On the Blog
6 tips on Young Teens, Sleepovers and Parties
The party culture begins to build in Year/Grade 9, sometimes very quickly. Although most young people at this age will choose not to drink, alcohol starts to become a part of their socialising experience, usually at pre-parties, with a small but influential group regularly drinking, some to excess. Instead of…
?When Friendships go Wrong for Girls
Girlhood relationships are so important, yet they can be both wonderful and awful in the same week. Friendship fallouts hurt, but tweens and teens need to know that arguing doesn’t have to be the end of the friendship. Developmentally, some squabbling is vital because
?Developing Relationship Intelligence in Teens
One thing that continually strikes me about the young people I work with is that they really do want to become good men and women who have rich, meaningful relationships. They are just sometimes unsure how to go about it. They need our support and guidance.
My Son Has Proven Me Wrong: Championing a Young Adult with Bold Ideas
12 months ago my son came to my husband and I with an “idea”. Year 12 was finished. The safety of school was over. Schoolies was done. He was faced with the big decision of what to do with 8 hours, five days a week. It was time to adult.
? ‘Bad News’ Media & Talking with our Children.
VIDEO – Today, for ‘Wellbeing Wednesday’ I chat with Fiona about media consumption and talking with our children.
Starting Secondary School – Top Tips
How can you help your young person navigate the year ahead at high school? Parenting author, Sharon Witt, provides some ideas for parents to support their tweens and teens on their journey.
?Chores Lead to Success, Later in Life (even if teens don’t love them!)
What the studies discovered is that kids who were expected to participate in doing chores developed a stronger work ethic, and a strong work ethic leads to success in…
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?Parties and Alcohol – Do parents have any influence on teens?
A factor we now understand is that parents are one of the main suppliers of alcohol to young teen drinkers. It comes from the mistaken belief that…
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Media Reported Trauma – 10 Tips for supporting young people
Adults can sometimes assume that teens are coping with the overload of media reported trauma – while quietly – they are imploding.
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?The Power of Family Meals
Although family meal time on its own is not a magic bullet for emotional health, evidence suggests that teens who take part in family meals display less delinquency, greater academic achievement, improved wellbeing…
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?How Do You Talk To Your Teen About Porn?
Young people are naturally curious and innately want to know more about love and sex, yet porn has the ability to destroy everything that is good about romance, love and relationships…
9 Ideas for Screen Time Balance
How much screen time is too much? That is the question I get asked at every seminar I run.
The answer…
?When Should Kids Start Dating?
Romantic interests are a completely normal part of growing up. However, it’s what teens do with that interest and how you handle your teen’s emerging feelings that matters.
?What if My Child is the Bully?
One of the toughest things to hear from your child’s school is that your own teen is the bully. Here’s what you can do to help your child…
Connecting with Teens – 6 Tips
“I love teenagers!”
Yet… I find that whenever I say this phrase people look at me and chuckle, as if waiting for the punchline…
We’re Teaching Them Sex Education — But What About Love Education?
If you’re a parent, a teacher, a youth worker, or simply have teenagers in your world, please do a young person a favour: talk to them about healthy relationships, and what it means to love.
Research shows that teens are hungry for this kind of advice