Dog

Ages and Stages of Youth Development

As you work with young people, it is important to take into account where they are in their stage of development. Not all people develop in the same way at the same age. But there are certain patterns within youth development that are commonly expressed by most youth. Understanding these characteristics will help you better reach and teach your audience.

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Basic Life Skill Development

As a helper for the dog project, one of your primary goals is to help youth gain knowledge about dogs. However, it is equally important to emphasize the learning of "life skills." These skills transfer beyond the actual activity. Life skills are critical in helping young people become self-directing, productive and contributing members of society. The Targeting Life Skills (TLS) Model (Hendricks, 1996), identifies and divides the major life skills targeted in 4-H youth development by the four H's from the 4-H clover that represent Head, Heart, Hands and Health. These four are further divided into categories and then into specific life skills as shown.

Completion Certificates

• Wiggles and Wags
• Canine Connection
• Leading the Pack