What is the age range for youth according to different organizations. How do perceptions of youth, middle age, and old age vary across different demographics. What are the implications of youth age definitions for policy and society.
UNESCO’s Definition of Youth and Its Importance
UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, plays a crucial role in empowering and engaging youth worldwide. But how does UNESCO define youth?
According to UNESCO, the United Nations defines ‘youth’ as persons aged between 15 and 24 years old. However, this definition is not set in stone. UNESCO recognizes that the experience of being young can vary substantially across the world, between countries and regions. As such, ‘youth’ is often considered a fluid and changing category, with context being an important guide in UNESCO’s definition.
Why is this definition important? It helps UNESCO to:
- Target its youth programs effectively
- Engage with the right age group for various initiatives
- Develop policies that address the specific needs of young people
- Collect and analyze data on youth-related issues
The Global Youth Population: Facts and Figures
Understanding the size and distribution of the global youth population is crucial for policymakers and organizations working with young people. What are the current statistics on youth population?
According to the World Youth Report (2018) cited by UNESCO:
- There are approximately 1.2 billion young people aged 15 to 24 years worldwide
- This age group accounts for 16% of the global population
These figures underscore the significant presence of youth in our global society and highlight the importance of addressing their needs and harnessing their potential for social change and development.
Public Perception of Youth Age Boundaries
While organizations like UNESCO have specific definitions for youth, public perception can often differ. How does the general public define the boundaries of youth?
A YouGov study in the UK provides interesting insights:
- The majority of Britons believe that youth ends at the age of 29
- Once a person reaches 30, they are no longer considered young by most people
- The age at which most Britons believe a person becomes middle-aged is 48
- 70 is the age by which a majority of people believe someone has become old
These findings highlight the discrepancy between official definitions and public perception, which can have significant implications for policy-making and social expectations.
The Age Group with No Name: A Societal Blind Spot?
The YouGov study revealed an interesting phenomenon: an age range that doesn’t seem to have a clear category in the English language. What is this age group, and why is it significant?
According to the study, the majority of Britons do not consider people aged 30-47 to be either young or middle-aged. This creates a sort of societal ‘blind spot’ – a group that doesn’t fit neatly into our common age categories.
Why does this matter?
- It may lead to neglect of this age group in policy-making
- It could result in a lack of targeted services or programs for this demographic
- It might create identity issues for individuals in this age range
- It highlights the limitations of our current age categorizations
Age Perceptions Across Different Demographics
How do perceptions of youth, middle age, and old age vary across different age groups? The YouGov study provides some fascinating insights:
- Younger people tend to place the boundaries for each life stage earlier
- Most 18-24 year olds consider a person to have reached middle age by 40
- Among those aged 45 and over, most don’t think middle age is reached until 50
These differences in perception can lead to generational misunderstandings and conflicts. They also highlight the subjective nature of age categories and the need for more nuanced approaches to age-related policies and services.
Implications of Youth Age Definitions for Policy and Society
How do definitions of youth impact policy-making and societal structures? The implications are far-reaching and significant:
- Government policies often use age boundaries to determine eligibility for certain benefits or programs
- Lower minimum wage rates for under-25s in some countries are based on youth definitions
- Educational policies and access to higher education are often tied to age-based definitions of youth
- Social expectations and responsibilities can shift based on perceived age categories
If policymakers misjudge the age period during which people consider themselves young, they risk neglecting large numbers of voters and citizens. For instance, focusing young people’s policies primarily on university access and tuition fees could alienate many young people who are older than typical university age but still consider themselves youth.
UNESCO’s Youth Engagement Strategies
How does UNESCO engage with youth to drive social innovation and change? UNESCO employs several strategies:
- Organizing youth forums to gather input and ideas from young people
- Building solid youth networks to facilitate collaboration and knowledge sharing
- Engaging young people in peacebuilding and prevention of violent extremism
- Providing spaces for underprivileged youth to participate in decision-making processes
- Encouraging the scaling up of youth-led initiatives
- Integrating youth concerns and issues into the policy agenda
These strategies aim to empower young people, foster their action, promote partnerships, and ensure their recognition and visibility in society.
UNESCO Youth Spaces
What are UNESCO Youth Spaces, and how do they contribute to youth empowerment? UNESCO Youth Spaces are initiatives aimed at:
- Empowering young people
- Fostering and supporting youth action
- Promoting partnerships among youth and with other stakeholders
- Ensuring recognition and visibility of youth contributions
These spaces can be physical or virtual and provide platforms for young people to engage, collaborate, and make their voices heard on issues that matter to them.
The Importance of Accurate Youth Definitions in an Aging World
Why is it crucial to have accurate definitions of youth, especially in the context of an aging global population? The implications are significant:
- Resource allocation: Accurate definitions help in properly allocating resources for youth programs and services
- Policy formulation: It ensures that policies are targeted at the right age groups
- Social expectations: It helps in aligning societal expectations with the realities of different age groups
- Intergenerational understanding: It can foster better understanding and cooperation between different generations
As The Economist pointed out, it’s crucial that policymakers’ definitions of both young and old are in step with those of the general public. This alignment ensures that policies and social structures reflect the realities and needs of different age groups accurately.
The Challenge of Defining Old Age
How does the definition of old age impact society and policy? In many developed countries, 65 still marks the beginning of old age. This definition has significant implications:
- It often marks the end of formal employment
- It triggers the start of various senior citizen benefits
- It can lead to people being seen as a financial burden rather than an asset to the state
However, with increasing life expectancy and changing work patterns, is this definition still appropriate? The challenge lies in adapting our definitions and policies to reflect the changing realities of aging in the 21st century.
The Role of Language in Shaping Age Perceptions
How do the words we use to describe different age groups impact societal attitudes and behaviors? The language used to describe age groups can have profound effects:
- It signals to policymakers how different age groups should be treated
- It influences how people perceive themselves and their roles in society
- It can shape expectations about behavior and capabilities
- It may impact employment opportunities and social inclusion
For instance, terms like ‘old’ and ‘retired’ can signal to policymakers, as well as to older people themselves, how they ought to behave and be treated by governments, businesses, and employers. Similarly, the term ‘youth’ can carry expectations of inexperience or potential, influencing how young people are perceived and treated in various contexts.
The Need for More Nuanced Age Categories
Given the complexities of modern life stages, do we need more nuanced age categories? The existence of age groups without clear labels (like the 30-47 range identified in the YouGov study) suggests that our current categorizations may be inadequate. More nuanced categories could:
- Better reflect the diverse experiences of different age groups
- Lead to more targeted and effective policies
- Help reduce age-based stereotypes and discrimination
- Provide a more accurate framework for social and economic planning
However, creating new categories also presents challenges, such as how to define and implement them consistently across different contexts and cultures.
The Future of Youth Engagement and Empowerment
What does the future hold for youth engagement and empowerment? As we move further into the 21st century, several trends and challenges are emerging:
- Increasing digital engagement: Youth are increasingly using digital platforms for activism and social change
- Global connectivity: Young people are more connected globally than ever before, leading to cross-cultural collaborations and movements
- Climate change activism: Youth are at the forefront of climate change activism, demanding action from world leaders
- Economic challenges: Many young people face economic uncertainties, including job insecurity and housing affordability
- Mental health concerns: There’s growing awareness of mental health issues among youth, necessitating targeted support and services
Organizations like UNESCO will need to adapt their strategies to address these evolving challenges and opportunities, ensuring that youth remain engaged, empowered, and at the forefront of driving positive change in their communities and the world at large.
The Role of Intergenerational Collaboration
How can intergenerational collaboration contribute to addressing global challenges? As societies grapple with complex issues like climate change, inequality, and technological disruption, intergenerational collaboration becomes increasingly important. This collaboration can:
- Combine the energy and fresh perspectives of youth with the experience and wisdom of older generations
- Foster mutual understanding and respect between different age groups
- Lead to more comprehensive and sustainable solutions to global problems
- Help bridge the gap between traditional knowledge and innovative approaches
Encouraging and facilitating such collaboration could be a key strategy for organizations working on youth empowerment and social change.
By youth, with youth, for youth
Welcome to the UNESCO Youth Programme
Youth have the creativity, the potential and the capacity to make change happen – for themselves, for their communities, and for the rest of the world. UNESCO works with young people and is committed to accompany them to work together to drive social innovation and change, participate fully in the development of their societies, eradicate poverty and inequality, and foster a culture of peace.
UNESCO has engaged with thousands of youths to create change through its fora, built solid youth networks, reached young people to work on peacebuilding and prevention of violent extremism, and is committed to empowering underprivileged youth by providing them with spaces to participate.
The United Nations defines ‘youth’ as persons aged between 15 and 24. However, this definition is flexible. According to the World Youth Report (2018), there are 1.2 billion young people aged 15 to 24 years, accounting for 16 per cent of the global population.
The experience of being young can vary substantially across the world, between countries and regions, and ‘youth’ is therefore often a fluid and changing category. As such, context is always an important guide in UNESCO’s definition of youth.
