We offer specialised training and consulting services on a range of teenage issues including:
  • Adolescent Development
  • Generational Trends
  • Youth Culture
We assist adults who live and work with teenagers. If you are relating to teenagers, we want to help.
  • Parents
  • Educators
  • Youth Workers
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We provide a solid grounding in the principles and processes of adolescence as well as teaching various skills and strategies, so you can make the BEST CHOICES for relating to the teenagers in YOUR situation.

  1. Beliefs

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    Increased understanding enables better communication. Good communication fosters healthier relationships. Healthy relationships produce confident, compassionate, and capable young people.

  2. Content

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    Our content is based on years of real world experience, and is informed by the latest research and established theory. All our products are designed for everyday people who live and work with teenagers.

  3. Delivery

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    We believe learning should be an engaging, energizing, and stimulating experience. Our courses and products are available in a variety of formats. They are designed to cater for multiple learning styles and various situations.

  4. Outcome

    Our mission is to see parents, professionals, and volunteers become intentional, informed, and effective at positively engaging with teenagers.

  5. Experience

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    “Understanding Teenagers” was founded by Chris Hudson. Chris has 10 years experience as a professional youth worker dealing with teenagers from a variety of backgrounds. He holds a Masters Degree in Education and specializes in teaching adults about adolescence and youth culture.
Looking for an experienced, engaging speaker? Chris has a variety of informative and entertaining keynotes for any audience.
Whether it’s advice on managing teenage staff, or customising a training program for leaders, we offer a range of consultancy options.
Need to be more effective relating to your teenage kids? We offer personalised coaching for parents of teenagers.
Great articles, tips, and info on up coming releases, delivered direct to your inbox.
Quality information and workbooks for you to download
2 great new products for parents of teenagers and youth workers

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Click here get more info on upcming courses!
Training workshops and seminars to equip parents for the important task of raising tomorrow’s adults.
A fresh take and new insights on adolescence to assist those educating today's teenagers
Workshops and seminars to assist Youth Workers in connecting and journeying with today’s youth.

Free Downloads

As part of commitment to helping adults who live and work with teeangers bridge the gap, we offer a range of free resources. Please feel free to download anything on this page you think might be useful for you or someone you know.

A 50 page ebook to help adults communicate more effectively with teenagers.

This book contains some of the essential skills and strategies needed in order to communicate with today’s teens. With proven strategies for connecting with teenagers, this book contains loads of practical insights and tips for adults in a variety of settings. DOWNLOAD

This is a 1 month (4 week) course for parents of teenagers.

Each week parents are provided with a set of exercises to help them evaluate and refocus their parenting efforts. This course includes evaluation tools, planning guides, information about parenting, and tips and ideas about how to be the best parent you can be for your teenagers. DOWNLOAD

Presentation

Have Chris come and speak at your next parent’s night, training day, leadership meeting, fundraising dinner, or conference. As an accomplished and engaging speaker Chris uses stories and humour blended with an extensive knowledge of the latest research and trends, to deliver informative and relevant addresses to a variety of audiences.

Chris has delivered literally hundreds of public addresses during his career including- school assemblies, fundraising dinners, church services, conferences, training days, college lectures, leadership events, parents groups, and radio broadcasts. Whether there is 10 or 1000, Chris is able to engage his audience with quality content and polished presentation skills.

Presentations can be tailored to suit your requirements, including:

  • Time frames – 20min to 90 min duration
  • Visual (Powerpoint) display
  • Multiple presentations across the day
  • Presentation topic can be tailored to suit your particular context

For more information on Chris’s presentations DOWNLOAD A BROCHURE or CONTACT us directly.

Consulting

Looking for someone who will help you achieve your particular goals, or deal with the problems you and your organization are encountering?

Our consulting services offer individuals and organizations a range of customized solutions for a variety of teen related issues. We work hard to ensure what we offer is tailored to what you need. If we can’t give you what you are looking for we will tell you up front – so no one’s time is wasted.

Some of our services include:

  • Establishing an in house training program for your staff or volunteers
  • Strategic review and assessment of youth programs
  • Managing and communicating with teenage staff, clients, or customers
  • Tailoring your message or service to today’s teenagers
  • Identification & resolution of generational conflicts within the organization
  • Using social media to communicate with teenagers

The types of organisations that benefit most from our services are:

  • Churches
  • NGO’s
  • Youth Services
  • Community Centers
  • Small to medium size businesses with teenage staff
  • Small businesses looking to engage the teenage market

As you can see our consulting clients are not multinational corporates. We offer a personalized service at rates your organization can afford. All costs are stated upfront and there are no strings attached, commissions, or hidden costs.

For an obligation free consultation about how we can assist you CONTACT US today.

Coaching for Parents of Teenagers

Unfortunately teenagers don’t come with a special instruction manual for parents. The result is many parents often spend more time arguing with, or worrying about their teenage kids rather than enjoying a special time of life.

A parenting coach can help you to make the most of your children’s teenage years. We all know every family is unique. Having a personal coach enables you to focus on those issues and circumstances specific to you and your family.

The unsettledness and uncertainties of adolescence often exposes anxieties and feelings of inadequacy in many parents. Our coaching helps you to determine your own goals as a parent and move towards those goals with certainty and purpose.

