NCJ Number
147151
Date Published
1901
Length
195 pages
Annotation
This discussion of boys during childhood and adolescents focuses on their psychosocial development, their formation of gangs and other spontaneous groups, the organizations that adults form for them, and ways in which adults and community institutions can promote positive youth development.
Abstract
A boy's life can be divided into three periods: infancy, from birth to about age 6; childhood, from 6 to 12; and adolescence, from 12 to adulthood. During infancy, the boy's interests center around the home, and the parents have unhampered opportunity for influence. Later, the child ventures from the home to playgrounds; his activities can progress from unorganized frolic to destructive activities as part of a gang. Adults' efforts to support youth development must recognize that boys like social companionship of neighborhood groups of boys, mainly for physical activities. Their needs include nutrition, exercise, a wholesome environment, a supervised organization, training in self-disciplined muscular activity, and teaching according to interests. Parental influence is the greatest means of helping the boy; social agencies, especially the church, can also have important roles. The methods of training boys in church should be similar to those used elsewhere. Index, lists of organizations, suggested readings, and reference lists