Parenting teenagers untangled. 🏆 The audio hug for parents of teens and tweens.

What do you think of this episode? Do you have any topics you'd like me to cover?What's better than falling in love again, particularly after a divorce or breakdown of a previous relationship? If you've managed to find someone special in the messy tangle of life as a parent it can feel like a miracle, but your teen may not be anywhere near as enthusiastic about you moving on. When Jamie asked us for help with how she can introduce her new partner to her teen we knew it was a great one for us to discuss. In this episode we talk about when to do it, how, and suggest ways to ensure your teenager sees it as a positive, rather than something that might ruin their life. Support the showThank you so much for your support. Please hit the follow button if you like the podcast, and share it with anyone who might benefit. You can review us on Apple podcasts by going to the show page, scrolling down to the bottom where you can click on a star then you can leave your message. I don't have medical training so please seek the advice of a specialist if you're not coping. My email is teenagersuntangled@gmail.com My website has a blog, searchable episodes, and ways to contact us:www.teenagersuntangled.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/teenagersuntangled/Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/teenagersuntangled/Susie is available for a free 15 minute consultation, and has a great blog:www.amindful-life.co.uk

What do you think of this episode? Do you have any topics you'd like me to cover?We all know that teenagers need their friends, and spending time with others protects against anxiety and all sorts of other mental health problems. At the same time, groups of teens are far more likely to take risks and behave in a delinquent manner, which is what one of our listeners has discovered. Aged 13, her son has already started doing things with his friends that have got him into trouble with the police, so she's come to us for help.In this episode we talk about long-term trends in teenage delinquency, what we know about the teenage brain, and the one key thing she can do to keep him from messing up badly whilst he's at this vulnerable age.BEHAVIOUR CONTRACT:https://www.theyarethefuture.co.uk/teenage-behaviour-contracts/RESEARCH STUDIES:The great decline in adolescent risk behaviours: Unitary trend, separate trends, or cascade https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953622009224#bib80  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2396566/#:~:text=Changes%20in%20Neural%20Oxytocin%20at,takes%20place%20early%20in%20adolescence. https://www.theyarethefuture.co.uk/troubled-teen-boy/ https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.744794/full https://www.understandingboys.com.au/how-to-handle-your-sons-unhealthy-risk-taking/ https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/talking-apes/202003/why-do-young-men-engage-in-risky-behaviors#:~:text=Risk%2Dtaking%20in%20males%20is,genes%20into%20the%20next%20generation. https://www.empoweringparents.com/article/is-your-child-engaging-in-delinquent-behavior-4-ways-to-ma [Accessed 30 May 2023]. Support the showThank you so much for your support. Please hit the follow button if you like the podcast, and share it with anyone who might benefit. You can review us on Apple podcasts by going to the show page, scrolling down to the bottom where you can click on a star then you can leave your message. I don't have medical training so please seek the advice of a specialist if you're not coping. My email is teenagersuntangled@gmail.com My website has a blog, searchable episodes, and ways to contact us:www.teenagersuntangled.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/teenagersuntangled/Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/teenagersuntangled/Susie is available for a free 15 minute consultation, and has a great blog:www.amindful-life.co.uk

What do you think of this episode? Do you have any topics you'd like me to cover?Support the showThank you so much for your support. Please hit the follow button if you like the podcast, and share it with anyone who might benefit. You can review us on Apple podcasts by going to the show page, scrolling down to the bottom where you can click on a star then you can leave your message. I don't have medical training so please seek the advice of a specialist if you're not coping. My email is teenagersuntangled@gmail.com My website has a blog, searchable episodes, and ways to contact us:www.teenagersuntangled.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/teenagersuntangled/Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/teenagersuntangled/Susie is available for a free 15 minute consultation, and has a great blog:www.amindful-life.co.uk

