Adolescent life skill development through active recreation : a case study

Abstract

The study investigated how active recreation opportunities can be utilised to develop adolescent‟s life skills in a lower socio-economic community. Adolescence is known as one of the most difficult developmental periods in an individual‟s life and life skill development is an important contributing factor in assisting an adolescent in this difficult period. Adolescents in lower socio-economic communities are faced with limited opportunities for the development of life skills that possibly contribute to the use of drugs, alcohol, teenage pregnancies and other deviant behaviours. Active recreation opportunities can provide an avenue by creating an environment in which life skills can be learned practiced and later be transferred to life situations in which life skills are required. The aims of the study were: To identify how active recreation can contribute to life skill development of adolescents in lower social communities. To explore how adolescents in Eersterust perceive current active recreation opportunities in the community. To investigate adolescents in the Eersterust community and their perception of how life skills can be achieved through active recreation. Grounded in the exploratory qualitative research design with a case study approach framework, the research methods for the study included focus groups and participation observation. Participant selection included voluntary high school adolescents in the Eersterust community between the ages of 14 and 17. It was founded that recreation programs provided in the lower socio – economic communities do not meet the needs of the adolescents and this leads to non participation. Adolescents have indicated an understanding of the importance of life skills and that through participating in active recreation activities they could obtain these skills. For future studies the following recommendations are suggested:  The gender division should be considered and therefore it is recommended that there must be an equal amount of each gender in a group or that the groups consist of one gender only.  Recreation providers must include adolescents in the design of active recreation programs as adolescents understand the importance of life skill development and to insure that the time allocation of the activities accompanies their schedule.  Adolescents need to become familiar with presenters of activities. It is therefore recommended that test are done more than once to provide the adolescents with the opportunity to become familiar with the activity presenters and this provides the researcher with the opportunity to observe the results not only on their first meeting but also later on.  Instructions must not be too difficult or take long periods to explain. Participants tend to get irritated and their mind wonders. It is therefore recommended that instructions are kept short and sweet  Barriers for example the maintenance of facilities, lack of equipment and supervision should be taken into account when developing programs.