Letter 2 A Teen

“I have turned back to the book many times and, honestly, it has helped me a lot in that I have come to accept myself for who I am and am no more intimidated by friends.” (Teenage student)

“It’s a small price to pay to save the life of a teenager.” (Parent of a Teenager commenting on Letter 2 a Teen)

Robin has mentored over 1000 teenagers from a variety of socio-economic backgrounds. He has developed proven strategies to encourage teenagers to become the best they can be. Letter 2 a Teen is a user-friendly book that a teenager can use as a personal, self-empowering Journal as he or she journeys through adolescence to becoming a young adult.

All teenagers who have read the book and commented on it, have stated that it has been a help and encouragement to them and a useful reference point as they deal with teenage issues. Read more comments.

This motivational and inspirational book for adolescents has many practical activities and tips, which every parent, youth worker and teacher should read. It’s a great resource for mentors to go through with adolescent mentees.

“This appealing workbook serves as pep talk, mentor and diary, offering teens a tool for life planning. Drawings, graphics and attractive type styles enliven each page. In a “self-empowering journey,” teens reflect on their dreams, relationships, strengths and talents, practicing affirmation and goal-setting exercises. Cox offers encouragement, along with accessible tips on effective communications, good habits and handling stress. Readers can complete worksheets about time management and “being positive,” prepare a résumé and portfolio, and discover their resiliencies.

 

While road-testing this guide on more than a thousand teens in New Zealand, Australia and Southern Africa, Cox also considered adult mentors whom he trains in his Youth Empowerment Seminars. Both audiences will value this “letter,” and parents will gain understanding about the kind of support teenagers need. Anyone who works with youth will find many ways to use this gem.”
 – Cathi MacRae, YOUTH Today – the newspaper on youth work
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The Spirit of Mentoring

“Great writing. Good images and diagrams. Liked the range of ideas for what we can ‘do’ with a mentee.” (Mentor)

“Fantastic. Interesting. Well set out. Lots of great information.” (Mentor)

2017 Edition now available! A Manual for Adult Volunteers, is used as a Resource book for the Mentoring Matters Mentor Training Program and has been used by over 1,200 volunteer adult mentors during their mentoring journey with teenagers. It has pages and pages of tips for anyone mentoring teenagers – goal setting, communication, resiliency, resolving conflicts, self-image issues and lots more. User-friendly and with tips and ideas that support the latest adolescent brain research.

This Manual has been used by Youth Mentor Programs in New Zealand, Australia and the USA.

“Definitely user-friendly. Excellent lay-out. Great content. Overall I’m very impressed. It’s something I will use all the time.” (Mentor)

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Vision

To motivate, inspire and encourage young people (with a particular focus on ages 13 to 19) to reach their potential and be ready to play their part in the 21st Century world of work as happy, creative, entrepreneurial and resilient people.

Mission

Affirming and encouraging the ‘Spirit of Mentoring’; with an outcome where young people are guided and equipped to reach their potential, living healthy and balanced lifestyles, within the context of a safe, supportive and secure environment.

Resources

The Mentoring Matters material has been developed in line with the findings of international and Australasian research about young people, including some of the most recent adolescent brain research. This material will encourage parents, teachers, volunteer adult mentors and anyone working with youth.

Learn about Mentoring Matters

In the 1980’s Robin Cox launched Youth Empowerment Seminars (YES!). In 2017 YES! evolved to Mentoring Matters while keeping the core focus of the self-empowerment of youth supported by mentoring.

Now a trusted one stop site where you can learn proven strategies about creating a youth mentoring program, set up a peer  support or peer mentor program, learn more about effective mentor training, understand the highly successful GR8 Mates school-based youth mentoring program, gather many tried and tested tips to promote the spirit of mentoring, find proven tried and tested resources put together after years of research, access Robin’s free 260 Mentoring Minutes Podcast episodes – a collation of years of research about youth, youth mentoring, adolescent brain research, teaching and coaching – and explore some leading global mentoring and youth related organizations on Robin’s Links page.

RECEIVE YOUR FREE COPY OF ROBIN’S eBOOK, MENTORING MATTERS – TIPS AND IDEAS TO ENCOURAGE YOUNG PEOPLE TO BECOME THE BEST THEY CAN BE, BY ENTERING YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS AND PRESSING THE ‘SUBSCRIBE’ BUTTON AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE. THIS WILL ONLY WORK IF YOU SUBSCRIBE ON A DESKTOP OR LAPTOP (NOT A MOBILE PHONE).

YOU CAN ALSO RECEIVE A FREE COPY OF ROBIN’S 2018 RESEARCH ADVOCATING THE IMPORTANCE OF A VERTICAL TUTORING (MIXED AGE) SYSTEM in SECONDARY/HIGH SCHOOLS: THE 21st CENTURY EDUCATION REVOLUTION – AN EDUCATION FOR LIFE. Placing the family at the heart of the holistic learning journey: Building authentic, effective and meaningful relationships; Building caring communities; Creating the most effective conditions for learning and the support of teachers, students and their families.

 

 

 

Learn More

Research suggests that deep down most young people would like:

To be cared for (loved)

  • They need to feel safe and secure.
  • The more they are cared for, the more secure they feel.
  • They need to be surrounded by people who care for, appreciate and accept them unconditionally.
  • They need the positive influences of peers and adults to encourage them to do their best.
  • They need to be encouraged to appreciate that they are more likely to become the best they can be when there are clear rules or boundaries in place (some of which can be negotiated). When they step over these boundaries there will be reasonable consequences.

To be valued

  • The more they are valued the more positive self-worth they experience.
  • They need to be encouraged to feel they have some control over things that happen to them.
  • Empowering them will be proof that they are valued, respected, liked and are regarded as valuable resources.
  • They need fun time to interact with peers and adults, which involves the development of social skills.

To know that life has meaning and purpose

  • Their lives have significance.
  • The more they understand that there is a reason for their existence, the more significant they will feel.
  • They need encouragement to explore opportunities within and outside of school to learn and develop new skills and interests.
  • They are encouraged to acquire a commitment to learning: academic success and the long-term value of learning will enhance their self-worth as they discover their gifts and talents.
  • They need to appreciate and understand how to make the tough decisions and choices; how to cope with new situations.
  • They need guidance to develop a positive view of the future.
Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever can. John Wesley

Mentors, the wise guides who voluntarily move alongside our young people and become great, trusted friends.