Leisure time does not have to be purposeless

Some young people seem to have less and less leisure time: their days are taken up completely with work and study. Others have too much leisure, in that they have dropped out of school and the labour market. Some young people have retreated into the privacy of their bedrooms to play games against machines and generally to develop an individualised leisure experience. Others are all too visible - hanging around on the street, enjoying collective leisure.

Some things, however, are clear. There has been a decline in organised leisure and young people are now deciding far more how they use this time. There may be absolutely nothing wrong with that: what they do may reflect a sense of civic engagement (through volunteering, for example) or personal exploration and development through new experiences. Alternatively, it might be perceived as idleness, purposeless behaviour and at times public nuisance.