Youth Friendly Communities Keep youth stimulated Keep youth engaged Keep youth in communities
Youth Development in Ontario What is Youth? What is Youth Development?
Five Competencies for Youth Physical Social Emotional Intellectual Ethical
Growth of YD in Ontario Youth Programming Youth Staffing Youth Engagement Youth Training
Specialized Initiatives Provincial Consortium on Youth in Recreation MBA Symposium SPRYNT Intentional Youth Development
Specialized Initiatives Play Works Do It Yourself Youth Friendly Communities
What are the Developmental Needs of Youth? Positive interactions with peers/adults Meaningful participation Mastery and achievement
What are the Developmental Needs of Youth? Creation expression Self-definition Physical activity Structure and clear limits
Principles of Healthy Child Development* Caring adult Friends Participation Mastery Play * HIGH FIVE A Quality Standard of Parks and Recreation Ontario
Differences in Child Friendly and Youth Friendly Approaches Caring Adult vs. Positive Interactions w Adults Friends vs. Positive Interactions w Peers Participation vs. Meaningful Participation Mastery vs. Mastery and Achievement
Differences in Child Friendly and Youth Friendly Approaches Play Vs Creative Expression, Self-definition, and Physical Activity New Area: Structure and Clear Limits
What’s different? Adolescence… the transition from childhood to adulthood childhood pre-adolescence adolescence adulthood -most critical brain development -language -socialization -attachment -learning -2 nd critical period -identity -life-long habits/values -inquiry and exploration - specialization - complex social roles - generativity
Programming implications Child Participant Broader range of interests Seeks adult approval Play as central Adult as leader Youth Engagement Special interests Seeks peer acceptance and adult recognition Need for growth and learning through play Adult as ally, mentor, facilitator, etc.
Youth Friendly Communities – Good Practices YAA-MAN (Youth Alliance of Manitoulin) Mandate re: tobacco use prevention; youth teams Questioned existing rules/norms Youth-led initiative Supported all 7 developmental needs Chatham-Kent Skatepark “no expertise” required Youth council structure responsive to community needs Opportunities for learning throughout Youth-led Supported most of the developmental needs
Do It Yourself A Demonstration Project Over 200 Applicants 22 Funded Projects 20 Successful Projects
Do It Yourself Djembe Club – Fort Frances LYNX – Smooth Rock Falls NSL – London Art Show – Peterborough Teen Scene Action Group - Ottawa
Who We Are…. Marion Price, CAE Parks and Recreation Ontario / Play Works Ian Edward Toronto Kiwanis Boys and Girls Clubs x 22 Yvette Munro York University