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AUSTRALIA’S MAGAZINE FOR PARENTS OF TEENAGERS
EXPLORINGTEENS SEP - NOV 14 • ISSUE 1
LAUNCH ISSUE
FREE GAMING – THE GOOD AND THE BAD | HOW TO SPEAK GEN Z HIGH SCHOOL TECH TOOLS | GREAT READS FOR TEENS INVISIBLE MONEY | YOUR TEEN'S WORLD | KEYS TO THE CAR
achieving and sharing in our regular blog at www.exploringteens.com.au
Resources
For easy access to the links mentioned in Exploring Teens, visit our Resources page at www.exploringteens.com.au Here you will also find useful information to complement the articles in the magazine.
SW permit number LTPS/14/06680, terms and N conditions at www.exploringteens.com.au 2 NSW permit number LTPS/14/06680, terms and conditions at www.exploringteens.com.au 1
Goodies to be won!
WIN
Enter our Teen Talk competition1 and our Exploring Teens Survey2 to win some glorious goodies for you and your teen. Prizes include a Blackmores health supplements gift basket valued at $345; a gift certificate for a Drive to Survive defensive driving program valued at $295; two AIE holiday gaming workshops each valued at $350; a massage package for parent and teen valued at $190; a Resilience Report with a one-hour follow-up session at the Resilience Centre; Dymocks book vouchers, and Excel study book vouchers. Visit us at www.exploringteens.com.au to enter.
VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.EXPLORINGTEENS.COM.AU For a full event listing and subscribe to our newsletter for regular updates!
2 EXPLORINGTEENS SEPTEMBER 2014 • ISSUE 1
FROM THE
PUBLISHER Welcome to the launch of Exploring Teens. This is such a dream for me, and writing this as the publisher is even more surreal. I cannot really say I ever aspired to be a publisher though. Rather, it’s something that has grown from a simmering passion to connect with people and share in the daily trials and tribulations that colour our lives. Everyone has an interesting story, and I love the privilege of getting to know someone well enough to hear theirs. I am currently helping one of my teenage sons, who has yet to discover the grey shades that constitute most aspects of our existence, to understand that when we enter into a conversation, there is no right or wrong position. The best result is arrived at when we approach the conversation with genuine interest. Only when we appreciate what the other person’s ‘story’ is and how it shapes that person, do we experience true learning and understanding. It is out of the same genuine interest that Exploring Teens endeavours to provide a balanced view of parenting today’s Australian adolescents. Don’t be mistaken into thinking that perhaps I have completed my ‘learning’ and I am now here to share! Nothing could be further from the truth. Like you I’m sure, I make mistakes and stumble and bumble along. I am constantly looking for wisdom, guidance and support. In fact, my search for answers has been the driving force behind this magazine. Parenting teenagers is challenging from so many different perspectives, and yet I have struggled to find a single location that brings together relevant and reliable resources for this age group. This is why I’m so excited to publish this magazine with its truly amazing contributors. I want to thank those supporters who have unfalteringly believed in my passion and conviction. First and foremost, I need to thank my husband, who excelled at playing the devil’s advocate but has nonetheless been excited to watch me spread my wings and hope to fly. Other notable supporters include Adrian Farrow who gave me the confidence to follow through with my vision, and who was always available to provide a commonsense response to my sometimes crazy thoughts; my friend for life and a constant source of inspiration, Myra Wearne; Dr Chris Bauer, who has illuminated many dark moments in my life; my mother for her unwavering belief in me; and the ‘find of the century’, my editor Gillian Handley who, most importantly, is also a parent of teens. It is my hope that, with the backing of these people, Exploring Teens will help us all navigate the interesting seas of the teenage years. This is just the start though, and I cannot stress enough how much Exploring Teens will need your support to both survive and thrive. So, if there is something here that you find useful, please tell us by subscribing, entering a competition or liking us on Facebook (or do all three if you get really enthusiastic). This will be a great and exciting journey and I am personally thrilled at the prospect of taking it with you. I truly look forward to sharing the laughter, tears, heartbreak and love as we begin Exploring Teens.
