Adolescence

Adolescence has changed. Young people now enter puberty earlier (in many cases, at ten or eleven) and leave home later. What's more, modern society expects children to grow up emotionally all too quickly. The good news is that the skills, knowledge and strategies parents need are clearly explained in Adolescence. In this book, Michael Carr-Gregg and Erin Shale discuss: 

• the three big questions in an adolescent's life: 'Am I normal?', '˜Who am I?' and '˜What is my place in the world?'
• the increasingly early onset of puberty, and its impact on you and your pre-teen child
• useful approaches for parents and teachers: what good parenting is all about, techniques for communicating well, and knowing how to handle problems before they become crises
• how to deal with serious issues such as depression, suicidal feelings, relationships and emerging sexuality, drugs and eating disorders
• parents' most frequently asked questions
• how to set appropriate, negotiated boundaries 
• how to raise our children to be resilient adults and cope with difficulties in life 
• why the key protective factor for adolescents is a sense of attachment to a significant adult in their lives, and
• how successful parenting is about providing young people with an environment where they feel safe, valued and listened to.

'Adolescence is living proof that Mother Nature has a sense of humour - because everything we did to our parents when we were young is repeated by our own children. It can be a confusing time for both you and your child, but despite the worries, it's a wonderful evolution. You are witnessing the birth of a new young person. Enjoy the ride!' (Michael Carr-Gregg and Erin Shale).