Relationships; why strong family bonds are important for teenagers
Young children and teenagers do need love, support and some boundaries, no matter how much they might protest. Particularly during the teenage years, when so much is changing for a child. Relationships change over the years, including during these teenage years, but a family’s love and support will always be needed. To keep your bond with your teenage children strong, there are a number of different things you can consider;
Family meals. Having family meals together is a great chance to bond, when there might not be other chances throughout the day. Regular family meals will give your teenage children a chance to chat with you about their day and what’s going on in their lives, giving you the opportunity to learn more and bond more with your children.
Family trips. Organise the occasional family outing to a beach or a park or a campsite. A fun family holiday or weekend together gives you all the chance to enjoy each other’s company.
One-on-one time. Spend one-on-one time with your teenager and use those opportunities as a chance to stay connected with them. Each parent has their own unique relationship to their child and it’s important that you encourage this. If you have more than one child, ensure each child has their own time together with their parent/s.
The Wishing Well foundation
The Wishing Well was established in 2010 to offer children in out-of-home care, such as foster care and residential care, a range of healing and treatment options usually not accessible as a free therapy in mainstream health.
The Wishing Well raises funds to enable children and young people to access developmentally-appropriate and trauma-informed treatments shown to be highly effective in dealing with severe trauma and neglect. These therapies respond to the unique needs of each child and young person.
The Wishing Well is a not-for-profit incorporated charity organisation, established and managed by people seeking to improve outcomes for children and young people in out-of-home care and their families. The Wishing Well recognises the importance of the act of giving. We recognise the significance of the participation of community members and all donations are most appreciated.
The Wishing Well operates ethically, effectively and empathically with a view to achieving quality outcomes and a satisfying working environment.
Support the Wishing Well
The Wishing Well uses its funds to help children in need access all manners of developmentally-appropriate and trauma-informed treatments. The Wishing Well takes referrals for any child/young person in out-of-home care in NSW. Applications are assessed by qualified personnel and on a case-by-case basis. The decision to fund an application is affected by the following:
- Funding availability
- The support the child/young person has to access the proposed therapies
- The capacity and willingness of the Carer Household to support the child/young person
- Assessment, which recommends and supports the proposed therapy as relevant to meeting the particular needs of the child/young person
The Wishing Well gratefully receives donations, funding and resources through bequests, corporate partnerships, fundraising events, grants, online donations and other fund raising activities. Money donated to The Wishing Well enables traumatised children access to healing therapies. Please see our website for more information:
Independence; tips for raising independent teenagers
It is important to foster independence in teenagers, and you can begin this at a young age. Independence is essential throughout one’s life. An independent child and teenager will rely on you less, take on more responsibilities, make their own decisions and solve their own problems, form their own identity and their own life values. To give your child a sense of independence, they need the freedom to make their own choices and try new things, with your guidance and support.
Show them your love and support through your actions and words; say ‘I love you’ often! Take an interest in their friends and hobbies. Give them space and privacy if they require it, but also show that you are there if they need you and make time to listen to their needs.
Respect their feelings and opinions. By taking them seriously, you boost their self-esteem. Their ideas and opinions may be different to yours, but you can use this as an opportunity to talk about how people have different perspectives and that it’s okay.
Give them the opportunity to practise being independent. Let them take on hobbies and interests that give them time away from you and allow them to learn new skills, take positive risks, and build resilience.
The Wishing Well foundation
The Wishing Well was established in 2010 to offer children in out-of-home care, such as foster care and residential care, a range of healing and treatment options usually not accessible as a free therapy in mainstream health.
The Wishing Well raises funds to enable children and young people to access developmentally-appropriate and trauma-informed treatments shown to be highly effective in dealing with severe trauma and neglect. These therapies respond to the unique needs of each child and young person.
The Wishing Well is a not-for-profit incorporated charity organisation, established and managed by people seeking to improve outcomes for children and young people in out-of-home care and their families. The Wishing Well recognises the importance of the act of giving. We recognise the significance of the participation of community members and all donations are most appreciated.
The Wishing Well operates ethically, effectively and empathically with a view to achieving quality outcomes and a satisfying working environment.