EXPLORINGTEENS Produced and published by Norwest Publishing Pty Ltd ABN 64 167 026 913 PO Box 8149 Baulkham Hills NSW 2153 exploringteens.com.au Director/Publisher Mathea Viles Editor Gillian Handley Creative Consultant Melissa Kallas Print and distribution by Spotpress Pty Ltd Contributors Dr Brent Conrad Callum Firth Ros Gillieatt David Holloway Nathan Jacobs Guest Photographer Emma Handley Subscriptions Subscribe online at the Exploring Teens website www.exploringteens.com.au Contact us Editorial (including Letters to the Editor) editorial@exploringteens.com.au Advertising advertising@exploringteens.com.au Design by Cirasa Design hello@cirasadesign.com.au Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in Exploring Teens are not necessarily those of the publisher or editorial staff. Exploring Teens provides general information that cannot be regarded as a substitute for any form of professional advice. The accuracy of website addresses cannot be guaranteed at the time of publishing. No part of Exploring Teens can be reproduced in whole or part without the express permission of the publisher.
Mathea
WWW.EXPLORINGTEENS.COM.AU 3
From the Editor
CONTENTS FEATURES Our ‘Exploring’ features provide depth and insight into issues affecting parents and teens.
Some claim that the term ‘teenager’ was coined in 1944. Others believe the teenage mindset developed in the 1920s. I think it goes back a lot further— look at Shakespeare. Two young people defy parents, society and convention as they follow a drastic course of action despite the risks and terrible consequences that result. Stirred into the mix are the turbulent passions of first love, a conviction of their own invincibility and a seemingly irresistible urge on the part of the males involved to argue and fight. Sound familiar? Romeo and Juliet are typical teenagers, and it may be that if Exploring Teens had been available to the Montagues and Capulets, the history of literature might have been very different. Susan Mackey, in her paper Nurturance: a Neglected Dimension in Family Therapy with Adolescents advises parents to create deeper and stronger relationships with their teens, as in the absence of this involvement, many adolescents have become disenfranchised and left with little to no support. This is where we come in. Exploring Teens will put the emphasis back onto the role of parents and help them to step forward to build closer connections with their teenagers, instead of stepping away from them. As Editor of Exploring Teens, I can’t wait to discover and share the most authoritative, relevant, useful and interesting information available with you. Our editorial will be balanced, incisive and packed with valuable tips to help make parenting your teen a little easier. This is your magazine, so let us know what you want us to cover. Drop us an email or visit our website—we’d love to hear from you.
Gillian 4 EXPLORINGTEENS SEPTEMBER 2014 • ISSUE 1
Exploring Gaming
6 Gaming Today David Holloway looks at the state of play in the video gaming industry 8 Addicted to Gaming Dr Brent Conrad lists 10 points that parents need to know
Exploring Technology
12 High School Tech Tools What your teen needs for school. Ross Gillieatt explores the options.
Exploring Finance
16 Invisible Money Gillian Handley looks at how we can equip our teens with some financial know-how
Exploring Driving
20 Keys to the Car Tips on helping our teens become safer drivers
REGULARS 5 Have You Heard? 10 Your Teen's World
Snippets of news about teen issues
14 Communication
How to Speak Gen Z
15 Teens Talk
What our teens have to say. Switched-on Callum Firth considers life without technology
Reviews
18 What are they reading? The team at Dymocks have selected some great reads for teens and parents 19 What are they playing? Nathan Jacobs reviews two timeless video games
21 Life with Teens
Grant me Serenity
22 Editor’s Picks
Our pick of the best teen-related events, services and products
SUBSCRIBE NOW. IT'S FREE! Exploring Teens needs subscribers to survive!
LOOK OUT FOR EXPLORING TEENS ISSUE 2 FOCUS ON EDUCATION DUE OUT EARLY FEBRUARY 2015!
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