youth friendly communities keep youth stimulated keep youth engaged keep youth in communities

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/adultsMeaningful participationMastery and achievement

What are theDevelopmental 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 ActivityNew 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

-2nd 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 ProjectOver 200 Applicants22 Funded Projects20 Successful Projects

Do It Yourself

Djembe Club – Fort FrancesLYNX – Smooth Rock FallsNSL – LondonArt Show – PeterboroughTeen Scene Action Group - Ottawa

Who We Are….

Marion Price, CAE

Parks and Recreation Ontario / Play Works

416-326-7065 mprice@prontario.org

Ian Edward

Toronto Kiwanis Boys and Girls Clubs

416-925-2243 x 22 ianedward@believeinkids.ca

Yvette Munro

York University

647-225-5941 ymunro@gmail.com