Youth are young people between the age of 13-30. This is a transitioning phase; from being dependent on a caregiver to becoming independent. Independent in the emotional context, cognitive context and behavior context. Also, of significance at this phase is establishing an identity; exploring their self-image; strengths, abilities, weaknesses. Exploring their public-image; understanding how other people view them; family and peers. Exploring their ideal-self; understanding who they want to be in future, what they want to achieve and having a bucket-list. Exploring their body-image; understanding the changes that happen in puberty, how they feel about the changes and how these feelings influence how they behave. At this stage, young people value peer relationships over their relationships with family. This is a crucial phase for young people as they seek independence, nonetheless, it does not mean they have the capacity to be responsible or accountable for this independence. At this stage, the role of a guardian or parent is very important although it is greatly undermined. Parents/guardians act as significant sources of reference; establishing social roles and acquiring life skills. As young people seek and desire independence at this stage, it is important for them to have an accountability partner, hence the need to have parents/guardians actively present in their lives, to act as a compass to give them direction and hold them accountable. NEXT>> EXPLORE THE TRANSTIONING CONCEPT AND CHANGES THAT SET APART THIS PHASE.
