Seminars for teachers, parents, youth workers and others interested in the next generation

Understanding the Next Generation

Our world has changed. In every area, life has changed dramatically in the last fifty years. What we often fail to recognise however is that a changed world has produced a changed generation.

Young people today are very different from us. They have different values, different expectations, different moral codes, different ways of thinking, speaking and acting. And when we fail to take this into account when dealing with young people we become confused and frustrated.

This seminar is a humorous, fascinating and invaluable consideration of how young people are different from previous generations, why this has occurred and the impact of these changes on our world.

Specifically this seminar covers:

The developmental (biological and cognitive development) differences between adults and teenagers (we are less alike than you might think)
The generational differences between adults and teenagers

Then How to use this information to:

Communicate with the next generation
Work alongside the next generation
Feel hopeful about the next generation
And more

Comments from audience members in the past include:

“Well researched, very relevent, practical - start earlier and talk for longer!”
“Amusing, interesting and interactive!”
“I learnt skills, hope, alternatives, awareness. Great to put into black and white
our concerns.”
“This seminar was polished, practical and inspirational”
“Kirrilie never fails to impress and educate”
“Kirrilie is an excellent speaker with a strong empathy with her audience”

This seminar can range in length from a 30 minute keynote up to a three hour training session. It is particularly suitable for conferences, parent nights, educator professional development and business meetings.

• I learnt skills, hope, alternatives, awareness. Great to put into black and white our concerns.
• Kirrilie is an excellent speaker with a strong empathy with her audience
• Well researched, very relevant, practical – start earlier and talk for longer!

A parents guide to Year 11 and 12

Year 11 and 12 can be a stressful and worrying time for parents. They are often unsure about how to help their teenager, how to work with the school and what to do in difficult times. Research and experience shows that parents are eager for any information that helps them care for their teens during this process. If seminars on these topics are included as part of a regular school evening, attendance rate increases dramatically.

In this seminar specific topics include:
Understanding the differences between generations
Helping young people with homework - without nagging!
Most common pitfalls in dealing with a Year 12 student
How to work with the school
Enjoying the year!
And others…

This seminar for parents is far from dry, dull and academic. Using humour, stories, anecdotes and real life examples, parents are usually engaged and interested from the very beginning.

Feedback from parent seminars in the past has been excellent:

• “There was lots of of information, it was extremely worthwhile and challenging”
• “Great to feel we were doing things right, I learnt practical suggestions of how to talk to my daughter
• “Wonderful to find out we are not alone. Many thanks.”
  
  These seminars are often incorporated as part of a school evening but can also be a “stand alone” night for parents. Sometimes parents are charged a small entrance fee to cover the costs or the school or community group sponsor the evening. Seminars range in length from a 20 minute keynote to a 2 to 3 hour interactive workshop.
  

Helping young people in crisis

Parenting teenagers can be a job filled with frustration, anxiety and concern. Even harder is when young people are dealing with a crisis of some kind: depression, relationship break-up, loss of self-esteem, problems with peers or learning difficulties just to name a few. At these times, parents often feel helpless and don’t know what to do to help, while everything they do try seems to backfire.

This seminar is designed to give parents of teenagers confidence and skills in dealing with teenagers in difficult times. Specific topics covered include:
Understanding the differences between generations
Why teenagers act in those oh-so-annoying ways and how to cope with them
The three most important actions to take in dealing with troubled teenagers
What not to do and pitfalls to avoid
And others…

This seminar for parents is far from dry, dull and academic. Using humour, stories, anecdotes and real life examples, parents are usually engaged and interested from the very beginning.

Feedback from parent seminars in the past includes:
“I felt more confident about the positive things I am already doing - learnt to hang in there!”
“I came away with strategies to deal with teens’ behaviour”
“I realised other parents are going through the same difficulties - and that there is hope!”
“Clear and simple steps - interactive presentation - good focus on the positive”

These seminars are often incorporated as part of a school evening but can also be a “stand alone” night for parents. Sometimes parents are charged a small entrance fee to cover the costs or the school or community group sponsor the evening. This particular seminar is also used in the Parachute series. Seminars range in length from a 20 minute keynote to a 2 to 3 hour interactive workshop.

Youth Depresion and Suicide

Increasingly teachers and educators are becoming concerned about the prevalence of depression and suicidality in young people. It is an area which is becoming progressively more difficult to ignore.

Teachers often feel “out of their depth” in dealing with this topic. They do not feel adequately equipped or resourced to handle these difficult issues.

Youth Depression and Suicide is a professional development session for teachers and other professionals which covers the following:
Prevalence of depression and suicide in young people
Risk factors for depression and suicide in young people
Warning signs to look for
Options for intervening and helping young people
Available resources for teachers in helping young people

This seminar for teachers is far from dry, dull and academic. Using stories, anecdotes and real life examples, and a healthy dose of humour, teachers are usually engaged and interested from the very beginning.

Past comments from Teachers include:

• Kirrilie spoke with great clarity and enthusiasm and I have received much complimentary and positive feedback from parents and staff
• All reports from parents and teachers indicate that you have done a wonderful job. I hope we see you as a speaker again.
• Kirrilie’s presentation was a stunning exemplar of good teaching practices. She was vibrant, lively and articulate, giving excellent practical advice and she had a sense of humour! She kept her audience captivated for the entire hour.

This seminar is usually approximately 90 minutes in length. Please note this seminar is also part of the Parachute series.

• This was an extremely useful session – I feel much more confident
• I didn’t realise the extent of the problem until I saw the survey results. I will be watching my teens phone use much more carefully now.

Please note all seminars are the intellectual property of Kirrilie Smout copyright 2008 ©