Parenting resources

This is a book that approaches its topic from both a parent and child's point of view and takes at its centre the effects of raging hormones. It's a no-holds barred approach - this is a difficult time and if you find yourself pulling your hair out, don't worry, that's normal. It seems to talk more about girls and less about boys, but on the whole most of the information applies to both sexes. So what does it cover? Sexual changes, self-identity, dealing with drugs, letting go and leaving home are a few of them. It talks about how a teenager's ‘new body' can cause them to act in certain ways, why two-way communication is so very important to help teens understand more about education and themselves, and the importance of allowing your teenager relevant freedom and space. There are a few case examples, but not many. Parents are not left off the hook either. The book discusses how you can influence your teen's behaviour and personality by the way you act or speak to them.

This book crosses over into many areas of learning, from how learning differs from the Victorian era to this present day, the many functions of the human brain and its different types, and how to develop it to its best potential. You will find lots of advice about good nutrition, how to motivate a student into becoming a lifelong learner, and creating the right conditions for learning. But what is really interesting is the section on multiple intelligences. This section is broken down into the characteristics of different ways people learn and the kind of subjects and activities that may best suit them. It's a real eye-opener to be able to self-analyse and identify your learning style, strengths and weaknesses. At the end of the book you can do a self-evaluation. Very interesting, and one to get your teeth into.

Well, this one is well overdue, for both teachers and parents. Behaviour management is paramount in parents' lives and this book doesn't just take you through ideas and suggestions on how to manage your child's behaviour, but also your own. It helps you to identify your strengths and weaknesses so that you can help create equilibrium in your home. Scenarios, questions, answers and suggestions, the importance of building relationships, and how to be realistic and effective whilst managing children's emotions, are all covered in this book. There is a very positive message: ‘you cannot control a child's behaviour; you can only influence it'. There's a ten-step discipline plan that seems very useful. So, although written for teachers, this is a very good book for parents, even if you have well-behaved children. It's definitely one for me.