We encourage engagement of youth in UNESCO’s action from design to implementation and follow-up, in their communities through the scaling up of youth-led initiatives, and in the policy agenda through the integration of youth concerns and issues.
To this end, UNESCO also encourages Youth Spaces aimed at empowering young people, fostering and supporting their action, promoting partnerships, and ensuring their recognition and visibility.
Scroll down to discover more about UNESCO’s work on youth, including its Operational Strategy on Youth (2014-2021), the UNESCO Youth Forum process, and other news, events and opportunities to get involved in. Don’t forget to sign up to the Online UNESCO Youth Community!
How young are “young people”? And at what age does a person become “old”?
YouGov examines where the public puts the boundaries of youth, middle age and old age
The recent debate in political and polling circles over whether or not a ‘youthquake’ was responsible for the 2017 election result has raised an even more fundamental question: who, exactly, are “young people”? Most frequently political commentators seem to use the term to describe those under the age of 25, but at least one has suggested that ‘youth’ extends as far as the mid-forties.
As The Economist pointed out recently, it is important that policymakers’ definitions of both young and old are in step with those of the general public:
“In much of the rich world 65 still marks the beginning of old age. Jobs end, subsidised bus travel begins and people start to be seen as a financial burden rather than an asset to the state … words like ‘old’ and ‘retired’ signal to policymakers, as well as to old people themselves, how they ought to behave and be treated by governments, businesses and employers.”
Such an argument could be applied to young people as well (see for example government policy allowing for lower minimum wage rates for the under-25s). If the main parties misjudge the age period during which people consider themselves young, and base their policies accordingly, they may end up neglecting large numbers of voters – for instance, making young people policy primarily about university access and tuition fees could alienate many young people who are older than university age.
Now new YouGov research reveals where Britons believe the boundaries of key life stages like youth, middle age and old age lie.
Britons believe that youth ends by the age of 30
The general consensus is that youth lasts up to, and including, the age of 29. Once a person has reached the age of 30, the majority of Brits no longer consider them to be young.
Likewise, the point at which most Brits believe a person has become middle aged is 48, while 70 is the age by which a majority of people believe someone has gotten old.
The age group with no name
The results also reveal a no-man’s land age group – an age range that the English language doesn’t seem to have a term for. The majority of Brits do not consider a person aged 30-47 to be either young or middle aged.
The older you are, the later “old” gets
Unsurprisingly, perceptions of when “young” ends and “middle age” and “old” begin are influenced by a person’s own age.
Generally speaking, the younger people are the earlier they place the boundaries for each of the stages. For instance, most 18-24 year olds consider a person to have reached middle age by the age of 40, while among those aged 45 and over most don’t think that stage of life is reached until the age of 50.
While on the face of it 2017 Conservative and Labour voters might appear to have slightly different views, this is almost entirely accounted for by the fact that Conservative voters tend to be older and Labour voters tend to be younger, and their views change accordingly. While there is a small statistically significant difference between the two voting groups, in practice this only amounts to a difference of at most a single year on where they place the milestones.
You’re only as old as you feel
YouGov also asked Brits to say in which life stage they would put themselves. People’s self-perceptions broadly correspond with the results above, although many people in their 30s consider themselves “young” despite relatively few having used the term to describe other people of the same age.
The vast majority of 18-29 year olds (75-94%) count themselves as young, as do half (50%) of 30-34 year olds. The 35-39 year old age group is the most confused about where they fit in: 33% consider themselves middle aged, 32% still feel young and 30% don’t believe they fit in any of the categories we put to them.
Most Brits aged 40 to 64 consider themselves middle aged, as do a plurality (44%) of those aged 65-69. People in their 50s are the most likely to self-identify as middle aged (82-84%).
Very few consider themselves old until they hit at least 60. One in five 60-64 year olds (19%) consider themselves old, as do a third (35%) of 65-69 year olds. Only the 70+ age group features a majority of people (59%) that self-identify as old.
Photo: Getty
See the full results here
6- to 8-year-olds: Ages and stages of youth development
Understanding the different stages of youth development supports youth programming efforts as it encourages relationship building between youth and adult volunteers.
In building relationships with youth, it is important to understand the development of the child. Not all children grow at the same pace, but they share many common characteristics of growth and development throughout their life. This article introduces the topic and examines implications of working with youth ages 6 to 8 years old.
“Ages and Stages of Child and Youth Development: A guide for 4-H Leaders” provides the foundation of research needed to examine these common characteristics and implications for working with youth in various stages of their development. The five age groupings presented in the guide are 6- to 8-year-olds, 9- to 11-year-olds, 12- to 14-year-olds, 15- to 17- year-olds and 18- to 19-year-olds. Within each age groupings, growth and development is typically studied through four major areas of development: physical, social, emotional and intellectual.
Physical development refers to the growth of the body and development of motor skills. Social development is the interaction between children and their ability to function in social settings.
Emotional development looks at how youth handle their feelings and express them. Finally, intellectual development is all about how individuals learn.
Early elementary youth (ages 6 to 8) are typically going through the following growth and development processes:
Physical
- They are mastering physical skills
- They have better control of large muscles than small muscles
Social
- They are learning how to be friends and may have several best friends at one time
- They are becoming more aware of peers and their opinions
- They are family oriented
Emotional
- They see fairness as being nice to others so others will be nice to them
- They seek parental/adult approval
- They tend to behave in ways to avoid punishment
Intellectual
- They base their thinking in reality and accuracy
- They are learning to sort things into categories
- They are beginning to develop sense of cause and effect
When working with children in the age range of 6 to 8, a volunteer, parent, educator or youth development expert must keep the following implications in mind:
Physical
- Their craft projects could end up messy
- Their activities need to be just that – active
- Plan activities that practice both small muscles and large ones
- Work on skills that can be completed successfully by beginners
Social
- Small group activities are best
- Break them into groups in order to encourage them to interact with different children
- They need a lot of praise as they are seeking adult approval
- They need to accept belief and values of parents
Emotional
- Focus on cooperative games in which every child wins
- Find ways to have more success than failures
- Be available to discuss fears and other issues important to them, no matter how small
Intellectual
- Reading to a child in this age group is effective and enjoyed
- Help them predict answers to their questions – successes
- Be flexible – provide a variety of activities
- Role playing and skits are often a popular way to learn and interact
Regardless of their age, all youth and adults have basic needs that programs should consider and provide opportunities to develop.
All youth and adults need:
- To experience a positive self-concept
- To experience success in what they attempt to do
- To become increasingly independent
- To be accepted by people of different ages – peers as well as those in authority
- To give and receive affection
- To experience adventure
For further information about the growth and development of youth between the ages of 6 to 8 year olds, you can contact Michigan State University Extension 4-H Youth Development. The second part of this series will focus on 9- to 11-year-olds.
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Adolescent Age Range And What It Means
By: Sarah Fader
Updated July 03, 2020
Medically Reviewed By: Deborah Horton
Source: rawpixel.
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We feel your pain. We really do.
One minute your teen is demanding adult responsibilities like driving privileges and a later curfew. The next she is whining about being asked to take out the trash.
Your son is taller than you are, yet he still needs help remembering to finish his homework assignments and to put his socks in the laundry.
So is your adolescent child an adult now? Is she ready for adult responsibilities?
Or is he still a child?
It’s so hard to tell. Depending on the day, you’re not sure whether you should let your teen try living on her own or whether you should take away her car keys and lock her safely in her room for eternity.
But while the constant waffling between childhood and adulthood may be an annoying inconvenience for you, that ill-defined no-man’s-land between childhood and adulthood poses some legal and cultural challenges to society in general. This maddening gray area is evident in the many inconsistencies in our laws and social policies.
When a youth turns 16, he is legally allowed to drive, to drop out of school, or to declare emancipation from his parents. But he may not rent a car or drive with another young driver until the age of 25. He is allowed to vote at 18, but he’s not allowed to serve as a representative to the U.S. Congress until the age of 25. He is allowed to smoke cigarettes at 18, but not allowed to consume alcohol until the age of 21. He may begin working at the age of 14, but he is allowed to remain on his parents’ health insurance until the age of 25.
Our laws reveal our uncertainty about where exactly adolescence begins and ends, and this uncertainty can create real problems. To what degree do we hold teenagers legally responsible for their actions? Should we give them adult responsibilities like driving, drinking, voting and running for elected office? Or should we prolong childhood as long as possible to keep them safe?
It seems clear that moving too far in either direction is problematic.
If we give adolescents more responsibility than they can handle, this not only harms them but their communities and the larger society as well. But if we hold their hands for too long, we risk creating a generation of young people who lack the confidence to care for themselves.
So what’s the answer? What is the right age to declare that a young person is no longer an adolescent…but an adult? What’s the adolescent age range definition?
The answer is more complicated than you might think
Source: pixabay.com
Stages Of Adolescence
Nearly everyone agrees that adolescence can be broken into three stages: early, middle and late adolescence.
However, the chronological ages of these stages have evolved due to changes in our culture.