Support the Wishing Well
The Wishing Well uses its funds to help children in need access all manners of developmentally-appropriate and trauma-informed treatments. The Wishing Well takes referrals for any child/young person in out-of-home care in NSW. Applications are assessed by qualified personnel and on a case-by-case basis. The decision to fund an application is affected by the following:
- Funding availability
- The support the child/young person has to access the proposed therapies
- The capacity and willingness of the Carer Household to support the child/young person
- Assessment, which recommends and supports the proposed therapy as relevant to meeting the particular needs of the child/young person
The Wishing Well gratefully receives donations, funding and resources through bequests, corporate partnerships, fundraising events, grants, online donations and other fund raising activities. Money donated to The Wishing Well enables traumatised children access to healing therapies. Please see our website for more information:
How to build resilience in teenagers; a short guide
Resilience involves the ability to adapt to difficult circumstances, and to bounce back during or after hard times. While you may not be able to stop your children and teenagers from experiencing hardship, you can help them build their resilience levels so that they get back to feeling their best selves as soon as possible.
First and foremost to building resilience in your teenager is to ensure you have a strong, loving relationship with them that keeps you both well-connected, and that you show your teenager love and respect. This develops their own self-esteem and self-respect, meaning they will be more likely to care for themselves and for others. These personal values and attitudes are important building blocks for creating lasting resilience, as are empathy, respect for others, kindness, fairness, honesty and cooperation.
A teenager’s social skills are also important for building resilience. When they have good relationships with others, they are more likely to develop meaningful connections and a sense of belonging. Thus, there will be someone to turn to in troubling times.
You can also be a role model for your teenager by showing them your own resilience during tough times. As an example, when you may reach out to others for help and support, you can thank them for their support and talk through with your teenage how ‘Things will get better soon’ and ‘I can cope with this’.
The Wishing Well foundation
The Wishing Well was established in 2010 to offer children in out-of-home care, such as foster care and residential care, a range of healing and treatment options usually not accessible as a free therapy in mainstream health.
The Wishing Well raises funds to enable children and young people to access developmentally-appropriate and trauma-informed treatments shown to be highly effective in dealing with severe trauma and neglect. These therapies respond to the unique needs of each child and young person.
The Wishing Well is a not-for-profit incorporated charity organisation, established and managed by people seeking to improve outcomes for children and young people in out-of-home care and their families. The Wishing Well recognises the importance of the act of giving. We recognise the significance of the participation of community members and all donations are most appreciated.
The Wishing Well operates ethically, effectively and empathically with a view to achieving quality outcomes and a satisfying working environment.
Support the Wishing Well
The Wishing Well uses its funds to help children in need access all manners of developmentally-appropriate and trauma-informed treatments. The Wishing Well takes referrals for any child/young person in out-of-home care in NSW. Applications are assessed by qualified personnel and on a case-by-case basis. The decision to fund an application is affected by the following:
- Funding availability
- The support the child/young person has to access the proposed therapies
- The capacity and willingness of the Carer Household to support the child/young person
- Assessment, which recommends and supports the proposed therapy as relevant to meeting the particular needs of the child/young person
The Wishing Well gratefully receives donations, funding and resources through bequests, corporate partnerships, fundraising events, grants, online donations and other fund raising activities. Money donated to The Wishing Well enables traumatised children access to healing therapies. Please see our website for more information:
How to build confidence in teenagers; a short guide
It can be tricky to raise confident teenagers. Often, it is during the teenage years that young people feel at their most vulnerable. Confidence involves the belief that you’ll be successful in life, and is related to self-esteem and resilience. Thus, building and having confidence as a teenager is vital in helping them feel safe and make informed decisions.
You can help build confidence in your teenager by;
- Helping them find their way to achieve success and helping them understand what they need to do to improve their chances of success.
- Giving them the opportunity to try new things, to give them a chance to learn and decide for themselves what they do or don’t like to do.
- Encouraging them to keep trying, even when they fail, and explaining that everyone makes mistakes.
- Being a role model for them by talking with children about your own plans to try something, and by showing your own resilience if you happen to fail at the task.
