Romance in adolescence is often viewed as superficial and short-lived, a sweeping sort of lust rather than a long term, committed relationship. In some senses this is true since it is unlikely that an adolescent relationship will last more than a few weeks or months nor have the depth and complexity that comes with a...Read More

Getting information from our children can be tricky. Sometimes your questions are followed by a one word answers or just silence, as if they didn’t understand the question. Which they probably didn’t. The way in which we ask questions is vital to the level of information we are requiring. At times a simple yes or...Read More

Expectations are personal beliefs about future happenings. They are predictions based on preconceived ideas, knowledge, needs or wants. A primary purpose of expectations is to prepare us for action. Often the choices that we make are based on the expectations we hold for how the situation or decision will affect ourselves, others or the world...Read More

Unfortunately, Exam time is the reality that all teenagers face. Exams are even being introduced earlier in primary school as well. The concept of exams is something I believe needs to be seriously reevaluated as a method of assessment in all schools. Is the stress and anxiety around exams, particularly in the later years of...Read More

To determine your teens study style and the strategies to go with it chat to your teen about the following factors. Each teen’s style and strategies will be unique. By going through the following factors you can come up with the most appropriate way for your teen to tackle exam time and any other studying...Read More

Teenagehood is often riddled with mistake making and a few failures. I’m sure this sounds incredibly negative and justification for misbehaviour during teenagehood however, there is a big difference between mistakes and misbehaviour and mistakes are a vital component of teenage development. I am sure we can all look back on our teenage years and...Read More

Discipline is a very complex concept. What is the ‘right’ way to discipline your child. What does discipline actually entail? Is discipline different from punishment? The goal of punishment is usually to enforce compliance with the rules by using external control or authoritarian discipline. While it may be effective in stopping the misbehavior in that...Read More

Being authentic can be scary. What if I am different to the others around me? What if they judge me? What if they reject me? These are the questions that go on in our heads when we are choosing whether to be authentic or not. One of our greatest needs is to belong and this...Read More

Allowing them to choose and try new things EVERY DAY As parents when our children are young we are used to guiding them, giving them information and making suggestions, but is this the best way for them to learn? Do we give them enough opportunities to choose, explore and try things for themselves? Giving them...Read More

Before we can discuss the topic of peer pressure it is important to note what exactly it is. Peer pressure can also be thought of as peer influence and social pressure. It is the process whereby an individual, normally a teenager, is directly influenced by the the lifestyle, attitudes, values and behaviours of their peers/friends....Read More