It is commonly accepted that adolescence kicks off with the onset of puberty. This is the beginning of the physical development that will take place throughout adolescence. By middle adolescence, much of this work is finished: teens have nearly attained their adult height and weight, and they have the physical capacity to reproduce.
Due to improvements in health and nutrition, puberty is now happening much earlier than it used to. This effectively means that adolescence begins sooner, at about the age of 10 as opposed to 14.
At the other end of the spectrum, adolescence seems to last longer than it used to, as well. The average age for both men and women to enter their first marriage continues to rise. Adolescents are now more likely to prolong their educational experience by going to college or university, or even grad school, thus postponing entering the workforce. Also, recent scientific discoveries about brain development reveal that the prefrontal cortex (the part of the brain responsible for rational decision making) is not fully developed until some time in our mid-twenties.
For all these reasons, the precise ages for each stage of adolescence seem to be a moving target.
Here is a breakdown of each stage with approximate age ranges and some of the tasks accomplished in each
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Early Adolescence (ages 11-13)
This is the time of the greatest physical growth; your child’s height and weight will rapidly increase. Boys’ voices will deepen, and girls will begin to menstruate. Both boys and girls develop the cognitive ability to understand that their parents are not perfect, and this may result in conflict. They still share the same value system as their parents. At this age, children see right and wrong in concrete, black-and-white terms. They will become moody and insist on more privacy.
Middle Adolescence (ages 14-18)
At this stage, puberty is mostly completed. Teens are now able to engage in abstract and relativist thinking, which helps them with the formation of their own identity as separate from their parents. They can think about the future and set clear goals. Peer groups continue to be important. Teens will define their identities and values based on their peer groups rather than their parents. They may develop feelings of love or passion for the opposite sex.
Late Adolescence (ages 19-21+)
At this stage, adolescents can demonstrate concern and compassion for the feelings of others. They have developed a sense of self that is separate from their parents or their peer group. Their peer relationships are still important, and they also begin to develop more serious relationships. The traditions of their upbringing and culture may once again become important, as they reflect on their earlier selves as part of their larger identity. They can engage in adult thinking and to set clearly defined goals for the future.
Of course, it’s difficult to predict where your child might fall within these approximate age ranges. Some might start puberty as young as 9. Others might still be at work on the tasks of adolescent development as late as age 29.
So how can parents, communities and government entities come to a consensus about the correct age to launch young people into adulthood?
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When Does Adolescence End?
Until recent years, 19 was the commonly agreed-upon age for the end of adolescence. In most cultures, this coincided with the end of secondary education and the beginning of a young person’s encounter with the full-time working world.
In fact, many argue that the entire concept of adolescence is nothing more than a social construct which didn’t even exist 100 years ago. The first mention of adolescence was in a paper written in 1904. Before that time, children left school and entered the workforce at young ages. When child labor laws got children out of the workforce, and other laws kept them in school longer, it lengthened their time of dependence, freeing them to work on social and cognitive tasks of growing up which they might otherwise have ignored.
There are some who think that similar cultural shifts are creating yet another developmental no-man’s-land, which needs yet another definition. Psychologists now believe that longer overall lifespans combined with the postponement of traditional adult responsibilities give us a group known as “emerging adults.
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In many ways, this label seems to fit. With increasing independence, it seems disrespectful to label a young person in his twenties as an “adolescent.” However, he has not yet quite achieved the traditional milestones of adulthood.
Whether we extend the age range for adolescent development to 24, or we label twentysomethings as “emerging adults,” it seems clear that young people in this age group need just the right balance of independence and nurturing.
Implications
What implications does extending the adolescent age range mean for public policy?
Here are a few logical results.
- Extending youth support services to the age of 25, especially for those in foster care or with special needs
- Expanded mental health services for adolescents
- Delay the age when adolescents are considered legally competent to make their own decisions
- Ensure that adolescents and “emerging adults” have access to quality healthcare
Of course, each of these recommendations has the potential to cause a domino effect on our culture.
What might happen to teens who live in abusive homes and want to be emancipated from their parents? What about young girls facing an unplanned pregnancy who need to seek out services, but whose parents are morally opposed to abortion? The debate about when young people are old enough to make their own decisions has many personal and deeply emotional implications.
There is also the question of whether we are “coddling” our young people too much by shielding them from responsibility. After all, a twenty-year-old would shrink from referring to himself as an “adolescent,” and prefers to be considered an adult. If that’s the case, shouldn’t we give him the respect of allowing him to make decisions on his own?
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What are the 3 stages of adolescence?
It is commonly accepted that adolescents undergo three major developmental stages which are early adolescence, middle adolescence, and late adolescence (early adulthood).
Because of how critical the adolescent transition is, psychologists and major mental health bodies like the American Psychological Association (APA) recommend that timely and constructive interventions and support are most needed during this period.Knowing the different stages of adolescent development will go a long way to help you understand their behaviors, thought systems, and feelings they are experiencing per time.
- Early Adolescence: This is the stage when a teenager is approaching puberty. During this stage, adolescents of both sexes go through physical growth and increased sexual development and interests. This period is often uncomfortable for some as their body, mind, and intellect are experiencing some changes which influence their emotional and psychological growth. Though during this stage, they may have limited interest in the future, their moral thinking is usually developed during this stage.
- Middle Adolescence: For both males and females, this is the period when puberty is completed, although, physical growth may slow down.
Cognitively, they tend to be more abstract, although, they may go back to concrete thinking when stressed. Adolescents in this stage are more aware of themselves and they experience several social, economical and psychological changes such as an increased drive for independence and increased self-involvement. - Late Adolescence: This is the young adulthood phase where adolescence experience lesser physical development, and more psychological and mental developments. They think and act more rationally, make decisions about their future, are more emotionally stable and independent, and have a firmer sense of self-identity.
Cognitively, they tend to be more abstract, although, they may go back to concrete thinking when stressed. Adolescents in this stage are more aware of themselves and they experience several social, economical and psychological changes such as an increased drive for independence and increased self-involvement.
What are the 5 characteristics of Adolescence?
Adolescence is the period of transition between childhood to adulthood, and it is usually characterized by rapid developments and changes that may be inconsistent and uncomfortable. The 5 characteristics of adolescence are:
- Biological Growth and Development: This is the onset of adolescence which is marked by the beginning of puberty. Growth spurts, voice changes, sexual characteristics are developed, complexion problems may occur, and specific hormones are released.
- Undefined status: Adolescents tend to be subjected to unclear social expectations, which usually vary by culture and upbringing. Some are treated as children, while some, as adults. Some may be allowed to marry at age 16, vote at 18, and take alcohol at age 21.
- Increased Decision making: Adolescents and preteens begin to become responsible and take more decisions themselves, set goals and chase career paths.
- Increased pressure: Parents, teachers, and peers all pressurizes adolescents to behave and act in specific manners. Peer pressure is always the strongest during adolescence and a lot of teens may feel pressured to go into romantic relationships or get a job.
- The Search for Self: Adolescents can establish what is normal or acceptable and they also begin to set important priorities. They also prepare for future roles and try to equip and prepare themselves to assume these roles in the near future.
Growth spurts, voice changes, sexual characteristics are developed, complexion problems may occur, and specific hormones are released.
What are the types of adolescence?
According to the American Psychological Association (APA), the different classification of adolescents are the purely rebellious– young people who push the patience of their parents and adults around them, continuously trying to shed off the old ‘child’ identity and prove all grown up. Some of these adolescents continually get involved in vices like car theft, carjacking, pick-pocketing, drugs, etc. The other type of adolescents are the purely compliant who are generally obedient and abide by the set rules by their parents and adult models. And there is also the mixed type of adolescents who are a combination of the two.
What are the four stages of adolescence?
- Stage One: Letting Childhood Go
Early Adolescence (Ages 9-13): This is the phase when they let childhood go, and may begin to express dissatisfaction when being defined or treated as a child.
They become less interested in traditional childhood activities, expressing grievances about limits on personal freedom and seemingly unfair demands from adults in their lives.
- Stage Two: Forming A Family with Friends
Mid Adolescence (Ages 13-15): This is the stage when adolescents are more aware of themselves, are given to peer pressure, and are driven by the desire for social freedom from parents and the need for immediate gratification. They become more concerned about acceptance and the need to belong amongst their peers, and most decisions are driven by this need to blend in. They may also desire to spend more time with their friends rather than their parents.
- Stage Three: Acting all Grown Up
Late Adolescence (Ages 15-18): Adolescents at this stage exhibit more level of independence, as they are now engaged in more grown-up activities like paid employment, involvement in romantic relationships, driving a car, setting goals for the future, etc.
They tend to push for more adult freedom and this may sometimes be problematic for parents or adult figures in their lives.
- Stage Four: Stepping Off on their Own
Young Adulthood (Ages 18-23): This is the trial independence phase. They are more independent and mostly may even get separated from home, live independently, pursue set goals, and are more responsible for their actions and decisions.
Why is adolescence so difficult?
