Parents: How to get your teenagers enthused and positive, motivated, setting academic, sporting and cultural goals, achieving and reaching their potentials

If you are concerned with the progress, motivation, confidence, effort or attitude of your sons and/or daughters, check the items listed on the Students page to see if some help in any of these areas might be worthwhile. If they realize they need some assistance, encourage them to write or speak to Michael Gifford themselves about their concerns. Alternatively, scroll down the list of topics below, check the Personal Values pages and consider the activities and discussion points under Family Creativity. Contact Michael yourself for any advice he might be able to offer. Email address:mgifford@xtra..co.nz or TXT or phone on +64 21 613 503.

Many parents have found that there are topics in the teenager list that they could very easily use for themselves. If so, it can be less threatening if all members of the family are working on the developing or improving the same skills (e.g. personal organization; achieving a balance in your life). Additional topics for parents which may prove to be helpful include:

• Make time for your children
• Family study techniques
• The parents’ charter
• Develop positive relationships with your children
  • Listening
  • Understanding
  • Compromising
  • Negotiating
  • Don’t sweat the small stuff
  • Build up a Trust Account
• Assisting young people prepare for the future
• Opening up new horizons
• The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
• Providing a wealth of opportunities
• Encouraging participation, passion, perseverance
• What makes an effective school
• 7 Habits for Effective Schools
• Some principles of accelerated learning
• The Entrepreneurial school