Transitioning from the teen years into adulthood can be very exciting, yet scary; and it always includes “growing pains”. Teens who tire of adult advice listen to peers and messages from icons of popular culture. Some teens submit blindly to authority; some respect it; others rebel. Ideally teens will be receptive to wisdom but not controlled by commands; able to discern positive from negative peer pressure and media messages; and capable of monitoring and motivating themselves. Teens - It’s Time to Grow Up helps teens learn, develop, mature and self-actualize with games, mock videos (skits or role plays for which teens prepare a possible video presentation), interviews, team activities, drawing, journaling, debates, discussion and other modes. These activities guide teens in many directions. As a facilitator, you’ll love the user-friendly activities with fully reproducible handouts as you help teens develop the skills needed to develop into strong, caring adults. Seven chapters, four to nine sessions per chapter, encompass the following: RE-gress or PRO-gress? Security blankets, stages, delayed gratification, to crawl or walk, whine or affirm, are pondered. Life Skills Sandboxes, bikes, sports, pets, the senses, railroads, road rules and driving directions provide lessons. Parents, Partners and Role Models Parent profiles, idols and ideals, relationships and red flags, leaders and followers are featured. Home, School and Work Family roles, behavior behind closed doors, students, teachers, yearbook analogies, challenges and work habits are addressed. Tangible and Intangible Materialism, money, monetary and behavioral costs versus benefits, values and ethics are explored. The Journey to Maturity Growth through fertilizer, late bloomers, rites of passage, frozen then freed, gladiator mentality, measures of maturity, perspectives, continuums and sex sense receive focus. Life after High School Education and training, career calls, love and partner traits are discussed. About the Authors: Ester A. Leutenberg has worked in the mental health profession for many years as an author, publisher and as an advocate for those suffering from loss. She personally experienced a loss when her son Mitchell, after struggling with a mental illness for eight years, died by suicide in 1986. Soon after, as a way of both healing and helping others, she co-founded Wellness Reproductions & Publishing with her daughter Kathy Khalsa. Ester began developing therapeutic products that help facilitators help their clients. She is the co-author of the SEALS series for teenagers as well as Meaningful Life Skills for older adults, and the eight-book Life Management Skills series for adults. Ester has co-written the following, all published by Whole Person Associates: Mental Health & Life Skills Workbook Series for Facilitators Teen Mental Health &Life Skills Workbook Series for Facilitators Coping Workbook Series for Facilitators Transitional Life Skills for Teens Series Veterans ~ Surviving and Thriving after Trauma The Complete Caregiver Support Guide Motivation ~ Identifying strengths, interests, abilities, hopes and dreams Creating a Healthy Balanced Life Griefwork ~ Healing from Loss GriefWork for Teens ~ Healing from Loss The GriefWork Companion ~ Activities for Healing Breaking Up is Hard to Do ~ Support for Partners Ending a Committee Relationship Ester, a breast cancer survivor since 2003, has counseled other survivors in overcoming body-loss issues. Her involvements with Survivors of Suicide, the Coyote Task Force in Tucson, various support groups in Sun City Oro Valley and volunteering at two hospitals are among many ways she continues to feed her passion of helping mentally ill people, their facilitators and their families. Carol A. Butler, MS Ed RN, C, has a Master of Science in Education and School Counseling, a Certificate in Alcohol and Drug Studies and is a Board Certified Psychiatric and Mental Health Registered Nurse. The activities in her publications were developed in response to clients' needs, and have been utilized effectively with diverse populations. She has taught children and adults, provided vocational counseling, worked in mental health care for children, adolescents, and adults in hospital and community settings. She currently works as a Behavioral Health Charge Nurse. Carol is the author of the book and corresponding card deck, 100 Interactive Activities for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Recovery, and Motivation: Identifying strengths, interests, abilities, hopes, and dreams. |