By: Bernice Maune
Compliment your teen and highlight their strong points
Make it a point to give your daughter a compliment about her appearance, style of dressing, hairdo, hobby or school work once a week. That way she will grow accustomed to being praised for something personal to her. This will build her self-esteem and show her that home is where she is appreciated and she does not need to seek validation from outside or her peers.
Schedule a pampering session
Treat your teen by herself or with her bff to a pampering session such as a spa day. She will look forward to the regular sessions which will help her feel good about herself.
Spend time listening to their concerns
Hear your child out and make it a point to know what is happening in their personal lives. Ask about their social life, how they are coping at school and discover what their likes and dislikes are. Build a solid relationship based on effective communication to enable your teen to speak to you about anything.
Expose your teen to motivational books
Teach your child how to stay motivated by encouraging them to read inspirational material such as Paul Coehlo’s The Alchemist and Robin Sharma’s The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari. These books are written in an easy to understand style and contain active habits that they can take on while young.
Build a culture of positivity at home
Build a culture of positivity by urging the whole family to say at least three nice things to each other every day. Maintain this atmosphere by filling your home with positive quotes which lift the mood and get the whole family accustomed to saying these quotes out loud.
Encourage individuality
Speak to your children about their character and how unique their personalities are. Show them that their individuality is to be celebrated and
that being original is a way to stand out. Ask your teen to share written responses to the questions below and discuss each answer once a week to build their self-awareness and self-confidence.
– I like myself because…
– I’m an expert at…
– I feel good about…
– My friends would tell you I have a great…
– My favorite place is…
– I’m loved by…
– People say I am a good…
– I’ve been told I have pretty…
– I consider myself a good…
– What I enjoy most is…
– The person I admire the most is…
– I have a natural talent for…
– Goals for my future are…
– I know I will reach my goals because I am…
– People compliment me about…
– I feel good when I…
– I’ve been successful at…
– I laugh when I think about…
– The traits I admire myself for are…
– I feel peaceful when…

Nothing quite prepares you to speak to your child about sex but it’s an awkward conversation that needs to take place. Make it less awkward by
following our guide to having this necessary conversation.
Right place
Suggest an outing with your teen where you will have an opportunity to hear each other clearly and have a conversation face to face. Choose a place that isn’t too busy and not too quiet as this can make the conversation uncomfortable.
Right time
Pick a time which is convenient for the both of you. Obviously in the middle of dinner with younger children around would be inappropriate. Also pick a time where you know your child will be able to pay full attention such as on the weekend.
Positive attitude
Explain to your child that sex is normal and the feelings that they may be experiencing towards the opposite sex are a result of puberty. Be positive and use affirmative language such as ‘I understand’ and ‘You will’ to foster confidence in your teen about the subject. This will enable them to speak up about their feelings around sex.
Open door policy
Encourage your child to have an open door policy with you. Tell them that you are there for them and that they can speak to you about anything related to sex. Understand that they are natural curious so foster communication between the two of you. Also explain that they can speak to another adult such as an aunt or uncle if they are confused about anything.
Be real
Be realistic about sex and the consequences to your teen. Use real life examples of what has happened to people who have engaged in unprotected sex without sounding too preachy. Give your child options that are available in terms of contraceptives, making it very clear to them that you would prefer it if they consulted you or another trusted adult first.

Bear in mind that teenagers are curious about sex and experimental. Draw them in by sharing your own experience of sex as well, sharing the fears or questions you had about it. Keep the conversation light yet remind your teen that sex is a very serious topic which isn’t to be taken for granted. Make it a point to connect and check in with your teen as regular communication will make it simpler for them to trust you and open up.

