How to get your teenager out of their bedroom

Be the parent your teenager needs

Teens retreat to their rooms for lots of reasons: gaming, social media, low self-esteem or just establishing independence. The problem is, if your teen won’t talk to you, it’s very hard to know what’s going on, when to worry and how best to help.

This book offers concrete tips on how you can maintain a good relationship and support your teen’s wellbeing despite that often-closed bedroom door, including:

• real-world wins and everyday actions to build connection
• the blueprint for how to get a reluctant teen to spend time with you (and why it really matters that you persevere)
• tips on how to communicate effectively (without nagging!)
• strategies for tackling tricky issues like compulsive gaming, obsessive phone use and social anxiety
• an honest look at the difficult emotions that we experience when our child starts pushing us away

The presence of a caring, supportive adult is the most important factor in helping teens grow into happy young adults. This book will help both you and your teen rise to the challenges of these tricky transitional years and come out on the other side stronger."Reassuring and comforting for parents who may believe they've 'lost' their child . . . a handbook of useful ideas which will help remove some of the stress of living with teenagers and will bring you closer together."
– Lorraine Candy, author of Mum What’s Wrong With You? 101 Things Only Mothers of Teenage Girls Know

"Anita tackles the grittiest of problems facing parents of teens and brilliantly simplifies complex science, making it easy to understand the unique needs of our teenagers . . . It’s a treasure trove of wisdom and support for any parent navigating the teenage years."
– Dr Bettina Hohnen, Clinical Psychologist and Senior Teaching Fellow at UCL & author of The Incredible Teenage Brain

“A warm-hearted guide that provides light at the end of the parenting teen tunnel and plenty of brilliant tips! Anita manages to share effective tips coated in love and empathy for all parents and carers. She makes the reader feel held, understood and equipped. This book is steeped in lived experience and filled with the wisdom of a brilliant parent coach.”
– Dr Kathy Weston, Tooled Up Education

"Pragmatic while also non-judgemental and compassionate, towards both teens and their baffled, frustrated, deeply loving parents . . . This is a book that is full of love, and ultimately brings hope."
– Fiona Spargo-Mabbs OBE

“This is exactly what parents want - evidence-based, practical advice and ideas delivered with humour and kindness.”
– Alicia Drummond, The Wellbeing Hub 

"This is an excellent practical guide to parenting a teenager! If a parent implements the suggestions made by Anita Cleare (for example, the five golden rules for parents of teens), the teenage years will be much more enjoyable for the entire family. I highly recommend this book!"
– Rex Forehand, Ph.D., co-author of Parenting the Strong-Willed Child (4th edition)

"Anita Cleare has twenty years of experience in supporting families through this adolescent period. Powerful and personal professional experiences, and she’s here to help us create a positive connection out of teenage disconnect. She’s wise. Supportive. Full of hope and ideas and practical tips. And I thank her. We thank her."
– LoveReading
Anita Cleare (MA, AdvDip) is a parenting speaker, writer and coach who supports working parents to balance successful careers with being a parent. She writes the award-nominated 'Thinking Parenting' blog (www.anitacleare.co.uk) and delivers expert parenting seminars, webinars and one-to-one support.

Anita has studied developmental psychology (child development) to postgraduate level and is an accredited Triple P® parenting coach. A leading UK parenting expert, she speaks at events internationally and is regularly featured as a parenting expert on TV and radio. She is Director of the Positive Parenting Project.