What do you think of this episode? Do you have any topics you'd like me to cover?An interview with Natasha Devon MBE: We parents often struggle with our fears about how to protect our teens when they're online. So when I received Natasha’s book written for teenagers, 'Clicks; How to be Your Best Self Online', I read it cover to cover.It's a great book to give your teens to help them navigate their online world in a way that's genuinely positive, because it covers things like avoiding tech addiction, swerving fake news, who to follow, online safety, and how to put your best self forward online.What I thought might be particularly useful for us parents was the Tips and Tricks section at the back. I'm going to use each heading to bring up discussions at the dinner table so that we can have  informed conversations about the issues involved.Book: Clicks: How to be Your Best Self Online by Natasha Devon MBEwww.natashadevon.comRachel’s blog post on handing your teen a device:https://www.teenagersuntangled.com/blog/mobile-phones-social-media-and-online-access-what-i-would-do-if-i-had-my-teens-or-tweens-again/Support the showThank you so much for your support. Please hit the follow button if you like the podcast, and share it with anyone who might benefit. You can review us on Apple podcasts by going to the show page, scrolling down to the bottom where you can click on a star then you can leave your message. I don't have medical training so please seek the advice of a specialist if you're not coping. My email is teenagersuntangled@gmail.com My website has a blog, searchable episodes, and ways to contact us:www.teenagersuntangled.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/teenagersuntangled/Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/teenagersuntangled/Susie is available for a free 15 minute consultation, and has a great blog:www.amindful-life.co.uk

What do you think of this episode? Do you have any topics you'd like me to cover?Everything seems better when we've had enough sleep; our mood is more stable, our response times are faster, we can control our impulses more easily, and perform tasks more effectively.  For teenagers, who are growing rapidly and whose brains are going through a massive rewiring, that need for sleep is arguably even greater. But how many of us are certain that our teens are getting enough sleep?  Can we be sure that their moodiness, lack of attention, impulsiveness or poor grades are really a result of teenage hormones? Could they be caused by a chronic sleep deficit? In this episode we look at how much sleep our teens should be getting, how we can support them in reaching that goal, and the one tip for helping them to shift their sleep window.  ONLINE RESOURCES FOR PARENTS: https://thesleepcharity.org.uk/information-support/adults/adult-sleep-ebook/ https://teensleephub.org.uk/teens-young-people/RESEARCH REFERENCES:Sleep in adolescents and young adultsEllen S Bruce, consultant rheumatologist,A Laura Lunt, adolescent and young adult rheumatology research assistant,B and Janet E McDonagh, consultant in paediatric and adolescent rheumatologyC https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6301929/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6143346/ https://neurosciencenews.com/chronotype-shifts-23279/ https://thesleepcharity.org.uk/understanding-your-sleep-new-free-ebook-as-part-of-our-letstalksleep-campaign/https://www.sleepfoundation.org/teens-and-sleep https://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/news/20220914/lack-of-sleep-teens-may-lead-to-obesity https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6301929/ Mindell JA & Owens JA (2003). A Clinical Guide to Pediatric Sleep: Diagnosis and Management of Sleep Problems. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.  Support the showThank you so much for your support. Please hit the follow button if you like the podcast, and share it with anyone who might benefit. You can review us on Apple podcasts by going to the show page, scrolling down to the bottom where you can click on a star then you can leave your message. I don't have medical training so please seek the advice of a specialist if you're not coping. My email is teenagersuntangled@gmail.com My website has a blog, searchable episodes, and ways to contact us:www.teenagersuntangled.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/teenagersuntangled/Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/teenagersuntangled/Susie is available for a free 15 minute consultation, and has a great blog:www.amindful-life.co.uk

