1. 2.1 The characteristics of youth development

2. What is youth? Period of the human lifespan between the ages of 12 and 18 years The transition between childhood and adulthood Other words for youth include: – teenagers – adolescents

3. Youth development Many changes occur during youth, can you identify some of these changes? The changes that occur as part of youth development can be grouped as: – Physical – Social – Emotional – Intellectual

4. Physical characteristics of youth development Physical development during youth is rapid, including: – Change in size of bones and muscles – Change in height and weight – Sexual development Primary sexual development (sex organs) Secondary sexual development (other changes – e.g. hair, development of breasts and widening of hips in females, deepening of voice and broadening of shoulders in males)

5. Social characteristics of youth development An important part of youth development is forming social relationships Peer-group relationships are critical as is establishing an identity and being accepted Self-esteem is a key characteristic of youth development, how might positive self esteem develop in youth? What about negative self esteem?

6. Emotional characteristics of youth development The youth stage of the lifespan is characterised by individuals increasingly understanding their emotions Emotional development includes: – Learning how to understand and appropriately manage emotions – Coping with stress – Managing conflict with parents

7. Intellectual characteristics of youth development Occurs as an individual develops the capacity to think in broader terms, to conceptualise complex issues and to see how things are connected Youth intellectual development is not only represented by academic success, how else might it be represented?

8. Summary Youth is the stage of the lifespan between childhood and adulthood, 12 – 18 years Physical, social, emotional and intellectual development occurs at this stage of the lifespan Youth development is influenced by: – Behavioural factors – Environment in which a person lives – Family and community