Divas & Door Slammers: The Secret to Having a Better Behaved Teenager

by Charlie Taylor

Endless arguments Communication by grunt Seismic sulking Lives ruled by FOMO (fear of missing out)Sound like your teenagerBehavioural expert Charlie Taylor has the answers in this practical handbook which is full of simple, effective techniques for improving your teenager's behaviour. Charlie Taylor's straight-talking, no-nonsense approach guides you away from knee-jerk parenting towards a more proactive and positive relationship with your teenager. With particular emphasis on the power of praise - the basis of his acclaimed 6 to1 strategy - and planning in advance for behaviour or communication hotspots, every parent can break the miserable pattern of constant confrontation, endless negotiation and repetitive nagging. With the insights and methods found in Divas and Door Slammers including a handy Troubleshooting Guide that looks at such issues as under-age drinking, sex, drugs and problems at school every household with teenagers can quickly transform from havoc to harmony.

Genres: Nonfiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published June 24, 2010

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a likeable little volume I borrowed from the library as an eBook just so I'd have something on my phone to read if, Heaven forbid, I should find myself somewhere without a paper book. Ironic then that I read a chunk of it whilst waiting around for a teenage *dog* to come back... can't dock her pocket money! I did think there was a slightly simplistic over-reliance on money as motivation - although I found myself shocked at just how much pocket money the teenagers in the case studies were getting. I don't know if this is because Charlie Taylor is based in London. I also thought there wasn't really enough on how to address problems if parents are not in agreement between themselves - he just seems to say well you have to have a united front. He also rather overuses the term 'reptilian mode' for automatic unhelpful ways of communicating.

Mostly though, it was a nicely-toned book which appreciates teenagers and appreciates their parents, that recognises the new challenges that current teenagers face without being Luddite, and which provides clear suggestions. I thought the section on 'hard cases' was particularly good, recognising that parents in that situation are probably sufficiently overwhelmed that they need to be told "Do this, say this, then do that, this might happen, this will be tough" (yet avoids the hubris of giving the method A Fancy Title [TM])

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as I hoped. Very general although funny in places when you realise this 'teenage thing' is happening to others not just yourself!

Am looking for something that is more gender specific.

[Runningrara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Time will tell.