Thesis
Researchers have offered several explanations as to why youth who participate in extracurricular activities seem to be more successful. Some authors have explained that youth who participate in activities learn important skills which help them in other aspects of their life, for example, teamwork, or leadership skills. Others have argued that just spending time participating in an extracurricular activity decreases the opportunity for a youth to be involved with problem behaviors. For example, research has found that youth who are involved in prosocial activities from 2-8 p.m. are less likely to commit or be a victim of a crime.
Introduction
The lives of many youth are substantially enriched by their participation in organized extracurricular activities, which are defined broadly to include adult-sanctioned organized activities that youth do outside of the classroom, whether or not they are school-sponsored. Youth can engage in such activities individually, such as taking private music lessons, or in groups, such as taking part in scouting or a school club. Youth participate in extracurricular activities to be with peers, to learn new skills, to stay fit, or simply to have fun (Gerber, 1996).
Youth problem behaviors, such as truancy, violence, and substance use, are alarming to parents, teachers and youth alike. These behaviors disrupt the learning environment and lead to serious social and economic problems. Some experts have argued that rather than trying to prevent individual problem behaviors, parents, schools and communities should work towards building a youth's ability to resist the lure of problem behaviors. As youth develop, they need positive settings that offer the opportunity to build these important internal resources. Researchers and teachers have long suggested that extracurricular activity participation can be an important source of positive influence in the lives of youth. This Fact Sheet will explore how youth participation in extracurricular.....