What do you think of this episode? Do you have any topics you'd like me to cover?Conflict is normal - but it often escalates during teenage years because our kids are trying to assert their own wishes, and probably aren't very skilled at it. As parents, it's easy to fall into classic conflict traps if we don't have the skills for resolving disagreements. In this episode we talk about the key techniques we can use - and teach - to ease tension and bust-ups at home and elsewhere. What's even better is that by learning techniques for being assertive - and listening until everyone feels understood - we can turn conflict into a positive that deepens our relationships and creates lifelong bonds of understanding.Blog:https://www.teenagersuntangled.com/blog/Conflict-management-skills/RESOURCES:An excellent book:   Making Great Relationships by Rick Hanson Websites used:https://raisingchildren.net.au/teens/communicating-relationships/communicating/conflict-management-with-teenshttps://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00224545.1994.9923015 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0891524502883249Other sources of help:https://www.family-action.org.uk/what-we-do/children-families/familyline/https://www.keycharity.org.uk/help-and-support/resolve-family-issues/http://www.familylives.org.uk/https://www.relate.org.uk/get-helphttps://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/Support the showThank you so much for your support. Please hit the follow button if you like the podcast, and share it with anyone who might benefit. You can review us on Apple podcasts by going to the show page, scrolling down to the bottom where you can click on a star then you can leave your message. I don't have medical training so please seek the advice of a specialist if you're not coping. My email is teenagersuntangled@gmail.com My website has a blog, searchable episodes, and ways to contact us:www.teenagersuntangled.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/teenagersuntangled/Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/teenagersuntangled/Susie is available for a free 15 minute consultation, and has a great blog:www.amindful-life.co.uk

What do you think of this episode? Do you have any topics you'd like me to cover?It's pre-exam time of year again, and oh boy it's tough for our teens.Does yours have a colour-coded revision schedule, carefully-timed breaks, and a confident spring in their step? Maybe they don't seem to be doing enough revision, and you're the one panicking? Or are they losing their sh## with everyone in the house and struggling to stay on top of it?Both of us have teens currently revising for important exams, so we thought it might be helpful to chat about how we support them. We talk about the top tips from Jade Bowler, who went from a U in Chemistry to an A*, and how important it is for us to help our teens keep their perspective.Blog: https://www.teenagersuntangled.com/blog/revision-getting-to-why-1/JUDGEMENT-FREE EXERCISECLASS:www.boostfit.comRESOURCES MY TEENS LOVE:The Only Revision Guide You’ll Ever Need by Jade BowlerDrFrostAmoebasistersKhan Academywww.khanAcademy.orghttps://flora.appfinca.com/en/FLASHCARDS@quizlet @quizizz @getknowt Support the showThank you so much for your support. Please hit the follow button if you like the podcast, and share it with anyone who might benefit. You can review us on Apple podcasts by going to the show page, scrolling down to the bottom where you can click on a star then you can leave your message. I don't have medical training so please seek the advice of a specialist if you're not coping. My email is teenagersuntangled@gmail.com My website has a blog, searchable episodes, and ways to contact us:www.teenagersuntangled.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/teenagersuntangled/Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/teenagersuntangled/Susie is available for a free 15 minute consultation, and has a great blog:www.amindful-life.co.uk

What do you think of this episode? Do you have any topics you'd like me to cover?Most first world countries agree that the age of consent is around sixteen, but teenagers don't suddenly awake to their sexuality on their sixteenth birthday. Sexual feelings and interest can start much younger, well before they’re able to understand the implications. One mother has asked us to talk about the issue, because she's struggling to find useful content.  Knowing the law helps guide us as parents, but it doesn't exactly stop teens from vaping and drinking if they want to, so we have to be prepared to consider how to deal with underage interest in sex too.Gone are the days when most people held back until marriage, and with the advent of free internet porn and social media there's a chance that our teens may know more about sex than we do. So what should we be saying to them, how do we keep them safe, and how can we help them to know when they're ready for that next adventure in life? THE BLOG POST WITH KEY POINTS:https://www.teenagersuntangled.com/blog/it-might-be-illegal-but-when-did-that-ever-stop-a-teenager/HELPFUL WEBSITES:https://www.culturereframed.org/ RESEARCH SOURCES:https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/when-is-person-ready-start-having-sexhttps://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/720822https://oxfordshirescb.proceduresonline.com/p_underage_sexual_act.htmlwww.unchainedatlast.org https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5546176/https://www.npr.org/2023/01/08/1147737247/teen-pregnancy-rates-have-declined-significantlyhttps://courses.lumenlearning.com/adolescent/chapter/sexual-development/https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/amp/entry/no-sex-please-we-re-your-parents-would-you-let-your-teen-have-sex-under-your-roof_n_7389178/https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5546176/https://courses.lumenlearning.com/adolescent/chapter/sexual-development/Support the showThank you so much for your support. Please hit the follow button if you like the podcast, and share it with anyone who might benefit. You can review us on Apple podcasts by going to the show page, scrolling down to the bottom where you can click on a star then you can leave your message. I don't have medical training so please seek the advice of a specialist if you're not coping. My email is teenagersuntangled@gmail.com My website has a blog, searchable episodes, and ways to contact us:www.teenagersuntangled.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/teenagersuntangled/Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/teenagersuntangled/Susie is available for a free 15 minute consultation, and has a great blog:www.amindful-life.co.uk

