PROMOTING POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT THROUGH EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Most youth intervention programs had tried to prevent risk behaviors using an approach based on a deficit model about adolescent's health and development. Recently this model has been questioned by new approaches that emphasize competence and positive youth development. There is converging evidence suggesting that extracurricular activities are able to promote adolescent development. This paper reviews the contemporary literature on extracurricular activities as a resource to promote youth development. We focus on different topics such as particular characteristics of effective extracurricular programs, and about the participant's positive outcomes. We also describe two examples of Spanish extracurricular youth development program. To conclude we present a few questions without answers and future research guidelines.