is tighter, thus sometimes leading to deprivation of computers, clothes, the ability to go to good schools because of living in poor neighborhoods and so forth. Research showing that children do better at school and exhibit fewer behavioral problems when nonresident fathers or mothers pay child support.

Quality of Parenting- quality of parenting is one of the best predictors of children's emotional and social well-being. Many single parents, however, find it difficult to function effectively as parents. Compared with continuously married parents, they are less emotionally supportive of their children, have fewer rules, dispense harsher discipline, are more inconsistent in dispensing discipline, provide less supervision, and engage in more conflict with their children.

Outcomes including poor academic achievement, emotional problems, conduct problems, low self-esteem, and problems forming and maintaining social relationships. Other studies show that depression among custodial mothers, which usually detracts from effective parenting, is related to poor adjustment among offspring.

Exposure to “Stress”- Children living with single parents are exposed to more stressful experiences and circumstances than are children living with continuously married parents. Economic hardship, unskilled parenting, and loss of contact with a parent can be stressful for children.

Forget the paper, pencils, and books… Internet Social networkng

Facebook, Myspace, Twitter Skype Blogging Cell phones Laptops I-Pads and I-Pods

57% of teens view their cell phone as the key to their social life

6 in 10 youth credit cell phones to improving their lives

4 out of 5 teens (17 million) carry wireless devices (40% increase since 2004)

Equal time is spent texting as talking on the phone

CTIA and Harris Interactive, July 2008

“Nintendo Society” Childhood obesity has more

than tripled in the past 30 years.

Obesity among children aged 6 to 11 years increased from 6.5% in 1980 to 19.6% in 2008.

Obesity among adolescents aged 12 to 19 years increased from 5.0% to 18.1%.

Approximately 30% of youth eat some type of fast food item daily

Eating dinner as a family is rare instead of the norm

Always on the go Overscheduled children resulting in one

activity after another

Want information quick Get bored easily & need a change in

experience ADD & ADHD

Changes in overall: Responsibility for actions Respect for themselves and others Communication skills

WHAT ELSE??

Addresses current issues Science, obesity, workforce readiness,

fitness…

Educational advantage What can you provide that others cannot?

Cost Need to get the most for their money spent

Scientists, practitioners, and educators agree:

Youth are resources to be developed; they are not problems to be managed.

This vision replaces the traditional deficit model of children and adolescents which is a model of disease and prevention. In the deficit view, people see children as broken or as destined to be broken and feel that they need to fix them or prevent these problems from occurring.

Prevention is not promotion

Problem free is not prepared

Prepared is not engaged

All children have strengths

All families, school, and communities have assets –or the “nutrients” or “building blocks” of healthy, positive development

Aligning – creating a good fit – between child strengths and ecological assets will promote positive youth development

“THE FIVE Cs” Competence Confidence Connection Character Caring

Contribution

Positive Youth Development Positive Youth Development Happens in ContextHappens in Context

PYD

Caring

Character

Connection

Confidence

Competence

INDIVIDUAL

FAMILY

COMMUNITY

ReducedRisk behaviors

Contribution

SCHOOL

One Community One Community Asset for the Asset for the Promotion of Promotion of

Positive Positive Development:Development:

Effective Youth Serving Programs

Positive, sustained adult-youth relationships

Skill-building activities for youth Youth participation and leadership in

every facet of the program

Lerner, R.M. (2004). Liberty: Thriving and civic engagement among America’s youth.

“Time spent in youth programs was the developmental asset that

appeared to have the most pervasive positive influence…predicting…thriving outcomes…Good youth

programs provide young people with access to caring adults and

responsible peers, as well as skill-building activities that can reinforce

the values and skills that are associated with doing well in school

and maintaining good physical health.”

Note: This conclusion comes from a study of about 100,000 diverse youth in grades 6-12 from across the United States. (Scales, Benson, Leffert, and Blyth, Applied Developmental Science, 2000)

Obesity Fitness Mentoring Programs STEM

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math

WHAT ELSE??

Recent initiative to get kids active and outside through hands-on learning experiences

You Tube Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRR1feHqZPY

Demographics of audience

Ages and Stages

Learning Styles

Types of Instruction used

Kristen M. Wilsonkswilson@umd.edu

301-596-9478