By: Bernice Maune
Depression affects teenagers around the world and is a major contributor to suicide.
Depression is defined as a mental illness which affects mood, how you feel, think and act causing severe emotional distress.
How to tell if your teenager is depressed?
Loses interest in school
Before your child couldn’t wait to tell you about their day and which subjects they enjoyed that day. Now they barely show interest in school and their grades have dropped. When you ask them why this is they can’t really explain and make no effort to show improvement.
Stops communicating
If your child doesn’t make it a point to tell you what is happening in their life, they may be depressed. They may prefer to spend all their time alone in their room and stop participating in family activities. At dinner they may respond with one word answers about what they are getting up to. This could be a sign of emotional distress.
No longer socialises
Your teen’s friends have stopped coming by because they no longer get invites from your child. If this is a recurring pattern, it may be time to have a chat with your child about why they no longer spend time with their friends.
Is absent minded
You’ve asked your son to complete a task but he keeps forgetting and needs constant reminders. Have a conversation as to why this is, as it could be a sign of depression.
Sleeping patterns have changed
Their sleeping patterns have become erratic and on weekends they sleep the whole day or struggle to wake-up for school.
Gets upset easily or is highly irritable They no longer laugh at jokes or interesting prompts to get them to open up instead they snap or back chat.

You can also look out for these behavioural changes which may point to depression, according to the Mayo clinic:
– Tiredness and loss of energy
– Insomnia or sleeping too much
– Changes in appetite — decreased appetite and weight loss, or increased cravings for food and weight gain
– Use of alcohol or drugs
– Agitation or restlessness — for example, pacing, hand-wringing or an inability to sit still
– Slowed thinking, speaking or body movements
– Frequent complaints of unexplained body aches and headaches, which may include frequent visits to the school nurse
– Social isolation
– Poor school performance or frequent absences from school
– Neglected appearance
– Angry outbursts, disruptive or risky behaviour, or other acting-out behaviours
– Self-harm — for example, cutting, burning, or excessive piercing or tattooing
– Making a suicide plan or a suicide attempt

Share this video on depression with your teen if they have trouble expressing what they are feeling

Contact the South African Depression Group for counselling queries on the following e-mail:zane@sadag.org
To contact a counsellor between 8am-8pm Monday to Sunday.
Call: 011 234 4837 / Fax number: 011 234 8182.
For a suicidal emergency contact them on 0800 567 567.
The 24 hour helpline is 0800 12 13 14.

The pros of having a working teenager are plenty. Not only do they get to earn their own pocket money but they learn responsibility and are kept out of trouble. We’ve compiled a list of interesting jobs that your teen can do Essay innovator Perhaps your teen has a knack for coming up with fascinating essay topics. Then he can sell this skill and set up his own ‘agency’ providing essay topics and even take this a step further by giving tips to fellow students for a fee.
Driver
If your teen has a driver’s license and their own car then they can start their own lift pooling club. This will not only help pay for petrol but they
could even end up paying the instalment on the car!
Blogger or vlogger
Your teen can open their own blog and start blogging about any topic which they find amusing and are passionate about. They can also put a
different spin and upload videos to Youtube. There are many teenagers who have successful blogging and vlogging jobs who are earning an
income from sharing on a subject they feel strongly about.
Social media influencer
If your teen has access to social media and you are fine with it then consider supporting them to become asocial media influencer. Just like
blogging or vlogging they can pursue and chronicle online an activity that they love and can make extra money from it. Social media influencing is
a lucrative job and has become quite popular with the younger generation.
Stylist
Does your child have an awesome sense of style? Then they can begin their own consulting agency by sharing their style hacks and tips with
other teenagers. They can do this online or in person over weekends and school holidays.
Exam motivator/mentor
If your teen is particularly brainy then they can motivate other students during school holidays by hosting mentorship classes where they share their tips and tricks to getting goodmarks. They can charge each person a small fee and increase that fee depending on if the other student wants a one on one or more advice on a specific subject.
Party photographer
Teens love hosting parties and having their pictures taken. Your teen could take pictures at parties or events and earn money while doing this.They could hone their photography skills and begin a lifelong romance with the camera.

Every year, matriculants are faced with the reality of finishing high school and deciding on which route to take regarding their career or tertiary plans.

We’ve come up with a list which can provide some interesting options that they can embark on after school.

Travel overseas

A gap year in a foreign country is an ideal prospect which could provide your teen with international experience if they decide to find a job. It will also help them become more independent, gain perspective on the world around them and expose them to culture.