- Encouraging children to act confident by making eye contact with others, smiling, showing interest in others’, joining in conversation, doing the things they love and walking away from situations they aren’t comfortable with.
The Wishing Well foundation
The Wishing Well was established in 2010 to offer children in out-of-home care, such as foster care and residential care, a range of healing and treatment options usually not accessible as a free therapy in mainstream health.
The Wishing Well raises funds to enable children and young people to access developmentally-appropriate and trauma-informed treatments shown to be highly effective in dealing with severe trauma and neglect. These therapies respond to the unique needs of each child and young person.
The Wishing Well is a not-for-profit incorporated charity organisation, established and managed by people seeking to improve outcomes for children and young people in out-of-home care and their families. The Wishing Well recognises the importance of the act of giving. We recognise the significance of the participation of community members and all donations are most appreciated.
The Wishing Well operates ethically, effectively and empathically with a view to achieving quality outcomes and a satisfying working environment.
Support the Wishing Well
The Wishing Well uses its funds to help children in need access all manners of developmentally-appropriate and trauma-informed treatments. The Wishing Well takes referrals for any child/young person in out-of-home care in NSW. Applications are assessed by qualified personnel and on a case-by-case basis. The decision to fund an application is affected by the following:
- Funding availability
- The support the child/young person has to access the proposed therapies
- The capacity and willingness of the Carer Household to support the child/young person
- Assessment, which recommends and supports the proposed therapy as relevant to meeting the particular needs of the child/young person
The Wishing Well gratefully receives donations, funding and resources through bequests, corporate partnerships, fundraising events, grants, online donations and other fund raising activities. Money donated to The Wishing Well enables traumatised children access to healing therapies. Please see our website for more information:
The effects of positive attention on your child; a short guide
Positive attention can help your child feel loved, secure and valued. Positive attention, reactions and responses from the adults and carers around children can help them build a picture of how valued they are. Children grow and develop through repeated, positive interactions in their first relationships.
You can build your child’s self-image through positive attention. Their self-image builds up over time with positive, loving messages from you and other important people in their life. A healthy self-image is very important, not only for your child’s relationship with others, but also for their confidence levels as they learn about the world.
Your child’s feelings of security and safety come from their interactions with parents, carers and the other people who care for them. If you reassure and support your child when they’re frightened, uncertain or faced with a new or unfamiliar situation, they’ll feel safe and secure.
You can show positive attention to your child by smiling at them, making eye contact, using caring facial expressions, being gentle and caring with your child, using positive words of encouragement, and showing interest in their interests.
The Wishing Well foundation
The Wishing Well was established in 2010 to offer children in out-of-home care, such as foster care and residential care, a range of healing and treatment options usually not accessible as a free therapy in mainstream health.
The Wishing Well raises funds to enable children and young people to access developmentally-appropriate and trauma-informed treatments shown to be highly effective in dealing with severe trauma and neglect. These therapies respond to the unique needs of each child and young person.
The Wishing Well is a not-for-profit incorporated charity organisation, established and managed by people seeking to improve outcomes for children and young people in out-of-home care and their families. The Wishing Well recognises the importance of the act of giving. We recognise the significance of the participation of community members and all donations are most appreciated.
The Wishing Well operates ethically, effectively and empathically with a view to achieving quality outcomes and a satisfying working environment.
Support the Wishing Well
The Wishing Well uses its funds to help children in need access all manners of developmentally-appropriate and trauma-informed treatments. The Wishing Well takes referrals for any child/young person in out-of-home care in NSW. Applications are assessed by qualified personnel and on a case-by-case basis. The decision to fund an application is affected by the following:
- Funding availability
- The support the child/young person has to access the proposed therapies
- The capacity and willingness of the Carer Household to support the child/young person
- Assessment, which recommends and supports the proposed therapy as relevant to meeting the particular needs of the child/young person
The Wishing Well gratefully receives donations, funding and resources through bequests, corporate partnerships, fundraising events, grants, online donations and other fund raising activities. Money donated to The Wishing Well enables traumatised children access to healing therapies. Please see our website for more information:
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