If anything, these activities need increased support and commitment from communities so that young people won't be idle in front of the television or hanging out on the street corner or in the shopping mall. These programs benefit the entire community, and ar as essential as more formal education and parallel to it. One of the characteristics of the healthiest communities is that young people have opportunities to be involved in constructive activities. In the least healthy communities, only 39 percent of youth are involved. Though this study doesn't examine why this involvement is important, several factors may be at work.
Young people do something constructive.
As a result, they are less likely to get into risky situations, such as spending too much time alone at home, or getting involved in anti-social activities such as drinking parties or gangs. Young people learn skills and values, since many of these programs involve education, discipline, personal development, and helping others. Music lessons, for example, involve committing to regular practice, developing a love for art, and nurturing a sense of accomplishment. These activities are voluntary, fun, and challenging. Thus they allow young people to set personal goals and standards, rather than having goals and standards set for them.