Voluntary work

Perhaps your teen has a passion for charity work or philanthropy. They could offer their services to a charity or cause of their choice.

Au pair

There are opportunities to do au pair work locally and internationally. Should your teen want to study at the same time, this will be a great opportunity to earn an income while gaining responsibility.

Military

Joining the military is an option which can provide your teen with experience working for the government. Your teen will have the chance to serve his country, and the military offers career opportunities in the service and the chance to earn or save money to further his education, if he chooses to do so.

Start a business

This can be a win-win opportunity for your teen to either turn a hobby or passion into a business or for them to discover an entrepreneurial endeavour. Starting a business at a young age can equip your teen with the necessary skills to survive in the workplace if they decide to follow a career instead and can give them a headstart if they want to pursue business fulltime.

By: Bernice Maune

Usually career guidance has been offered to matriculants in their last year of high school as it has been generally understood that they are preparing to go off to university and they may need advice on which degree programmes to study.

Though this has been the general approach, parents can still offer early access to career coaching for their teens to better prepare them for tertiary education and eventually for the working world. This can be done through scheduling a session with a certified career guidance counsellor or through doing personality and aptitude tests online.

Career coaching has many benefits, some of which we’ve outlined below

Vision

The sooner your teen can start visualising their career then they will be able to begin cultivating a winning mindset where they plan and set personal and career goals. This will help them follow through on their plans and to measure what they are doing to reach their goals. To-do-lists can also feature in their goal planning as a way to organise themselves and see results. To-do-lists work particularly well in preparing university applications for example.

Strategy

Each plan needs to be accompanied by a strategy and consulting a career coach will be beneficial in outlining what this strategy should be and how to execute it. Success doesn’t happen by chance and by enabling your teen to think strategically, you will be pivotal in setting them up for long term educational and career success.

Career

If your child is still confused about what they want to do career wise, a career coach will show them how to pin down their strengths and use these to influence their career choice. They will also receive advice on what their talents are best suited.

Motivation

If your child is feeling uninspired, exposing them to career coaching may just be the kick they need to look at life with a new set of eyes. Reignite their passion for life and for their future by showing them that there are endless possibilities with what they can do with their life. This can add an element of excitement and give them that push they need to move forward and set career goals.

Focus

Career coaching will show your teen how to focus and how to employ methods that will keep them focused on the task at hand and in creating and planning long term goals. It’s also a great way for them to understand how staying focused links directly to job longevity and crafting a reputable career.

There are several career and life coaches available in South Africa. We’ve found three which you can consult for further information and to schedule a session.

www.letslive.co.za

www.spcaching.co.za

www.kimcoach.co.za

By: Bernice Maune

With the end of the school holidays and the last half of the year here, pupils will have to put in that additional effort to study smarter and achieve excellent results.

Consult our list of study tips which will guide your teen in gaining good marks in preparation for their regular school work, tests and exams.

1. Different methods in learning the same information

Besides reading class notes and following the paper work that each subject provides, encourage your teen to use a variety of methods to absorb all the information that he has been given. These are the following ways to do so:

Read the textbook as soon as it has been issued. This way you familiarise yourself with the subject and the content will make more sense as your teacher begins teaching from it.

Create a mind map and place it in visible areas around the home. The more information is seen, the more it gets absorbed. Your teen will soon be able to share knowledge on their subjects because it has been visible to them.

Teach someone what you have just learnt and ask them to question you about it. That way it becomes simpler to understand as you explain it.

2. Study multiple subjects each day, rather than focusing on just one or two subjects.

Your teen can fast track their progress by studying more than one subject a day. This approach will help them to learn faster than by focusing on one subject. They are less likely to confuse the information they have learned if they study multiple subjects at a time.

3. Say no to multi-tasking and unnecessary distractions

Put a stop to multi-tasking because as much as it seems like a great idea, it isn’t exactly productive. Effective students learn faster and better when they focus on studying so that means not allowing any distractions to interfere such as texting or watching TV.

4. Group studying

Learning can be made fun when a group of teens come together and spend a day teaching each other, chatting about their school work, making notes and giving each other motivation. At these sessions, they will also be able to gain new perspective on their school work.