According to the American Psychological Association, the period of transition from a child who is dependent on parents, to a self-reliant and independent adult is one of the most dynamic, extensive, and influential developmental periods in a human’s life. Adolescence is considered the most difficult stage of a person’s life and this can be traced to the fact that the phase comes with rapid physical, behavioral, emotional, and psychological changes. As much as it can be an exciting period, it can also be very uncomfortable and confusing for both the adolescent and even their parents.
From the time puberty begins, they begin to experience changes in physical appearance, girls begin to menstruate, boys grow muscles, and they begin to act and feel differently. They also start seeking relationships outside their immediate family, give in to peer pressure, and seeking gratification and acceptance which may make them begin to unhealthy decisions. Of course, disagreements begin to occur between adolescents and their parents as they now want to have their way with things, keep secrets, take decisions without involving their parents, spend more time outside with friends, and seek independence from parents.
What are the 5 stages of adolescence?
There are major developmental stages that adolescents go through and parents and other adults need to understand these so they can relate better with the adolescents and also support and care for them. The five stages of adolescent development are:
- Physical Development: This is a primary characteristic of adolescence. Adolescents experience growth spouts, skeletal structures experience changes, brain development, as well as hormonal and sexual developments, occur. Girls begin to develop breasts and hips, and menstruation also starts, while boys begin to grow muscles. The physical changes may vary by gender; for girls, these changes may begin from age 12, while for boys, changes may begin at about age 14.
- Social Development: Adolescents begin to socialize and relate more to with their peers than their parents. While as kids, children have loyalty to their parents or other adult role models like teachers, this loyalty shifts to their friends and peers at adolescence. They begin to have a strong need to belong, and peer approval and perception is of great importance for them, while adult approval may reduce in importance.
- Emotional Development: Adolescence is the phase when emotions begin to run high. Preteens may begin to exhibit argumentative and even aggressive behaviors as a result of sudden and intense emotions. And because they are beginning to develop a sense of self, they may alsoo become self-absorbed and preoccupied with themselves, whilst also scrutinizing their thought processes and personalities. They also constantly test the limits of what behaviors are acceptable and challenge adult authority. Adolescents also tend to overreact to situations, ridicule or make fun of others, or feel embarrassment.
- Intellectual Development: This is another major characteristic of adolescence; and while it is not as visible as physical development, it is just as strong. Adolescents tend to exhibit a wide range of individual cognitive characteristics, including independent thoughts and metacognition. They develop higher thinking, advanced language skills, a sense of purpose, and social consciousness.
- Moral Development: It is during adolescents that kids’ attitudes, belief systems, and values are formed, and these traits usually remain with them forever. Adolescents move away from just accepting the adult moral judgment and they develop their own set of values, although they usually hold on to the values of parents or adult role models. They also tend to be idealistic and possess a strong sense of fairness, as well as reconciling their understanding of people who care about them with their egocentricity. Adolescents may approach moral dilemmas in different ways, depending on gender- boys view moral issues through justice lens and females, through interpersonal care lens.
At what age does adolescence end?
The phase of adolescence is known to kickstart when puberty begins and ends when adult identity and behavior are established. This development phase corresponds to the period between 10 and 19 years of age, which also goes in line with the World Health Organization’s definition of adolescence.
What are the 7 stages of development?
The following are the 7 stages of human growth and development:
- Conception: This is the stage when the sperm from the man and the egg cells from the woman joins together to form a foetus. It is the beginning of human life.
- Infancy: This is the stage from a child’s birth up to about 18months. The child is solely dependent on parents, and also begins to crawl, roll over, walk, and is relatively active. Regarding physical development, infancy is the stage where growth is most rapid. It is also during infancy that the child begins to develop a sense of trust in its caregivers when basic emotional and physical needs are met, and lack of such may go on to affect the child almost throughout its lifetime.
- Childhood: This is the period between 18months to about 13 years of age. Usually, growth happens in spurts and the child becomes more independent. Fine and gross motor skills are developed.
- Adolescence: During this stage of development is when puberty occurs- between 13years to 18years. Physical features like breasts, hips, and muscles develop, and emotional and social changes also take place. The child begins to find pleasure in spending more time with friends instead of at home, submits to peer pressure, and cares a lot about validation and acceptance from peers. Adolescents may also begin to pick and have goals for their future during this phase. They also may get independence from parents as they begin to work during this period. This the stage that prepares one for adulthood.
- Adulthood: This developmental period launches one into full adulthood, and it begins around 18 years. Physical changes stop, while emotional, cognitive, and social changes continue. This is the point in a human’s life where one establishes intimate relationships and friendships. They pursue their career and life goals, many get into romantic and marital relationships, have children, and build families.
- Middle Age: This phase begins around 45 years of age. Generally, during this stage, people are caught between productivity or being stagnant. During this stage, the body begins to deteriorate from its peak and adults lose some of their physical strength, agility, ability, and body functions. This is the period that reflects the need to create a legacy that would make one continue to be relevant even during this period and as they approach old age.
- Old Age: This phase begins at around age 65. People in this stage tend to become more dependent on full-time care from children or family members, and are more prone to lifestyle diseases like cancer, stroke, etc, during this phase. This is the last stage of human life, after which death occurs.
What are the problems of adolescence?
Being the period when active growth and physical, emotional, sexual, psychological occurs, adolescence is a potentially turbulent period that comes with series of problems. A lot of adolescence tend to get into depression as they pursue the need to fit into a group, low self-esteem as a result of body changes, prevalent bullying issues, etc. Adolescents may also suffer from Dysthymia, a mood disorder that is a bit less acute than the major depressive disorder but can be quite as chronic. It is known to last for close to 2years. Another prevalent problem is anxiety disorders, which stems from the expectations that they have for themselves, or that others may have about them. The antisocial and oppositional defiant disorder is also a common problem in adolescents- teenagers disobeying rules, being disrespectful, being very impulsive and acting without thinking, stealing, not caring about how their actions affect others, being violent to people and animals, etc. Issues that are related to growth and development, education/schooling, emotional instability, social-phobia, eating disorders, some childhood sicknesses which may extend to adolescence, mental health disorders are some problems of adolescence.
What are the developmental stages of a teenager?
For adolescents in their teenage years, some of the developmental milestones that may occur are:
- Physical Development: This is the period when the difference in growth for boys and girls is most noticeable. While boys are hitting the age in which they begin to grow rapidly, girls are slowing down on the growth. Boys are growing muscles while hips and breasts are showing in girls. This period, most teenagers have a big appetite- which sometimes, leads to obesity if not well managed, may need more sleep, become more agile and coordinated which helps them to learn new skills and attempt complex projects.
- Cognitive Developments: Teenagers may begin to think more about their lives, and even also how the world works as a whole. They begin to show increasing ability to make informed guesses, reason and sort facts from fiction. They think more abstractly, build strong reasoning skills, set personal goals for the future, and make their own decisions. They also begin to develop a strong sense of right and wrong.
- Socio-Emotional Development: During the teen years, kids exhibit huge emotional and social changes as they grow. They begin to strive for independence, recognize personal strengths and challenges, are driven by peer acceptance, want to make more friends, may seem impulsive, moody, self-centered, argumentative. They also develop a better sense of who they are and the positive contributions they can make to friendships and other relationships in their lives.
What happens in late adolescence?
This phase is a transforming moment in an adolescent’s life, and the different milestones of development have prepared the adolescent for this final transition into adulthood. Usually, physical development is already complete by late adolescence, and at this point, the young adult already developed a sense of personal identity, has a more rational and realistic conscience and perspective about life and has refined moral, sexual, and religious values. Intellectually, the adolescent is still developing and this process may continue into the third decade of life. The society, however, regards kids in the late adolescent stage as legal adults in many ways.
Is adolescence a stressful time?
The adolescence phase is a period marked with inevitable turmoil which is a result of the transition from childhood to adulthood. It is often referred to as a period of ‘storm and stress’ for both the adolescents and their parents alike. The trouble with emotions, behavior, and relationships, especially with parents or guardians- is more prevalent. The reasons for this storm and stress isn’t farfetched- hormones are growing here and there, realities of life and accumulated stress factors setting in, physical growth and kids are more sensitive, peer pressure influences set in, unmet expectations, and so on. As difficult as this period can be, a lot of reputable organizations like the American Psychological Association (APA), and the World Health Organization amongst others provide numerous recommendations on to make this development stage easier for both the adolescents and the adults in their lives. Talking to a trained psychologist like the ones at ReGain can also help in tremendous ways.
What changes happen during middle adolescence?
During middle adolescence, usually between 14 to about 18 years, the puberty-related physical changes continue. Growth spurt will have started in boys, while for girls, physical changes are nearly complete and most girls have their regular menstrual periods. Many teenagers may become more interested in sexual and romantic relationships during this stage, as they begin to question and explore their sexual identity. Adolescents in this phase may also have increasing arguments with their parents as they begin to find out that their parents aren’t perfect and start to test boundaries. They also tend to desire time outside with friends than inside the home, and peer pressure is mostly at its peak. Their brain also continues to change and mature, although, there is still a lot of difference in the way a typical middle adolescent thinks, compared to an adult.
