What Is Tuning into Teens?

Tuning in to Teens (TINT) is a six-week parenting program run once a week for two hours. The program will teach you how to work with your own and your young person’s emotions in ways that help you to remain close and keep communicating. By practising these skills, you are less likely to have as much conflict within your family and your young person is more likely to talk to you about the challenging issues they face. These are factors that have been found to reduce the risk of mental health and substance abuse problems.

What is Emotional Intelligence?

Emotional Intelligence (EQ) is about using your emotions to guide you through the world. It is about being able to use your own knowledge of emotions to make decisions, to manage anger and conflict and to calm yourself down. High EQ helps you to build your relationships, to know what is happening in social situations, and assists you to manage social interactions. 

 Research has shown that teenagers with high emotional intelligence:

• are more aware, assertive and strong in situations of peer pressure
• are more easily able to make friends and resolve problems with others
• cope better when times are tough
• have fewer mental health and substance abuse difficulties
• are able to develop more positive and stable relationships as they grow older
• are more determined in succeeding in all aspects of their life.   

What are the aims of the Tuning into Teens Program?

The program aims to teach parents about how they, as parents, can help their teenage children develop good emotional skills.  For example:

• awareness of what emotions their teen is experiencing
• to view their teen’s emotions as opportunity to connect with them and guide them
• helping their teen identify and describe what they are feeling
• learn to listen to their teen’s problems without judgement 
• strengthen their and their teen’s skills problem solving and learning to cope with boundaries and limitations

What will I be doing in Tuning into Teens?

TINT involves watching video material, group discussions, role-plays and home activities, where parents try out different ways of responding to their teenager’s emotions. Parents are encouraged to share experiences and ideas within the group.  If comfortable, the co-facilitators may use these as examples to explain and teach the skills of emotion coaching.

When will Tuning into Teens be running?

TINT will run for 6 weeks during the school term, at a time suited to parents and carers. To get the most out of the program, participants are encouraged to attend all six sessions.

I am interested in participating or want to learn a little bit more, who do I get in contact with?

Contact headspace Swan Hill on 4010 7100 or alternatively send through an email to headspace@shdh.org.au.