Hi, there! I heard a focal point of examination for the fields of delinquency prevention is how adolescents spend their leisure time in the hours after school. However, I am not quite sure about the logic behind this statement. I wonder if anyone could kindly help me with it? Thank you very much!

You are welcome.

Sounds great! Thanks for your detailed explanation!

Sure. Indeed, the most influential experiences of youth are often the people, places, and activities that occur outside of school. Accordingly, afterschool programs can play a key role in engaging youth in the learning process by providing opportunities to explore interests, gain competency in real-world skills, solve problems, assume leadership roles, develop a group identity with similarly engaged peers, connect to adult role models and mentors, and become involved in improving their communities. Thus, a question that emerges when examining the role of leisure and youth development is whether afterschool programs, particularly recreation-based programs, are effective in promoting positive youth development. Further, are these programs cost-effective means to reduce delinquency? If so, how can the outcomes of recreation-based afterschool programs be monetized to show the value gained by society through a reduction in crime and delinquency?