What is the difference between puberty and adolescence?
Although the meaning of the two words tends to get blurred during discussions and writings, the two aren’t the same thing. Puberty can be referred to as the period during which changes – especially physical and biological- happen, while adolescence is the period when someone transitions psychologically and socially from childhood into adulthood. Adolescence encompasses a larger period than puberty because the latter is over when the young individual’s body has fully transformed. Of course, it still takes some more time for him or her to be considered an adult.
Simply put, puberty is a phase of physical transition, while adolescence is the social and psychological transition.
What happens in the brain during adolescence?
The brain of children always has a rapid growth spurt when they are young. As soon as they are six, their brains are already about 90-95% the size of an adult brain. Adolescence is a period of significant growth and development in a teenager’s brain, and while some of these changes happen before puberty, some continue even long after. This may depend on age, hormonal changes in puberty, experience, etc. Usually, the main change is that the unused connections in the thinking and processing aspect of the child’s brain which is called the ‘grey matter’ gets pruned away, whilst other connections are being strengthened at the same time. This way, the brain is becoming more efficient, based on the ‘use it or lose it’ principle. This pruning process starts in the back of the brain, while the prefrontal cortex, which is the front part of the brain, gets remodeled last. The prefrontal cortex, being the decision-making part of the brain is what makes the adolescent able to plan and also to think about actions and consequences, control impulses, and solve problems, and these changes go on into early adulthood. However, because the development of the prefrontal cortex is still ongoing, teenagers may rely on the amygdala- a part of the brain associated with impulses, emotions, instincts, and aggression- to make decisions and solve problems more than adults do.
It’s understandably terrifying to think of young people out there driving, drinking, voting, and making adult decisions that affect all of us when their brains and personalities are still in such a constant state of flux. But perhaps it is only by allowing them the freedom to make mistakes that they can truly discover who they are.
If you or someone you love is an adolescent or an emerging adult in need of support, don’t hesitate to get in touch with one of our trained counselors at BetterHelp today.
Age Groups | Massachusetts
GRADE AND AGE GROUPINGS FOR 2020/21 SOCCER YEAR
GRADE BASED GROUPINGS
SINGLE GRADE GROUPINGS (2020/21)
Program | Grade Requirements | AND | Date of Birth Requirements Born On or After |
Pre-School | Pre-School | AND | 1/1/2015 |
Grade KG | KG Grade or Lower | AND | 1/1/2014 |
Grade 1 | 1st Grade or Lower | AND | 1/1/2013 |
Grade 2 | 2nd Grade or Lower | AND | 1/1/2012 |
Grade 3 | 3rd Grade or Lower | AND | 1/1/2011 |
Grade 4 | 4th Grade or Lower | AND | 1/1/2010 |
Grade 5 | 5th Grade or Lower | AND | 1/1/2009 |
Grade 6 | 6th Grade or Lower | AND | 1/1/2008 |
Grade 7 | 7th Grade or Lower | AND | 1/1/2007 |
Grade 8 | 8th Grade or Lower | AND | 1/1/2006 |
Grades 9 | 9th Grade or Lower | AND | 1/1/2005 |
Grades 10 | 10th Grade or Lower | AND | 1/1/2004 |
Grades 11 | 11th Grade or Lower | AND | 1/1/2003 |
Grades 12 | 12th Grade or Lower | AND | 1/1/2002 |
PG | 12th + 1 year or Lower | AND | 1/1/2001 |
| PG2 | 12th + 2 years or Lower | AND | 1/1/2000 |
DUAL GRADE GROUPINGS (2020/2021)
Program | Grade Requirements | AND | Date of Birth Requirements Born On or After |
Grade 3/4 | 4th Grade or Lower | AND | 1/1/2010 |
Grade 5/6 | 6th Grade or Lower | AND | 1/1/2008 |
Grade 7/8 | 8th Grade or Lower | AND | 1/1/2006 |
Grades 9/10* | 10th Grade or Lower | AND | 1/1/2004 |
Grades 11/12 * | 12th Grade or Lower | AND | 1/1/2002 |
PG* | 12th + 1 year or Lower | AND | 1/1/2001 |
PG2* | 12th + 2 years or Lower | AND | 1/1/2000 |
* Notes: The MTOC age groups for the older ages at MTOC Spring 2021 are:
Grades 9/10/11
Grades 12/PG/PG2
Grade Based Group Waiver Classes
For Town Based Programs and Leagues
Older Player Playing with Classmates: Players who are born on a date that would typically place them in a higher grade may play with their actual grade on any level team (D1 and lower) and may play on an MTOC eligible team. Using a “1/1/xxxx born on or after” date all will catch the vast majority of these players. Those born before the 1/1/xxxx date and in the lower grade will need to be approved by a waiver from the league in which the team competes. Upon league approval the player is approved for MTOC competition.
Example: For the 2020/21 soccer year players in the Grade 7/8 Group must be “In 8th grade or below AND born on or after 1/1/2006”. A player born on 3/15/2006 would typically be in 9th grade. But, if this player is actually going to be in 8th grade then they would be permitted to play in this group without a waiver. Another player, also in 8th grade born on 12/01/2005 (before 1/1/2006) would only be permitted to play with his same grade classmates through above noted waiver process.
Player in Higher Grade Playing with Same Age Teammates: Prior to the switch from the August–July Birth Year grouping method to the current Grade Group method, same players who chose to play within their age group and not up with classmates (most commonly players born in August). These players are eligible for a waiver allowing to play with their same age teammates they have historically played with in the past. They will be permitted to play on MTOC eligible D1 and lower teams. Proof of playing history is required for a waiver from the league in which the team competes. Upon league approval the player is approved for MTOC competition. Players entering a soccer program starting after Fall 2017 with no playing history of playing “down” a grade were and are not eligible for this waiver. They must play with classmates or higher grades, not down a grade
AGE BASED GROUPINGS FOR 2020/21 SOCCER YEAR
SINGLE AGE GROUPINGS (2020/21)
Program | Date of Birth Requirements Born On or After |
5U | 1/1/2016 |
6U | 1/1/2015 |
7U | 1/1/2014 |
8U | 1/1/2013 |
9U | 1/1/2012 |
10U | 1/1/2011 |
11U | 1/1/2010 |
12U | 1/1/2009 |
13U | 1/1/2008 |
14U | 1/1/2007 |
15U | 1/1/2006 |
16U | 1/1/2005 |
17U | 1/1/2004 |
18U | 1/1/2003 |
19U | 1/1/2002 |
| 20U For 2020/2021 Year only | 1/1/2001 |
Beginning Aug. 1, 2016, US Youth Soccer began using the following birth‐year “labels” for competition, based upon the season in which competition ends. For example the 2020-21 soccer year:
- Players born during the year 2002 will be labeled as 19 and Under
- Players born during the year 2003 will be labeled as 18 and Under
- Players born during the year 2004 will be labeled as 17 and Under
- Players born during the year 2005 will be labeled as 16 and Under
- Players born during the year 2006 will be labeled as 15 and Under
- Players born during the year 2007 will be labeled as 14 and Under
- …and so on.
- The age group “label” will be determined by subtracting the year in which the players participating in the competition were born from the year in which competition ends. For example, a player born in 2005 subtracted from 2021 (the end of the 2020/21 soccer year) makes them a 16U.
The change to birth year age groups and to the “labels” for naming each age group have been made by U.S. Soccer.
About the children – AdoptUSKids
Children and teens enter foster care through no fault of their own, because they have been abused, neglected, or abandoned and are unable to continue living safely with their families
According to the most recent federal data, there are currently more than 400,000 children in foster care in the United States. They range in age from infants to 21 years old (in some states). The average age of a child in foster care is more than 8 years old, and there are slightly more boys than girls.
Children and youth enter foster care because they have been abused, neglected, or abandoned by their parents or guardians. All of these children have experienced loss and some form of trauma. In other ways, foster children are no different from children who aren’t in foster care: they are learning and growing, like to play and hang out with friends their age, and need the love and stability a permanent home provides.
Learn about the children in foster care and the qualities of successful families by clicking through our short, interactive modules.
The median amount of time that a child spends in foster care is just over a year. More than half of the children in foster care will be reunified with their parents or primary caregivers, and nearly one-quarter will be adopted, many by their foster parents.
Each year, approximately 20,000 youth will age out of the foster care system when they turn 18 or 21, or when they finish high school (depending upon the state in which they live.) These children are at increased risk of poor educational outcomes, experiencing homelessness, and being unemployed. Read more about why teens need families.
Young people talk about how being adopted changed their lives.
Frequently asked questions about children in foster care
AdoptUSKids foster care and adoption resource specialists respond to hundreds of questions about foster care and adoption, and an active community of families is always exchanging information on our Facebook page. Following are our responses to some of the questions that are frequently asked about the children in foster care.
How many children are awaiting adoption in the United States?
Of the 400,000 children in foster care, approximately 120,000 are waiting to be adopted.
I have heard that many children in foster care have “special needs.” What does that mean?