5. Loads of rest is key

While teens are tempted to pull all-nighters and stay up until the early hours of the morning studying, this isn’t always a good idea. Rather they should sleep early enough during the week, getting a full eight hours quality sleep, undisturbed. Diet and good rest is key for optimal brain function and to concentrate during intense periods of learning.

Supporting your teen throughout their school career is essential to their success even though teens should be able to study and work independently. With family support however, your teen can achieve their goals and study smarter.

Any parent would be shocked to find out that their child is a bully and hurting others. If this happens to you and you hear that your child is a bully, take immediate action to remedy the situation and speak to your teen about their behaviour.

As the parent of a child bullying others, it is imperative to understand the reasons behind why your teen is perpetuating such behaviour against others.

According to the Childmind Institute, teenagers become bullies for several reasons:

• The child wants to fit in with a group of friends who are picking on one classmate.
• She is getting bullied at home or at school, and is trying to regain a sense of power by acting aggressively toward others.
• She is looking for attention from teachers, parents, or classmates, and hasn’t been successful getting it other ways.
• She is by nature more assertive and impulsive than her peers.
• She has a tendency to perceive the behaviour of other kids as hostile, even when it is not.
• She does not fully grasp how her behaviour is making the victim feel. This is particularly true of younger kids.

Once you have sat down and identified which factor applies to your child, the next step is to ensure that your teentakes responsibility for her actions, admits her mistakes and learns how to change her behaviour.

We have listed five ways you can discipline your teen for their bullying behaviour with the objective of putting an end to their actions once and for all.

Responsibility
Teens are old enough to be aware of their actions and the effect that they can have on their peers. Speak to your child about the decision they made to bully and why their actions have serious consequences. Make it clear that their behaviour is inexcusable and that bullying will not be tolerated. By owning up to their actions, they will realise that taking ownership of good or bad behaviour is a step towards making a change.

Consequences
Decide what punishment would be appropriate for your teen. For example if they were cyber bullies, their cell phone usage should be restricted or they should make an online apology to the person they bullied.

Loss of privileges
In addition to punishment for what they did, there should be a loss of privilege. Your teen must understand that bullying has consequences and that they will be dealt with. Consider grounding them, reducing their allowance or arranging for them to meet and issue a personal apology to the person who was on the receiving end of their bullying.

Adhere to policy
Should the school have their own discipline policy, make contact with the teacher or principal to support it and speak about how you can reinforce it at home.

Pursue communication
Keep tabs on your teen. Check in to find out what their attitude is towards their punishment and if they understand why they have to be punished. Look for signs of empathy and compassion towards the victim of your teen’s bullying. Raising your child’s emotional intelligence and instilling empathy goes a long way in preventing future incidents of bullying.

Continue to keep an eye on your child’s behaviour and continue to discipline her if necessary until you are content that she has learnt her lesson and will not repeat the offense again.

It’s a common scene, two siblings fight over the remote because one wants to watch Channel O and the other wants to catch MTV Base for the umpteenth time. Tears flow, screams are heard and sulking ensues with the silent treatment and comments like ‘I don’t ever want to speak to you again’ being thrown around.

The root cause of sibling rivalry is competition between children for their parent’s attention, love and respect. It is a natural part of growing upand signs of sibling rivalry are a good sign that teenagers are emotionally in touch with their feelings and know how to express themselves.

Siblings can become fast friends, share things, enjoy each other’s company and learn to fight in a healthy and non-destructive way. How?

No comparisons
You might think that you are motivating your teen by suggesting that he follow your neighbour’s example and be more helpful with his younger sister. This type of talk makes teens feel inadequate and has the opposite effect of instead of encouraging them. Rather highlight the strengths of each sibling and push them to work together as a team. As soon as they view themselves as a unit working together and valued for their own abilities, there will be less fighting.

Respect each child’s personality
Buying uniform gifts for siblings can breed resentment as they may start to feel that they are not being individually considered. Ask your teen what they like and what they prefer and buy gifts according to each child’s personality.

