School-aged children in the U.S. and other Western nations spend almost half of their waking hours in leisure activities. For some, out-of-school time is perceived as inconsequential or even counterproductive to the health and well-being of young persons. Recently, however, there has been a growing recognition that--along with family, peers, and school--the organized activities in which some youth participate during these hours are important contexts of emotional, social, and civic development. They provide opportunities for young persons to learn and develop competencies that are largely neglected by schools. At the same time, communities and national governments are now channeling considerable resources into creating organized activities for young people's out-of-school time. This volume brings together a multidisciplinary, international group of experts to provide conceptual, empirical, and policy-relevant advances in research on children's and adolescents' participation in the developmental contexts represented by extracurricular activities, and after-school and community programs.

Organized Activities as Contexts of Development provides a handbook-like coverage of research in this new emerging field. It considers a broad developmental time-span from middle childhood through early adulthood, providing information on how motivation, participation, and developmental experiences change as youth get older. The contents cover one of the most salient topics in child and adolescent research, education, and social policy, placing consistent emphasis on developmental aspects and implications of organized activity participation for young persons. Representing contributors from several fields of study--psychology, criminal justice, leisure science, sociology, human development, education, prevention, and public policy--the book is designed to appeal to students and scholars in all these areas. Additionally, the volume is written to be of interest to professionals who administer programs and develop policy on youth.

About the Author
Mahoney, Joseph L.; Larson, Reed W.; Eccles, Jacquelynne S.

Reviews

"This collection includes articles by some of the giants in informal education research and evaluation, including but hardly limited to the three editors, and by authors who are less known but from whom the field will certainly want to see more....the chapter contents are well balanced between new insights into familiar programs and program contexts and research on types of programs and their contexts that are far less studied....this collection is a welcome and up-to-date addition to the library of anyone interested in youth programming outside of school hours and/or positive youth development." - The Prevention Researcher

Book Information
ISBN 9780805844313
Author Joseph L. Mahoney
Format Paperback
Page Count 184
Imprint Psychology Press
Publisher Taylor & Francis Inc
Weight(grams) 748g