The term “special needs” simply refers to children who qualify for adoption assistance—ongoing governmental medical and/or financial support after adoption occurs—due to specific factors or conditions such as:
- Being an older child
- Having a particular racial or ethnic background
- Being part of a sibling group needing to be placed together as one unit
- Medical conditions
- Physical, mental, or emotional disabilities
A child with special needs should not be confused with a child who requires special education.
I see a lot of older children in photolistings like the one on AdoptUSKids. Why would I want to adopt an older child?
Imagine being a teenager grappling with the transition into adolescence and independence all alone. That is the situation facing thousands of young people who face aging out of foster care alone every year. These teens need support, guidance, and family now and for the rest of their lives.
Read more about why teens need families.
Are brothers and sisters always adopted together?
In an ideal world, the answer would be yes. Research suggests that siblings placed together experience lower risk of failed placements, fewer moves, and many emotional benefits. Even when siblings have been separated in foster care, the goal is to find them a safe, permanent home where they can grow up together.
Read more about the benefits of adopting siblings.
Things to do next:
Stages of Adolescence – HealthyChildren.org
By: Brittany Allen, MD, FAAP & Helen Waterman, DO
Adolescence is the period of transition between childhood and adulthood. It includes some big changes—to the body, and to the way a young person relates to the world.
The many physical, sexual, cognitive, social, and emotional changes that happen during this time can bring anticipation and anxiety for both children and their families. Understanding what to expect at different stages can promote healthy development throughout adolescence and into early adulthood.
Early Adolescence (Ages 10 to 13)
During this stage, children often start to grow more quickly. They also begin notice other body changes, including hair growth under the arms and near the genitals, breast development in
females and enlargement of the testicles in
males. They usually start a year or two earlier in girls than boys, and it can be normal for some changes to start as early as age 8 for females and age 9 for males. Many girls may start their period at around age 12, on average 2-3 years after the onset of breast development.
These body changes can inspire curiosity and anxiety in some―especially if they do not know what to expect or what is normal. Some children may also question their
gender identity at this time, and the onset of puberty can be a difficult time for
transgender children.
Early adolescents have concrete, black-and-white thinking. Things are either right or wrong, great or terrible, without much room in between. It is normal at this stage for young people to center their thinking on themselves (called “egocentrism”). As part of this, preteens and early teens are often self-conscious about their appearance and feel as though they are always being judged by their
peers.
Pre-teens feel an increased need for privacy. They may start to explore ways of being independent from their family. In this process, they may push boundaries and may react strongly if parents or guardians
reinforce limits.
Middle Adolescence (Ages 14 to 17)
Physical changes from puberty continue during middle adolescence. Most males will have started their growth spurt, and puberty-related changes continue. They may have some voice cracking, for example, as their
voices lower. Some develop acne. Physical changes may be nearly complete for females, and most girls now have regular periods.
At this age, many teens become interested in
romantic and sexual relationships. They may question and explore their sexual identity―which may be stressful if they do not have support from peers, family, or community. Another typical way of exploring
sex and sexuality for teens of all genders is self-stimulation, also called
masturbation.
Many middle adolescents have more
arguments with their parents as they struggle for more independence. They may spend less time with family and more time with friends. They are very concerned about their
appearance, and peer pressure may peak at this age.
The brain continues to change and mature in this stage, but there are still many differences in how a normal middle adolescent thinks compared to an adult. Much of this is because the frontal lobes are the last areas of the brain to mature―development is not complete until a person is well into their 20s! The frontal lobes play a big role in coordinating complex decision making, impulse control, and being able to consider multiple options and consequences. Middle adolescents are more able to think abstractly and consider “the big picture,” but they still may lack the ability to apply it in the moment. For example, in certain situations, kids in middle adolescence may find themselves thinking things like:“I’m doing well enough in math and I
really want to see this movie… one night of skipping studying won’t matter.”
Do I really
have to wear a condom during sex if my girlfriend takes the pill?”
“Marijuana is legal now, so it can’t be
that bad.”
While they may be able to walk through the logic of avoiding risks outside of these situations, strong emotions often continue to drive their decisions when impulses come into play.
Late Adolescents (18-21… and beyond!)
Late adolescents generally have completed physical development and grown to their full adult height. They usually have more impulse control by now and
may be better able to gauge risks and rewards accurately. In comparison to middle adolescents, youth in late adolescence might find themselves thinking:
“While I do love Paul Rudd movies, I need to study for my final.”
“I should wear a condom…even though my girlfriend is on birth control, that’s not 100% in preventing pregnancy.”
“Even though marijuana is legal, I’m worried about how it might affect my mood and work/school performance.”
Teens entering early adulthood have a stronger sense of their own individuality now and can identify their own
values. They may become more focused on the future and base decisions on their hopes and ideals. Friendships and romantic relationships become more stable. They become more emotionally and physically separated from their family. However, many reestablish an “adult” relationship with their parents, considering them more an equal from whom to ask advice and discuss mature topics with, rather than an authority figure.
Parents: How To Help Your Children Navigate Adolescence
Children and their parents often struggle with changing dynamics of family relationships during adolescence. But parents are still a critical support throughout this time. Here are some things you can do:
The adolescent years can feel like riding a roller coaster. By maintaining positive and respectful parent-child relationships during this period, your family can (try to) enjoy the ride! |
Additional Information:
About Dr. Allen:
Brittany Allen, MD, FAAP, is a board-certified general pediatrician and provides specialty care to transgender and gender nonconforming youth. She is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. She is a member of American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Section on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Health and Wellness and the Wisconsin Chapter.
About Dr. Waterman:
Helen Waterman, DO is a resident physician in pediatrics at the University of Wisconsin. Within the American Academy of Pediatrics, she is a member of the Section on Pediatric Trainees and the Section on Osteopathic Pediatricians.
The information contained on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.
90,000 Issues of prevention of radicalism among youth
Due to a number of factors, youth is a social group that is most susceptible to radical nationalist and xenophobic ideas and sentiments. The uncritical perception by young people of the messages of some media and other sources, the lack of a constructive civil position and the ability to quite openly express nationalist views through subcultural channels can contribute to the development of everyday xenophobia into a source of aggression and open racist violence.Therefore, it is relevant and important to know the prerequisites that can lead to such sentiments in the youth environment and in time to prevent their development and possible escalation into offenses and crimes of an extremist nature.
Radicalism – extreme, uncompromising adherence to any views, concepts. Most often it is used in relation to ideas and actions in the socio-political sphere, especially those aimed at a decisive, radical change in existing social institutions.We can distinguish such types of radicalism as political and religious.
In a broad sense, the concept of political radicalism is interpreted as a special socio-cultural phenomenon due to the peculiarities of the country’s historical, social, economic and religious development, manifested in value orientations, stable forms of political behavior of subjects aimed at opposition, change, total, rapid pace of change, primacy forceful methods in the implementation of political goals.
Radicalism often spreads during crisis, transitional historical periods, when there is a threat to the existence, traditions and habitual way of life of society or its certain layers and groups. This term denotes the desire to bring a political or other opinion to its final logical and practical conclusions, without accepting any compromises.
There are also psychological interpretations of radicalism. Sometimes it is directly interpreted as a psychological mechanism for the qualitative transformation of political processes, which presupposes decisive and uncompromising actions to achieve the goal, adhering to the extreme means of achieving the goal; socio-cultural tradition, due to the corresponding type of personality and national and civilizational characteristics of society and the state.In modern usage, radicalism means, first of all, an expressed desire for decisive, “root” ideas, and then for methods of achieving them, and for the corresponding actions associated with these ideas.
Sometimes the term “radicalism” is used almost synonymously with the term “extremism”. But there is a certain difference between these concepts. Unlike extremism, radicalism is fixed, first of all, on the content side of certain (“root”, extreme, although not necessarily “extreme”) ideas and, secondly, on the methods of their implementation.Radicalism can be exclusively “ideological” and not effective, in contrast to extremism, which is always effective, but not always ideological. Extremism, first of all, fixes attention on the methods and means of struggle, relegating meaningful ideas to the background. On the other hand, radicalism is usually spoken of in relation to ideologically, politically and socially extremely oriented organizations, parties or party factions, political movements, groups and groupings, individual leaders, etc.etc., assessing the ideological orientation and the degree of expression of such a desire. They talk about extremism when evaluating the degree of extreme methods of realizing such aspirations.
At the heart of radicalism lies, firstly, a negative attitude towards the current socio-political reality, and secondly, the recognition of one of the possible ways out of the real situation as the only possible one. At the same time, radicalism is difficult to associate with any particular political position. Radicalism can manifest itself in various forms of extremism and terrorism.
Radicalism is always an oppositional trend. Moreover, it is the support of the most rigid, radical opposition, in contrast to the moderate opposition – “systemic”, loyal, “constructive”. As a rule, it plays a destabilizing role in society. A favorable socio-psychological ground for radicalism is considered a state of general uncertainty and instability. It is on this basis that ultra-left and ultra-right ideas flourish, accompanied by appropriate actions.
