Family Works: Negotiating the Minefield Parenting Support Programme

If your teenager is moody, defiant, reactive or stressed, as a parent you may feel bewildered, confused, frustrated or shell shocked! If family life with your teen resembles a battleground, then the Family Works “Negotiating the Minefield” teen parenting programme may be for you.

Resilient Rangatahi: An Article

Sooner or later everyone will have to face difficulties during their life. Being able to cope with, and even benefit from, these times is important for development. The ability to do this is often called ‘resilience’. But, what do we mean by ‘resilience’? And how can parents, whānau, teachers or others working with rangatahi (young people) support them to develop it?

Talk Together Online Workshop: Teen/Tween Social Skills Development

Social situations get so much more complex during this time with lots of different challenges. The good news is the caring adults in the students lives can make a huge difference during this time. Learn about typical social skills development during the tween and teen years. Take away 2 important messages to think about as well as 3 practical tips for things you can do to help!

Moderation in all things. Adolescents and Digital Technology

One of the topics asked by many is the impact of technology use on our rangatahi. Check out this article from Brainwave Trust

How to get teens to listen, talk and stay grounded

We want our teens to develop a certain amount of independence. This guide shares some quick ideas for fostering this while encouraging them to talk, listen & be at their best.

Understanding Adolescents Who Have Experienced Early Adversity: Article

A number of children in New Zealand experience adversity during their early years, such as chaotic or violent family environments, abuse, neglect, poverty, and parental substance use. These adverse experiences can contribute to a number of difficulties for them, through childhood, adolescence and into adulthood. It’s important that teachers and others working with adolescents understand how advers

Parenting & Drugs: Resources

Parenting can be a challenge, especially working out the best way to help your child grow up. Most young people want a good relationship with their family, even if they don't show it.

As they grow up they are figuring out who they are and finding a place in their family and community. They may try to be independent, but they still need you. Show them you care and are interested in what is happening in their life. Try not to interrupt them when they are speaking, and check you have understood them before you speak.

Explaining Social and Emotional Changes During Adolescence: Article

There are big changes going on in adolescents’ lives. Not only physical changes, but also important changes in social and emotional development, as they move from being a child to becoming an adult.

Real Parents: The Behaviours, Emotions and Social Traits of our Tweens/Teens

"OMG, you totally suck!"
Some of the Real Parents crew know first hand how to navigate the teenage years! Without doubt, it involved a rolling, dynamic approach!

An Insight into Adolescence: Article

Adolescence is often portrayed as a time of difficult and challenging behaviours. Yet it’s possible to view adolescence in a much more positive light. Recent research may help adults understand and appreciate the remarkable changes that are taking place.

Parenting Place: Resources for Parenting Tweens & Teens

Change, change, change. Say goodbye to your little boy or girl: your teenager has arrived. Of course there are risks and challenges but many parents find the teenage years are fantastic.

Teenagers: it’s not just their hormones – it’s their brain! An Article

Energetic, innovative, creative, curious and sometimes confused. Adolescents are going through changes that can be challenging for them and for their parents. Understanding the recent insights into adolescent development may help parents and other adults support adolescents to thrive.

Young Parents

Young parents can face particular joys and challenges whether because of their own life's path, or because of the attitudes they encounter from the wider society.

Neuroscience tells us that the two most dynamic times in brain development are the first 1000 days and then during adolescence. Brainwave Trust has created seven articles for the parenting resource website which highlight the dynamic adolescent brain in the parental role with a young child's dynamic brain.

Also included here are references to the SKIP Teen brochures and SKIP articles about working with young parents.

Please note that the Group Programme section on this website has been developed primarily for use with young parents.

Rethinking Teen Drinking: Article

Adolescence is an exciting and important time in development; there are many opportunities, but there are also some risks. A tricky issue for almost every parent is alcohol. Everyone has an opinion about the age teens should start drinking, and how much influence their parents should wield.

Another way of looking at teens: Positive Youth Development Article

n this article, we have a closer look at teens, and how we as adults can actively assist rangatahi to develop the skills they’ll need to thrive.

Kiwi Families Tweens & Teens Articles and Resources

New Zealand’s trusted parenting website for more than 10 years. We’ve been serving up free tips, tools and advice from some of the best New Zealand parenting experts, to help grow great families in New Zealand, and around the world.

Short-term highs, long-term risks?

While many people can use cannabis and not seem to suffer ill-effects directly, the younger, the longer, and the more often people use cannabis, the more likely they are to suffer from a range of harms later in life. It may not be at all clear to them, or others, that their use of cannabis has contributed to their difficulties.