Contemporary theory and research in youth development stress the
importance of civic engagement as it provides a path to a thriving society and
a healthy adolescence and adulthood. In order to give better understanding of
civic engagement in youth and youth development, this article first provides a
conceptualization of civic engagement in youth and discusses its definitional
arguments and components of civic engagement. Secondly, the article
explains the development systemtheory and the “SixthC” of contribution as it
relates to civic engagement in youth in addition to “Five Cs” of competnece,
confidence, connection, character, and caring to describe the key features of
PYD(positive youth development). Thirdly, it highlights important factors
within youth and their contexts that might support the development of civic
engagement in youth. This includes civic education, participation in school
and youth activities, volunteerism and community service, and parenting
behaviors and family civic education It also emphasizes the values of civic
engagement in youth and the benefits of youth participation and involvement
that may be applicable to the theoretical and practical understanding of the
civic engagement, positive development, and youth participation