The subjectivity of youth under unfavorable socio-economic and political conditions can be realized in the form of youth radicalism.Radical youth movements act as a non-systemic opposition focused on the implementation of alternative projects to existing models of social and political order. Radicalist thinking and behavior is characterized by maximalism, nihilism, a wide range of fluctuations in moods and actions between extremes, an orientation towards the primacy of forceful methods to achieve social and political goals. The radical type of consciousness and behavior is determined and provoked by the specifics of the society itself, the ongoing socio-political processes.
Youth radicalism in Russian society was formed in the context of social transformation of Russian society, which led to social imbalances that narrow the social and mobile potential of young people. The variety of market social and professional niches and the growing limited labor market, territorial divisions determine the social positioning of young people as a group with narrowed social reproduction and with an increase in trends of social exclusion and isolationism, a decrease in interest in intergenerational dialogue, which stimulates the radicalization of the youth environment in relation to public interests and dialogue with other social, age and social groups of Russian society.Today, the radicalism of Russian youth is due to the violation, deformation of the process of social integration of young people.
Structural transformations in Russian society have led to social polarization, a sharp social, property and socio-cultural stratification, have led to the fact that young people are a group of social risk, balancing on the brink of social exclusion, self-determination of youth is difficult, the likelihood of collapse of vital interests increases, which leads to an increase in illegal ways of realizing life goals (deviant career).Social (socio-structural) imbalances in Russian society, as well as the lack of institutional (legal) forms of self-realization of youth, is a system-wide circumstance for stimulating youth radicalism.
Russian youth are characterized by a contradictory attitude towards radicalism. On the one hand, there is no willingness to take part in radical actions at the personal or group levels, that is, the collective subject of radicalism has not developed. On the other hand, there is indifference or a positive attitude towards the manifestation of youth radicalism as a fair and justified reaction of young people to dissatisfaction with their position not only in the sphere of material production, but also in socio-political life.
The peculiarity of youth radicalism consists in mistrust or anger in relation to the state (low authority of state institutions) and spontaneity or conflict of relations at the level of interpersonal interaction. Radical ideas are, in a way, a form of substitute integration, since the mechanisms and conditions for social and professional integration, social inclusion of young people (education, profession, territorial mobility) in Russian society are reduced. And in this sense, it is necessary to distinguish between demonstrative radicalism as a way of emphasizing the independence of young people and activity, associated with attempts not to alienate the existing system of social relations and values, but to radically destroy or reorganize them.
Youth radicalism acts as a cumulative effect of socio-structural changes in Russian society. Socio-structural determinants of youth radicalism are expressed in social gaps, to the extent of social inequalities that are perceived by young people as unfair, as alien, as barriers to the social and political activity of young people. Socio-structural changes influenced the growth of youth distrust of state and public institutions, as a result, the degree of admissibility of antisocial radical actions and phenomena grows.
Not only poor, disadvantaged youth are capable of radicalism, but also young people with an average level of well-being, with social and political ambitions that do not correspond to the corridor of institutional and structural opportunities.
The radicalization of the views of the younger generation is manifested in a negative assessment of the present period: social injustice, ethnic conflicts, bureaucracy, corruption. In the historical consciousness of young Russians, firstly, the barriers to youth radicalism have been turned off, the idea of radicalism as a dead-end and requiring human sacrifice way to achieve social goals has not been updated; secondly, the comprehension of history does not lead to an awareness of continuity with the previous stages of the country’s development, the desire to find a synthesis of tradition and modernity, that is, youth radicalism is consolidated at the level of historical negativism, grows out of a sense of historical fragmentation.
The attitude of young people to law as a form of coercive influence, external control, expands the boundaries of perception of radicalism, since with an instrumental attitude to law or legal nihilism, violation of legal norms is perceived as possible if there is no inevitability of punishment or the law is perceived exclusively as unjust. And since the definition of social justice in the youth environment is connected to a large extent with a negative assessment of the state, there is a risk of confusion between the concepts of justice and radicalism.Actions against the state and its individual representatives can be regarded as fair. This does not mean that Russian youth is fundamentally ready to become an ally of radicalism. It is another matter that the attitude towards the Russian state, as not entirely legal, expressed by almost half of the youth, leaves room for the legitimation of radicalism and the attitude towards radical sentiments as fully justified by the injustice of laws.
Not many young people believe that police resistance, which is a characteristic reference point in relation to radicalism, cannot be justified in any way and is a crime.For some young people, radicalism is thought of as “action-style” as going beyond the gray everyday life, as an extreme form of self-expression, as the attractiveness of vivid life experiences, which creates an additional resource for mobilizing young people into radical networks.
Russian youth are quite practical, and their value orientations testify to individualism, but there is a risk of expansion of radicalism in this, since the dominant value orientations can be replaced by the radicalization of social activity if young people feel the impossibility of acting in legitimate ways.
Some of the youth are members of marginal radical youth organizations, but the majority of radical groups are not registered, they are mobile, organized according to a network principle, which can reduce the level of real assessment of radicalism. On the other hand, radical moods and actions can take place in a self-organized or socially spontaneous form. Most young people are non-reflective, unconscious radicals, ready to admit, approve or even participate in radical actions according to the logic of the situation.
On the basis of value and activity, radicalism is reflected in four interdependent aspects. First, radicalism, not taking shape in an independent ideological trend and presenting a multi-layered and contradictory syndrome of public life, is characterized by sufficient integrity, unity of views in relation to the democratic and market values asserted in society, as negative. Secondly, the tradition of individualistic anarchism, the desire to be the master of oneself, the absolutization of the independence of young people is associated with radicalism.Thirdly, radicalism is focused on the value of risk, on the formula “result for the sake of action,” on the logic of action, on the desire to be recognizable, to arouse respect among young people. Fourthly, radicalism is associated with disbelief or indifference of young people in relation to the norms of social and legal self-regulation, the value of law and social solidarity.
Among a certain part of the radical-minded modern youth (“conscious radicals”), the ideological traditions of Russian radicalism and anarchism are manifested, intertwined with emotional irrational attitudes and modern themes.The conscious part of young radicals, who share radical ideological ideas, is divorced from the majority of young Russians and enclosed in narrow (sectarian) frameworks, which does not mean the existence of an impenetrable border between radical movements and the mood of the majority of young people.
The main reason for the high potential of radicalism is the presence of energetic youth, but absolutely no place in life, no career prospects, no way out. This among young people can carry irreconcilable hatred of society.In everyday life, radicalism of young people exists mainly in the form of moods, representing a system of views and emotional states of an extremist orientation. Dissatisfaction with life among some of the youth is displaced in the form of hostility to immigrants, ethnic hatred, and right-wing radicalism.
Youth radicalism acts as a form of social self-determination and activity of youth, as an alternative to everyday life and as a way to achieve social justice in opposition to the state and specific power structures, but it should be borne in mind that radicalism acts as a destructive social energy of youth, as a reaction to the growth of social contradictions.It is not uncommon for youth radicalism to manifest itself through youth organizations.
Youth radicalism in Russian society is a state of the youth environment associated with political pseudo-personality, as a consequence of political indifference and distrust of state and political institutions. Some young people believe that the internal policy of the state does not coincide with the interests of young people and if young people are not able to have channels of legal (legal) influence, then young people should either become an independent subject of political activity, which can only qualify as radicalism in relation to adult systemic parties and movements, or move away from politics, leaving for a private, non-politicized space.
Radicalism is becoming a substitute for the civic and political activity of young people, a way of political presentation, which is as ineffective as social passivity, but can introduce serious elements of political destabilization. For young people, radical ideas seem attractive as the ideal of more or less pure politics.
Active opposition youth organizations and movements, acting as a street protest force, try to imagine themselves as leaders of future changes, which, despite the extreme populism and “dedication” of its participants, does not lead to the mobilization of broad masses of young people, but can be qualified as an extra-systemic organizational radicalism …
Youth radicalism is a generator of political instability, political destructivism, transition to non-systemic forms of youth political activity. Radicalism is a peripheral, non-systemic phenomenon of political life, which stands in opposition to the entire political system and traditional political subjects (including the systemic opposition). Youth radicalism in the political life of Russian society is characterized by political pseudo-personality, expressed in the peripherality of political participation, determined by organizational and cognitive immaturity, and claims to leadership positions in non-systemic opposition, which creates a vicious circle of political destructivism.
Ignoring youth radicalism or the use of punitive measures does not give a positive effect, a systematic approach is needed aimed at minimizing all economic, political, socio-structural and ideological factors that determine the radicalization of youth, a dialogue with mass participants in youth radicalism, neutralization of “ideologists and leaders”, assistance the growth of activity and influence of youth civic and political associations expressing the interests of young people as an independent social, age and socio-cultural group.
SZIU expert took part in the meeting of the Research Committee “Sociology of Childhood”
28 December2020
In December, the RF Parliament adopted in the third reading the law “On youth policy in the Russian Federation”. This document expands the boundaries of youth age and, according to experts, expands the areas of support for youth.The changes will affect every third inhabitant of the country.
