Tag Archives: Parenting

Facebook – friend or foe?

Posted on August 17, 2010 by nigel

Stranger Danger. Twenty years ago, this phrase was meant to stop kids from talking to adults they didn’t know who approached them on the street, at home, or at school. Now  the strangers are coming into our houses, into our children’s room’s even, by the screen of a computer. As the popularity of Facebook and other social networking sites grow, so does the danger around them. It is becoming more difficult to keep our children away from them, so it is up to parents and grandparents to teach children how to be safe while using them.

The internet opens children to a world of information. Unfortunately, the people who give and take information are not always trustworthy. Since children can’t see these people face to face, it’s easier to trust them, and easier for criminals to lie. There are three things that parents should look out for specifically. The first is their children giving out personal information. Read More

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Do Teenagers These Days Need a Life Coach?

Posted on June 3, 2010 by nigel

Someone recently asked the question: do teenagers these days need a life coach? Interesting question that is actually 3 questions rolled into one. Let’s explore them together.

Teenagers ‘these days‘ As many of you will know, if you use a phrase like ‘when I was your age…‘  it doesn’t matter what you say after that because your teen has already zoned out. They are firmly convinced that most adults have never ever been their age. I explain to them that even their parents were teenagers once – BUT – they weren’t teenagers in 2010. Young people are facing life issues that weren’t heard of when I was their age. Many more of them, for example, are growing up in blended families with one distant parent. Drugs are more available today than back in my time. Pressure to perform at school appears greater too as you almost need a college degree to get any job. There Read More

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A complex mixture

Posted on May 23, 2010 by nigel

In some ways I am highly similar to every other human being on the planet and yet at the same time I feel unique. Similar in physical characteristics [the standard two arms, two legs, one mouth etc.]; similar emotionally in that I feel happy and content and then anxious and frustrated; similar socially in that [as a male of the species] I have friends but equally can live extended periods without them -and so on.

I am similar too in that I have dreams, aspirations, goals, desires – don’t we all? But I think I am unique in the blend of interests that motivate me to going the extra mile, to serving others to helping people find a better way.

I am heavily committed to young people – giving them opportunities to find themselves, achieve their wildest dreams and to have the best life they could ever have. I understand enough to know that parents are the greatest influence in a young person’s life and therefore I want to support them in their Read More

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