Set firm rules in place
There are only two parents in the household and children should understand that they alone set the rules. Make it a point that all the siblings know that they must follow the parent’s orders and that also means they should not be reprimanding and correcting each other.

Show love
Each sibling should feel your affection and care. Have alone time with each one, do special activities that you both enjoy and cultivate a special relationship with all your children.

Listen
Hearing out what each sibling has to say is essential to making everyone feel like they matter. Hold township hall meetings where everyone gets an opportunity to have their say. These regular family meetings will strengthen the bonds between siblings and give everyone a platform to discuss their feelings and to find solutions.

It’s a moment that every parent anticipates, the day when their child tells them that they have started dating.

It may feel alarming that your teen is now exploring relationships and may need your guidance. What matters is that they have your attention and are able to communicate with you about what they are experiencing and how dating is for them.

Dating is new territory for teens and they may yearn for advice on what to do or how to be a good partner to who they are dating. In this regard, you may have to take off your mom or dad hat and be objective by listening, giving them a shoulder to cry on where necessary or just taking and picking them up to and from dates.

Make the transition even more comfortable for your teen by following our ways on handling this life change in their and your life effectively.

Give your teen space
It may be tempting to find out everything about your teen’s date but it’s better to take a step back and allow your child space to handle things the best way they know how. Should they approach you for advice, then avail yourself to talk but it’s best to wait and be approached.

Manage your emotions
You may want to step in and reason according to your own feelings and experiences but resist the urge to do so. Your teen has their own feelings to deal with and by trial and error they will get to a point where they can use logic and wisdom in their dating experiences. Allow them to be fully immersed in the experience without interfering.

Ensure that values take precedence
Values that you have instilled in your child should not take a back seat as they start dating. Conversations about sex, respect, dignity and love should continue happening as your teen navigates dating.

Trust
This is the time when trust will take full effect. It is time to trust that what you have taught your child is what they will live by personally and in how they treat others. Trust that your teen will be responsible, show them that you trust them and believe that they will act accordingly.

Support your teen
Your child will need your support more than ever. Be available, be present and keep the lines of communication open all the time.

By: Bernice Maune

No doubt you’ve done a stellar job of raising your son up to his teenage years. You’ve likely experienced a myriad of emotions watching him grow up in front of your eyes and seeing him exercise what you’ve taught him may be a source of pride.

As he starts to take on more responsibility and prepares to go onto university or work, there are qualities that you can instil to fully prepare your son for manhood.

Responsibility and accountability
Teach him that as he grows older, there will be more responsibility bestowed upon him. He will need to prove that he is ready for responsibility by making good decisions that will take him forward. For example if he would like to get a car, he should make his own arrangements to take a learners license test and finally book driving lessons and get a drivers license. He can also find a part-time job to help pay for a car instalment. Once he has a car, he will need to be accountable for it by ensuring it is maintained, has petrol and is washed regularly.

Strength
The world is a tough placeand there will be situations that are out of his control. People will not always be kind and there are events which could happen to him or those close to him. Teach him to have a strong approach to life, to build a mentality that can withstand bad circumstances or events. He should understand that picking himself up in the face of adversity will ensure he survives challenges.

Provision
Part of being a man is being able to be independent and provide for yourself and your loved ones when the time comes. Teach him to accept responsibility for himself, his expenses and when he decides to start a family one day, for them as well. He should understand that his role is to provide and this comes through hardwork and sacrifice.

Fail forward
A come what may attitude willenable him to not dwell on his mistakes but see the lesson in them. Teach him to push himself forward after failure and to cultivate a new mistakes attitude where he learns from old mistakes and makes new ones so he can keep learning and growing.

Resilience
A quality that will help him to keep going and stay motivated no matter what happens is resilience. Teach him that winners have resilience in abundance and that’s how they stay determined to succeed despite any challenges that may come their way.

Raising a teenager who has developed a sense of empathy is essential to your child being a fully functional adult who cares about others in society.

The great news is that it’s not an impossible task to develop your teen’s empathy for the less fortunate. We bring you several ways in which you as their parent can do this.