What do you think of this episode? Do you have any topics you'd like me to cover?We all want our kids to do well at school, but when they become teenagers there's a tendency for both schools and parents to ease back on communication. The schools tend to be much bigger and our teens are trying desperately to distance themselves from parental control and show that they can make their own mark. In fact, most of us don't get to meet individual teachers until parent's evening when the feedback can come as rather a shock. So how much should we be talking with our teen's teachers, does it make much of a difference, and what's the best way of going about it?Resources used:https://community.today.com/parentingteam/post/9-tips-on-how-to-talk-to-a-teacher https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1156936.pdfhttps://www.futurity.org/parents-teens-school-806392/https://www.parents.com/kids/education/back-to-school/the-smart-way-to-talk-to-teachers/https://www.scholastic.com/site/pam-allyn/5-easy-to-steps-to-great-communication-with-your-child-s-teacher.htmlSupport the showThank you so much for your support. Please hit the follow button if you like the podcast, and share it with anyone who might benefit. You can review us on Apple podcasts by going to the show page, scrolling down to the bottom where you can click on a star then you can leave your message. I don't have medical training so please seek the advice of a specialist if you're not coping. My email is teenagersuntangled@gmail.com My website has a blog, searchable episodes, and ways to contact us:www.teenagersuntangled.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/teenagersuntangled/Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/teenagersuntangled/Susie is available for a free 15 minute consultation, and has a great blog:www.amindful-life.co.uk

What do you think of this episode? Do you have any topics you'd like me to cover?Nobody likes blowing a fuse when their teen does something that triggers them, but we all do it at some point. Nicky asked us to discuss this topic after she felt she'd overreacted to bad feedback from her son's teachers. We know it fixes nothing and leaves us feeling worse than before, but can we keep smoothing it over with an apology?  Long term we run the risk of ruining our connection with our teens because they learn that the best way to manage us parents is to keep quiet, hide, or lie to prevent a repeat,  So how can we stop ourselves from overreacting? We talk through some mindfulness techniques that could make all the difference. This is also a VITAL skill to teach our own teens. BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:When You Lose It by Roxy and Gay LongworthThe Chimp Paradox by Prof Steve PetersRESOURCES:How to Stop Overreacting to Everything by Patrick Allanhttps://psychcentral.com/blog/how-to-stop-overreacting#recaphttps://theparentingreframe.com/the-4-steps-you-need-to-stopoverreacting-and-yelling-at-your-kids-for-good/ https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/surviving-your-childs-adolescence/201007/overreactions-in-adolescenceSupport the showThank you so much for your support. Please hit the follow button if you like the podcast, and share it with anyone who might benefit. You can review us on Apple podcasts by going to the show page, scrolling down to the bottom where you can click on a star then you can leave your message. I don't have medical training so please seek the advice of a specialist if you're not coping. My email is teenagersuntangled@gmail.com My website has a blog, searchable episodes, and ways to contact us:www.teenagersuntangled.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/teenagersuntangled/Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/teenagersuntangled/Susie is available for a free 15 minute consultation, and has a great blog:www.amindful-life.co.uk