Our focus is on you as the parent, and how your parenting shapes your teenager. Coaching can help you:

  • Clarify what you expect from your self as a parent
  • Effectively communicate what you want from your teenager
  • Understand how you contribute to your teenager’s behavior
  • Correctly interpret teenage behaviour
  • Overcome unhelpful patterns and scripts that sabotage your parenting

The benefits of specialist coaching include:

  • More intentional parenting
  • Greater respect and trust between family members
  • Teenagers feel more secure as part of the family
  • More time enjoying your teenagers and less time worrying about them

For more details about how our coaching programs can help you DOWNLOAD OUR BROCHURE or CONTACT US to arrange free ½ hour consultation.

Parenting Seminars

Running for 2.5 hours, these interactive seminars provide parents with practical insights on various aspects of raising teenagers. All participants receive work-sheets and handouts to take away.

  • Expecting Teenagers - This seminar is especially designed for parents whose children are approaching the teenage years. This fun and informative 2 & 1/2 hour seminar prepares parents for the teen years by clearly outliing what to expect and what to do when it happens.
  • Managing Conflict With Teens - If you would like to be better equipped to handle the differences that emerges during the teenage years, then this seminar is for you.
  • Equipping Your Teen For Success - If your goal as parent is to raise your teenager to be an adult who is confident in who they are, and able to cope with adversity or success, this seminar is a must
  • Communicating With Your Teenager - This 2&1/2 hour seminar provides parents with essential information and strategies about how to maintain open lines of communication with their teenagers.
  • Teenagers 2.0: Raising Digital Citizens - Parents today not only need to nurture their children through the traditional challenges of adolescence, but also have to contend with the challenges posed by digital technology
For information on pricing & hosting a course - CLICK HERE

Parenting Workshops

Running for 4 or 6 hours these workshops provide parents the opportunities to explore the principles and strategies of parenting teenagers in greater depth. Participants receive handouts and material to take away. Courses can be run as half day events or as multiple 2 hour courses.

  • Parenting Teenagers - If you are, or are soon to be, a parent of teenagers this workshop is specifically for you. Our workshops are designed to equip you with the essential knowledge and skills you need for the important task of guiding your children along the path to emerging adulthood
  • Understand Your Teenager - If you are, or are soon to be, a parent of teenagers this workshop is specifically for you. Our workshops are designed to equip you with the essential knowledge and skills you need for the important task of guiding your children along the path to emerging adulthood. This 6 hour workshop (3 x 2hrs) allows for more in depth exploration and description of issues facing parents of teenagers
For information on pricing & hosting a course - CLICK HERE

Educators Seminars

These 2.5 hour courses deal with various aspects of adolescent development and generational trends of today’s teens. These interactive courses give educators the opportunity to explore how these insights can be used to improve engagement with teenage students.

  • Understanding Today's Teenager - This 2 & 1/2 hour seminar combines generational insights with up to date research and developmental theory in a creative and engaging format that will give teachers a greater appreciation of the students in their classroom
  • The Development of Adolescence - Information on this seminar is coming soon!
  • Teenagers 2.0: Teaching Digital Citizenship - This 2 & 1/2 hour seminar explores concepts of digital citizenship and seeks to provide a constructive framework for engaging with teenagers about digital media usage.
For information on pricing & hosting a course - CLICK HERE

Educators Workshops

A 4 hour workshop that enables participants the opportunity to explore in more depth the theory and practical strategies associated with relating and communicating with teenagers in the 21st century. Workshops can be run in one sitting or in 2 x 2hour sessions.

  • What Teenagers Need Teachers to Know - Teachers in high schools face the daily challenges of engaging and communicating with today’s teenagers. Our workshops (4 hours) for teachers are designed to enhance what they already know, provide new insights, and stimulate fresh ideas and approaches.
For information on pricing & hosting a course - CLICK HERE

Youth Workers Seminars

These 2.5 hour courses are designed to help both professional and volunteer youth workers increase their knowledge and skill sets in a variety of areas associated with running programs for teenagers. All participants receive notes and material to take away.

  • Teenagers, Change & Youth Work - This seminar assists you, and your team, with the basic knowledge of teenage development and how it effects the way teenagers think, relate, and behave.
  • Working With Junior High - This seminar provides people working with young teenagers valuable insights into the changes that are occurring and strategies for communicating, relating and programming for this age group
  • Engaging Teens: Developping Effective Programs - This seminar is all about helping you and your team discover the power of using the processes of adolescent development to create programs that engage teenagers where they are at.
  • Equipping Teenagers For Success - This seminar is full of practical insights and strategies you can use to develop help develop a teenager’s resilience and self esteem.
  • The Emerging Generation: What is Different? - This 2 & 1/2 hour seminar uses generational theory and date research to provide participants with a clear picture of the trends of today’s teens.
For information on pricing & hosting a course - CLICK HERE

Youth Workers Workshops

These 4 hour courses give participants the opportunity to explore issues and strategies of working with teenagers in greater depth. Courses provide lots of opportunities for interaction and activity. Workshops can be run in one sitting or in 2 x 2hour sessions.

  • Youth Leaders Understanding Teenagers - For those who work with teenagers, or lead in youth programs, this workshop is designed for you. Our workshops equip you, and your team, with the critical knowledge and skills required to connect with teenagers, comprehend their world, and design and manage effective programs for them.
  • Improving Leadership: Critical Reflection & Youth Work - Youth work is one of those things that is hard to teach in the classroom. Much of the learning occurs while actually doing it. But how do you capture that learning in a way that improves both the program and those who run it. This 4 hour workshop provides a model for learning while engaged in the practice of youth work.
For information on pricing & hosting a course - CLICK HERE