Consistency in behaviour
Teach your teen how to treat everyone equally and consistently. This is best done at home, when you are wrong, apologise to your teen and admit where you were wrong so that they can see that no one is above apologies. This is also a way to make your teen understand that no matter who is right or wrong and despite who has more authority, being consistent in behaviour is important to treating everyone well and equally.

Discuss current events with your teen
For example, the migrant crisis happening in various parts of the world, send your teen links to articles giving an insider perspective of how families have been affected by the crisis. Then bring it up at dinner and ask your teen what their thoughts are. This is an opportunity to highlight their privileges and bring up how important it is to care about others who are less privileged.

Prompt your teen to take action
Ask your teen about how they would like to help  people residing in shelters or children in orphanages. They should come up with ideas which will entail them sacrificing something to help like spending apart of their allowance to donate a food parcel.

Help them to problem-solve different situations

For instance set up a scenario where your teen should give input and think about how to provide a helping hand. Ask: “How would you like to be treated if you were the new girl?”, “If you were being teased, what would you want your friends to do to help?”, or “If you had been away from school for three weeks, what would you like people to say when you came back?”

Show your own humanity
It’s okay to let your teenagers see that you are human too. For example, tell them a story about a time when you might have suspected a friend was in trouble, what you were thinking about at the time and what you did to help.

The link between cognitive empathy and affective empathy

The Research Centre for Adolescent Development at Utrecht University in the Netherlandsshows  that “cognitive empathy”  and “affective empathy” are also still developing during the teenage-years.“Cognitive empathy” can be described as: the ability to mentally think about things from another person’s point of view (otherwise known as perspective-taking).  “Affective empathy” is the ability to recognize and respond to others’ feelings appropriately. These skills helps us with social problem-solving, managing our own and other people’s emotions and avoiding conflict.

Your teen’s sweet sixteen is finally here! How exciting that your teen will get to celebrate such an awesome milestone in a unique setting with our list of party ideas.

Show your creative side and surprise your child with a well thought out, original party that will earn him bragging rights for months to come. Consult our list and pick a party that will have everyone in awe and having fun while your teen takes their place as the start of the show.

Reality star party
Is your teen a fan of Kylie Jenner or the Kardashians? Have a reality star party where all the guests dress up as their favourite Kardashian. Go one step further and have a red carpet laid out complete with cameras and a videographer. Set up a photobooth where guests can have fun creating their own memories.

Camp party
Book a camping spot in Magaliesbergand take your teen and their friends camping. They can have marshmallows by a bon fire and a braai for breakfast. Hiking, bird watching and swimming are some of the outdoor activities they can do all weekend.

Hint hunt party
At this party, guestswill divide themselves in two groups and work through finding hunts to get a treasure. This is a great way for teens to bond and work on their problem solving skills. Make it even more exciting by awarding the winning team a prize and treating everyone to dinner and drinks afterwards.

Murder mystery dinner party
Attend a murder solving mystery with costumes at a  theater. You can plan your own murder mystery party by purchasing a kit online and assigning roles to guests or you can hire professional murder mystery companies to create a game for your party and hire actors to participate.

Zipline party
Make it an adrenaline filled one by taking a drive out to Mpumalanga or Kwa Zulu-Natal which has some of the best zipline routes in South Africa. Take pics at every stop on the zipline and celebrate each milestone as everyone completes the tour.

Ever wondered what your teen and her friends meant when they chat about spilling all the tea?

Or maybe you’ve over-heard your son cancel someone and TBH it just irked you that you didn’t quite understand how a person could be cancelled?

Well you won’t have to wonder much longer because our up to date and relevant guide of words that teens use will have you up to speed in no time.

Consult our guide whenever you hear one of these words used by the younger generation and even get classified as a cool parent when you incorporate them into your vocabulary. Just make a note that some of them may be offensive and you may even want to have a word with your teen about using that type of slang.

The rest of the lingo is quite colourful and expressive and may score you brownie points, especially if used correctly and in the right context. If the slang is too cool for you, it may come in handy in watching or listening to the latest entertainment as some TV shows and songs feature the words. Eitherway, it definitely doesn’t hurt to be in the know!