Discussion of the changes proposed by the new law took place in the framework of the online meeting of the Research Committee “Sociology of Childhood” of the Russian Society of Sociologists.
The scientists focused on analyzing the updated concept of the socio-demographic group “youth”, how it correlates with borderline ages, as well as determining the social effect of a number of legislative norms on the everyday life of the new generation of Russians and state policy.
According to the adopted law, persons between the ages of 14 and 35, inclusive, are classified as youth, with the possibility of increasing this range at the regional level. According to sociologists, such a consolidation of age boundaries directly affects childhood and problems that are in the circle of children’s topics. In the future, this will have many legal consequences of the application of this legislative act in solving practical problems of everyday life.
As noted by Albina Beschasnaya, a professor at the RANEPA SZIU, Doctor of Sociological Sciences, at present, according to the Family Code of the Russian Federation, a person who has not reached the age of majority is recognized as a child.At the same time, now there is an overlap of the childhood and youth periods of life.
“Considering that following the consolidation of the legal status of“ child ”in the Family Code and“ young citizen ”in the new law, these categories of persons have object or subject legal relations that provide for a different scope of rights, including material and property rights, to assert with confidence about the high probability of a “conflict of interest” in matters of granting children and youth the rights to realize their interests.Such a collision is natural from the point of view of social and even civilizational development, ”the expert said.
She added that the development of society and culture leads to the fragmentation of ages according to socially significant criteria. Therefore, there is a need to form a special legal status for teenagers, who are cramped within the framework of childhood, but it is premature to equate them with 30-35 years old.
“The broad age range proposed by the authors of the document denotes the demographic, but not social and scientifically based characteristics of their representatives.In this interpretation of the objects of the law “On youth policy in the Russian Federation”, young citizens will not only be provided with legislatively enshrined opportunities to satisfy their interests and rights, but also vice versa, will contribute to strengthening control and regulation in the implementation of initiatives. And, of course, young people have now received certain preferences for the implementation of their life plans, ”concluded Albina Beschasnaya.
Let us add that leading Russian scientists on children and youth issues took part in the meeting of the Sociology of Childhood Research Committee.Including the head of the IC “Sociology of Childhood” ROS, Doctor of Sociological Sciences, Professor of Moscow State University of Psychology and Education Svetlana Mayorova-Shcheglova, Head of the Center for Sociology of Youth ISPI FNISTS RAS, Head of the IC “Sociology of Youth” ROS, Doctor of Sociological Sciences, Professor Yulia Zubok, Head of the Department of Sociology, of psychology and pedagogy of children’s reading of the Russian State Children’s Library, Candidate of Sociological Sciences Elena Kolosova, Candidate of Sociological Sciences, Associate Professor of SSTU Svetlana Mitrofanova, Professor of the Department of State Municipal Administration of the North-East Institute of the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, Doctor of Sociology Albina Beschasnaya.
Rossotrudnichestvo intends to expand work with youth
https://ria.ru/20191211/1562289595.html
Rossotrudnichestvo intends to expand work with youth
Rossotrudnichestvo intends to expand work with youth – RIA Novosti, 12.12.2019
Rossotrudnichestvo intends to expand work with youth
The Federal Agency for CIS Affairs, Compatriots Living Abroad, and for International Humanitarian Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo) will… RIA Novosti, 12.12.2019
2019-12-11T20: 15
2019-12-11T20: 15
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LYUBLYANA, Dec 11 – RIA Novosti. The Federal Agency for CIS Affairs, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo) will expand work with youth, including expanding the “New Generation” program, which provides for the travel of foreign young professionals to Russia, as well as using in the organization of events in the Russian cultural scientific centers (RCSC) in different countries, modern digital technologies, said the head of the agency Eleonora Mitrofanova at a meeting with Russian journalists dedicated to the results of 2019.She recalled that currently there are 97 Rossotrudnichestvo offices in more than 80 countries around the world. “We are trying to make our homes (RCSC) more interesting for young people. And this is successful. – noted Mitrofanova. According to her, at the end of 2019, a record was set – the arrival of 1004 young people from 110 countries to Russia was organized.”And these are not just young people who have expressed a desire to visit the Russian Federation. They are leaders in their areas. For example, young parliamentarians, journalists, young diplomats. A very successful format,” the head of Rossotrudnichestvo emphasized. Mitrofanova said that a slight change in the concept of this program is planned. … “We are expanding the age range (of program participants), now it is from 25 to 35 years old. We plan to expand it within the range from 20 to 40 years old. Now, for example, from China, where young specialists are considered to be people under the age of 40, we are no one we can bring it, “she clarified.In addition, the program will provide an opportunity for re-participation. “According to the rules, we cannot invite anyone, this is very wrong. We have now realized that it is necessary to leave a quota for those who want to re-participate. There are very active people,” Mitrofanova explained. is also very important, she added. “New Generation” is a Rossotrudnichestvo program that includes study tours to Russia for young representatives of political, social, scientific and business circles of foreign countries.The head of Rossotrudnichestvo named the Dialogue on the Volga forum as another successful agency project. “Previously, 5-6 countries came to it. This year, representatives of 40 countries came to it, there were a huge number of young people. We took the Volgograd Forum under our patronage and will continue to work in this spirit. In turn, we will hold it, dedicating it to the 75th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War. We also plan to bring a large number of young people, “Mitrofanova said.
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LYUBLYANA, December 11 – RIA Novosti. The Federal Agency for CIS Affairs, Compatriots Living Abroad, and International Humanitarian Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo) will expand work with youth, including expanding the New Generation program, which provides for the travel of foreign young specialists to Russia, as well as using events in Russian cultural research centers (RCSC) in different countries, modern digital technologies, said the head of the agency Eleonora Mitrofanova at a meeting with Russian journalists dedicated to the results of 2019.
She recalled that currently there are 97 Rossotrudnichestvo offices in more than 80 countries around the world. “We are trying to make our homes (RCSC) more interesting for young people. And this is successful. – noted Mitrofanova.
November 28, 2019, 16:32
Rossotrudnichestvo noted an increase in interest in learning Russian
According to her, at the end of 2019, a record was set – a visit to Russia of 1004 young people from 110 countries was organized.”And these are not just young people who have expressed a desire to visit the Russian Federation. They are leaders in their areas. For example, young parliamentarians, journalists, young diplomats. A very successful format,” the head of Rossotrudnichestvo stressed.
Mitrofanova announced that a small change in the concept of this program is planned. “We are expanding the age range (of program participants), now it is from 25 to 35 years old. We plan to expand it within the range from 20 to 40 years old. Now, for example, from China, where young specialists are considered to be people under the age of 40, we are no one we can bring it, “she clarified.
In addition, the program will provide an opportunity for re-participation. “According to the rules, we cannot invite anyone, this is very wrong. We have now realized that it is necessary to leave a quota for those who want to re-participate. There are very active people,” Mitrofanova explained.
December 11, 2019, 20:15
Rossotrudnichestvo told about plans for 2020
Within the framework of the “New Generation” post-program work is being carried out, which is also very important, she added.
“New Generation” – Rossotrudnichestvo program, which includes study tours to Russia of young representatives of political, social, scientific and business circles of foreign countries.
The head of Rossotrudnichestvo named the Dialogue on the Volga forum as another successful agency project. “Previously, 5-6 countries came to it. This year, representatives of 40 countries came to it, there were a huge number of young people. We took the Volgograd Forum under our patronage and will continue to work in this spirit.Next year it will also be, first of all, we will hold it, dedicating it to the 75th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War. We also plan to bring a large number of young people, “Mitrofanova said.
December 11, 2019, 17:20
Rossotrudnichestvo appoints its representative in Syria 90,000 Lomonosov competition of research works for schoolchildren starts on the Day of Russian Science · News from Arkhangelsk and the Arkhangelsk region. Network publication DVINANEWS
Kenozero National Park announces the start of the Arkhangelsk Regional Competition of Research Works and Projects named after M.V. Lomonosov.
The competition is held for the purpose of intellectual and creative development of the individual, spiritual, moral, environmentally oriented education and upbringing of schoolchildren through the study of nature, the cultural and historical heritage of the region and the life of prominent fellow countrymen, as well as the development of research and project activities of students of educational institutions.
Research papers and research projects of schoolchildren are subject to consideration in the competition.Such works presuppose awareness of the current state of the subject of research, knowledge of experimental techniques, analysis of the data obtained, conclusions and recommendations.
The following subject areas are distinguished in the competition:
Natural science:
Sections: “Biology. Ecology of Plants and Animals “,” Geography.
Geology “,” Applied Physics and Chemistry “,” Human Ecology. Health protection “,”
nature. Anthropogenic impact on the natural environment.Protected
natural territories “,” Local history “.
Humanities:
Sections: “Domestic history and local history (including
history of the city, district, village, family), “Folk culture. Folklore and
ethnography, history and culture of Russian villages, dialectology “,” Material
culture. Architecture and Folk Art “,” Ecology of Culture “,” Economics and
sociology of modern society (including the problems of youth, education,
science, culture) “.
