Here is the latest edition of YouthMoves – a news-sheet for people interested in youth issues in Australia

WELCOME

Welcome to the latest edition of YouthMoves, a news-sheet that gives ‘snatches’ of youth news, info & resources relevant to busy people relating to teens.  

What’s in this issue?

-         Keeping teens active

-         Tips for developing social skills in teens

-         PLUS find out about useful youth resources

-         PLUS find out about upcoming youth events

-         Our contact details

-         How to unsubscribe OR join up friends and colleagues to this newsletter

If you would like to see the back issues of Youth Moves log onto our website www.innovateonline.net

If I can assist your work with young people in any way (by offering counselling services, speaking/training or just answering a question about youth issues), please feel free to phone me on 8357 1711, or email kirriliesmout@innovateonline.net.

P.S. I am often asked about reprints:  Please feel free to reprint articles in school newsletters providing the following acknowledgement is made:  Kirrilie Smout, Innovate Psychology and Education, www.innovateonline.net.

KEEPING TEENS ACTIVE

There are many benefits of physical exercise for young people.  For example, research has documented that young people who are physically active feel less stressed during the pressures of exams.  Teenagers involved in sport are less likely to smoke, binge drink and use illicit drugs.  Young women involved in sport are more likely to feel satisfied with their body shapes.  Active young people have higher self-esteem.  And of course, physically active young people are less likely to be overweight and more likely to be healthy overall.   Unfortunately, as with adults, teenagers today are less active than generations before them.  The opportunities to sit on backsides (for them and us) are endless – in front of the computer, watching television, in the car, on the telephone, playing electronic games and more. 

Working with and caring for young people must involve helping them be more physically active.  How do we do this?  There is no single solution, but a variety of approaches helps.  For example, we must be limiting screen time for teenagers.  Given the lure of the net – especially games and chatrooms – most teenagers will choose to be online (and consequently sedentary) wherever possible.  Therefore we need to be the “brakes” in this area and ensure that sedentary (net, tv, phone) activity options are only available for a certain amount of time (preferably in non- daylight hours) each day.  I also believe that families should, wherever possible, provide funds and transport for teens to access physical activity.  Whilst I acknowledge having teens involved in sport can be expensive and time consuming, I believe this is time and money is often saved later on the costs of physical and mental ill health.

It is also worthwhile helping a young person find physical activity that suits them, rather than nagging them to be involved in a sport that is more “us” than “them”.  There are many physical activity options – from the “newer” (skateboarding, trick biking, inline skating, aqua aerobics, yoga) to the more traditional.  We should also help teens to incorporate “incidental” activity into their days.  In other words, encouraging them to take the stairs, dropping them away from school to walk the last block, asking them to walk to the shop to get something for us, incorporating walking into school excursions and so on.  Many short bursts of physical activity are almost as beneficial as one longer exercise session.  Good old fashioned bribery is not completely out of place here too:  “look, you can go back on the net if you walk the dog for half an hour” is quite acceptable in my view!

Finally, we must be good role models for physical activity.  Young people who have adults in their life who exercise, and who talk about enjoying their exercise, are more likely to exercise themselves.  Just one more reason for us to get active – let’s do it for their sake!

Kirrilie

STATS and FACTS: Last year, $200 million was spent on snack food marketing in Australia. In the same period, $10 billion was spent on snack food marketing in the U.S.A                                                

Teen Matter magazine, Winter 2006, p.61

NEWS AND EVENTS

Creative Arts Therapy Weekend Intensive/Retreat, October 27^th-29^th, Woodhouse Scout Centre, Piccadilly, SA: Run by Inside Arts, this weekend is led by a qualified, experienced Creative Arts Therapists, and explores the use of the arts as a therapeutic tool to transform lives. The weekend costs $390, and includes 2 nights’ accommodation, meals and all workshop materials. To book, or for more info, contact Glenda Needs: Ph: 0408 802 301; email: needs2@bigpond.com.

Suicide Prevention National Conference 2006: “Connecting Pathways – Big Country, Big Picture”, 2 - 5 Nov 2006, Stamford Grand Hotel, Glenelg: Suicide Prevention Australia’s annual conference is focusing on a number of topics, including the integration of research from different fields, and how to learn from those who have attempted suicide. For further information, contact Suicide Prevention Australia: PO Box 729 Leichhardt NSW 2040; Phone: +(612) 9568 3111; Fax: +(612) 9568 3511; Email: spainfo@bigpond.com; Website: www.suicidepreventionaust.org.

ASCEND (Assistance, Support, Cooperation, Education, Networking and Direction) (Suicide Intervention ) Program, Adelaide: ASCEND provides services to young people who are exhibiting depressive and suicidal behaviours. The ASCEND program also trains to to correctly recognise, interpret and respond to suicidal and depressive behaviours exhibited by young people.Contact: Naomi Kelly at Centacare Support, Training and Intervention Services: PO Box 52 Hindmarsh SA 5007; Phone: 08 8241 7022 or 0418853786; Fax: 08 82417315; Email: nkelly@adelaide.centacare.org.au.

Forum: TEACHING SOCIAL SKILLS

Dear Kirrilie,

I teach a Year 8 girl who constantly gets harassed by her peers.  We are working hard on disciplining the offenders, but the girl in question doesn’t help herself.  She acts in an immature way. The other students find her annoying.  How can I help her “keep her head down” a bit?

Dear Concerned,

There is a vicious cycle of bullying that works like this:  victims often are (almost) friendless and so don’t get the opportunity to learn age appropriate social skills, which means they are more likely to get bullied, which means they don’t get opportunities to learn social skills and so on.  In addition, they are often starved of attention because of their “loner” status which means they are more likely to act inappropriately to seek attention.

I often work with victims on some very specific social skills and you could do the same.  Don’t say:  you need to act more maturely – this message is too general and will get lost in her anxiety – even if she does understand what you mean.

Instead, focus on one particular, very specific skill at a time.  For example, you might start with voice volume.  Give her a project to observe (I talk to younger kids about “playing detective”) when her peers use a loud voice, and when they use a soft voice.  Get her to practice using appropriate volume in various situations.  You might then switch to appropriate question asking, where she observes the questions her peers do (and don’t) ask of friends and teachers.  Get her to write these down & then practice asking these questions.  You could then do compliment giving, and so on. 

The principles of social skills training are:

(1) student observation (getting them to be more socially aware),

(2) an extremely specific and small step approach and

(3) role plays & lots of encouragement.

Finally, keep in mind that if you are able to help her find something to do that she is good at and can feel good about, then some of the attention seeking behaviour might naturally decrease.

Best Wishes, Kirrilie.

RESOURCES

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