ABSTRACT
Throughout history, cultures have wrestled with questions of how best to raise children so that they might live well and become admirable people. The continuance of our society, our way of life, and the health of our nation depend on the healthy development of all our children. Social science, in its various forms, has much to offer on the question of how best to support positive youth development.Growing discourse among disciplines, and between theorists and practitioners, has helped to transcend some of the traditional boundaries and limitations of the various approaches concernedwith development. The growing discourse provides an opportunity to bring people and programs into conversation regarding common objectives, differences in language and terminology, and the compatibility of conceptual frameworks. This chapter informs that discussionwith a conceptual overviewof disciplines addressing the positive side of youth development and a discussion of their educational implications.