Teen slang guide

Bruh – This is a shortened way of saying ‘I know right.’

Wavy – This means super cool. So in a sentence one would say ‘Those sneakers are wavy.’

Lit – Put simply this means hot or awesome. It is usually used to describe fun situations like a party. So in describing a party, your teen would say ‘that party was lit.’

TBH – This is an abbreviation for ‘To Be Honest.’

Squad – This refers to a group of close friends.

Snack – This is a sexual term which refers to a good looking woman.

Fam–  Usually used to refer to friends.

Goat – When describing someone who has accomplished a major feat, the word Goat would be used to describe them. It is short for Greatest of All Time.

Shade – When ‘throwing shade’ anyone using this word would mean that a veiled reference usually negative has been made about someone.

Salty – Bitterness or resentment.

Bae – Another way to refer to a lover or significant other.

DM – Direct message.

Thirsty – A term with a sexual connotation of how someone is seeking the attention of the opposite sex.

Cancel – To eliminate or stop associating with someone or something.

Finesse – To do something well.

Watch teen vlogger Olivia Jade hilariously quiz her mom on teen slang

https://youtu.be/dtC6o8i1yhg

Movies have the powerful ability to influence the attitudes and mind sets of those watching. A creative art form, movies are a great form of entertainment which parents have often used to keep their children busy and preoccupied.

For teens, they can be used to inspire and to propel them their life and career choices. We bring you a crop of great movies which have motivational lessons behind them.

I am Sam
This movie tells a compelling story of a father with downs syndrome, played by Sean Penn who fights  to have his daughter in his life. He cares for her with the help of friends and maintains a job at a coffee shop to support her. Filled with emotional moments, the movie builds on character and strength and outlines how important family is. It also raises awareness of mental disorders and is a fascinating way to educate teens about these disorders.

Sarafina
A South African classic, Sarafina chronicles the lives of students protesting against Apartheid and Bantu education the eighties. Played by Letti Khumalo, the movie is a powerful depiction of an unjust society and how students have a role to play in changing their lives. There are strong themes of survival, focus and purpose in this movie.

Lion King
Considered one of the greatest animated films, Lion King looks at how fighting for survival and never giving up will take you where you want to go in life. It’s a simple feel good movie with a highlight on pursuing your passion, cultivating ambition and having tenacity to see your dreams realised whatever it takes.

Remember  The Titans

Remember The Titans is based on a true story about a high school football team at a newly racially integrated high school in the early 1970s. It tackles adversity, overcoming it and explores how friendship can help conquer life’s everyday challenges.

Hidden Figures
This movie tells the story of how a group of educated black women worked for NASA during America’s racial segregation period. All engineers and mathematicians, the women changed the face of NASA by working on complex calculations and solving scientific equations that enabled astronauts to orbit the earth. Highly inspiring, this movie looks at how women and people of colour can put excellence at the forefront in their everyday lives and stand out based on their education and skills.

When your teen was a baby, there were dozens of pics and special moments captured of their first walk, growing teeth and adorable milestones.

The photo album has probably gotten fuller with more additions of remarkable memories taken throughout their childhood.

It shouldn’t end there as their teenage years also have some super thrilling moments which you can not only take images of but record on video.

When your teen is awarded at a prize giving ceremony

If your teen is gifted and gets awards at school for their performance in various subjects then that is a moment which should be captured. They might feel shy that they are being filmed but years from now, it will be a proud moment for them to share with their kids and family.

When your teen gets a driver’s license

If your teen is lucky enough to have started driving lessons by the age of 16 and is ready to get a driver’s license then that moment is worthy of being recorded. It’s a coming of age moment which means your teen is taking on more adult responsibilities.

When your teen excels at sports and cultural events

You might have a poet or public speaker on your hands who gets invited to speech contests or your teen could be a really talented sportsman and wins games with their team often. Recording those moments could help your teen improve their craft.

When your teen attends their matric dance

This unique day takes months of planning. Sometimes images are not enough to capture the euphoria and excitement that matriculants feel when they attend their matric dance. So capture this moment on video and they’ll forever appreciate being able to watch that special day over and over.

