My Blog
Parents of teenagers in China
In 2021 I was contacted by a parenting organization in Beijing to tell me that they had arranged for my book “Why won’t my teenager talk to me?” to be translated into Chinese. I was delighted, and not a little surprised. They asked if I would like a copy, and before...
Why teach brain development to secondary school pupils?
Our knowledge of the changes in the teenage brain is not exactly “new knowledge”. It is 20 years now since reports of research on the teen brain starting appearing in the media. However, there is a long way to go before the field of education catches up with these...
Shortlisted for ‘Best Books for Educators Summer 2021’ awards.
We’re delighted to announce that The Teacher and the Teenage Brain has made the shortlist of Learning Ladders’ ‘Best Books for Educators Summer 2021’ awards. We were shortlisted alongside 40 other books from a longlist of over 100 entries for our dedication to...
The Teacher and The Teenage Brain
Publisher: Routledge Publication Date: 27th May 2021 I wrote this book, “The teacher and the teenage brain”, for two reasons. First, because I believe that knowledge about teenage brain development can make a profound difference to the way adults understand and...
Information management
A parent recently asked me why her daughter was willing to tell her certain things, but clammed up when asked about other topics. I replied by telling her the story of one young woman who said to me: “I do tell my Mum things, but not at the time they happen. I have...
Teenagers and sleep
It has been really exciting to see the development of sleep lessons for young people, developed by Dr Michael Farquar in association with the PSHE Association. I have long believed that good sleep is a key element contributing to the health of teenagers. It is...
A workshop for Parents
“The teen brain – a workshop for parents” A 40-slide powerpoint presentation: These slides are designed for a 2 hour session. The workshop is designed for parents or carers of teenagers. It would be appropriate for parents or carers of any age teenager during the...
Conversation, not confrontation: how can parents and teenagers learn to talk to each other?
Parents and teenagers need to be able to talk together. Yet in so many families this turns out to be a major problem. Parents feel the teenager won’t listen, and teenagers feel exactly the same: that their parents aren’t listening. One 14 year-old girl...
Social media and teenagers, a practical approach
Is social media damaging the mental health of young people? It’s important to look behind the headlines. There is no doubt that today social media is seen by adults as representing a major threat to young people. There is much debate in the press and in public about...
The STAGE framework: a new approach for parents of teenagers
“Yes, I get quite moody, quite a lot of the time. Like with parents and stuff, they say just do something, and I’d take it a bit too far, and like just storm out of the room, slamming doors.”15 year-old girl. Parents of teenagers need good quality information...