When your teen gets their matric results

This particular moment is one that your teen will remember forever. Opening the newspaper and finding their name in it is a surreal moment, one that is deserving of being recorded and saved for future get-togethers where everyone can tease your teen about how anxious and nervous they were.

Many teens have experienced cyber-bullying, where they are threatened, excluded and made to feel uncomfortable online and in the presence of their friends or peers at school.

Parents can take charge of the situation by following the tips below which have been provided by  the Cyberbullying organisation.

1. Listen to your child and make sure that they feel safe. Cyberbullying.org advises parents to sit down with their children and hear them out, so that they feel protected and are in a safe environment where they can speak out without fear.
2. Where there is evidence, be it in the form of texts, posts on social media or groups that have been formed to discuss your child, keep screenshots and evidence of this to present to the relevant authorities.
3. Set-up a meeting to discuss what has happened with the school. They should be able to advise on their disciplinary policies to ensure that the bully is brought to book.
4. Therapy should be sought if your child is traumatised by the incident. In most cases, it is advised to do so that your child can move on and progress in their academic and personal life.
5. If any threats were made, the police should be contacted to ensure that yoir child’s safety is prioritised.

Watch the ten forms of cyberbullying below

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0Xo8N9qlJtk

Your teen wants to take a gap year but that doesn’t sound normal to you. You imagine a year spent partying, socialising, travelling and perhaps some lazying around without anything productive being done.

Before you let your imagination run away with you and you completely eliminate the idea of your teen going away for a year, it’s essential to clear up any misconceptions about what a gap year actually is.

It is a year where your teen signs up for a program for a fee, usually hosted by an agency which deals exclusively in creating itineraries based on cultural experiences in different countries for young adults.

The agency would take care of travel arrangements, accommodation, food, transport and activities related to building character, exposure to international life and the culture of the respective countries.

Programs do take place in a fun context, so for example sailing through South America but there would be a strong sense of learning as rural communities would be visited and exposure to these communities way of live observed.

Help would also be provided as often gap year programs have activities lined up on how they can improve the life of the villages they visit and the people they come into contact with. So fundraising would also play a big role and teens would learn how to raise money, budget and distribute this to those in need.

For teens, a gap year would provide a breather before they head into university life and prepare them for the intense training that they will receive there. Culture is the buzzword within gap year programs and getting immersed into a different culture is a major advantage which will also leads to learning a new language, networking and gaining perspective.

While it has been said that gap years delay the inevitable and can be a waste of time, it does give teens the time to figure out what they want to study, which career they would like to pursue and what they want to do with their lives.

It’s also a great way for teens to find themselves, to realise who they are, what their interests are and they get challenged by surviving in another country which is an accomplishment once done.

More reasons why gap years can be good for your teen’s self-development

• Teens can boost their job prospects, especially if they are looking to get back home and work part-time or if they want to start a job
• Self-improvement as staying abroad develops survival skills and life skills
• Lasting friendships are made on gap year programs
• Indulge in adventure – this is a fun way to explore the world, make memories and take amazing pictures.

Five exciting gap year programs

1. Experience a culture and spiritual journey in the home of Mount Everest

https://www.goabroad.com/providers/pacific-discovery-gap-year-summer-semester-programs-abroad/programs/nepal-and-tibet-gap-year-semester-pacific-discovery-75088

2. Visit North, West and East Africa by working with local communities in rural villages in Ghana, Morrocco and Tanzania

https://www.goabroad.com/providers/cross-cultural-solutions/programs/discover-africa-gap-year-program-w-cross-cultural-solutions-140174

3. Explore Costa Rica’s biodiversity and the effects of human activities on local ecosystems

https://www.goabroad.com/providers/academic-programs-international/programs/api-gap-year-costa-rica-sustainability-and-environmental-148239

4. Sail from Cuba to Canada for a year

https://www.ocean-passages.org/

5. Find yourself in the United States and go on a journey of self-realisation with a mentor who can help you on your life’s purpose

https://www.innerpathworks.com/