For parents
and guardians.
Adolescence is a period of major growth and change. Young people are developing greater independence, forming their identity and learning to manage increasingly complex emotions, relationships and decisions.
At the same time, many are growing up with academic pressure, social media, constant comparison and uncertainty about the future. Behaviours that can sometimes feel confusing or challenging to parents are often part of this wider process of growing up.
As children become more independent, the role of parents changes too. Support increasingly means being able to listen, stay connected and try to understand what may be happening underneath the behaviour — without always needing to solve the problem immediately.
EmpowerYOUth offers information and practical tools that can help parents and guardians better understand adolescence and support young people's wellbeing at home.
About EmpowerYOUth
EmpowerYOUth is a learning programme for young people aged 14–18. Its aim is to help young people develop practical emotional coping strategies and strengthen their resilience.
The programme uses interactive discussion, practical activities and student-centred learning to help young people better understand their emotions, manage stress, strengthen relationships and respond more effectively to life's challenges.
A key part of EmpowerYOUth is that young people have a voice in what they learn. The programme is flexible and participatory, and young people choose many of the topics they want to explore.
Facilitators use discussion, open questions and participatory activities rather than relying only on traditional teaching.
For parents, understanding how EmpowerYOUth works can make it easier to talk with their child about what they are exploring and to support that learning at home.
Read more about EmpowerYOUthUsing the Cards at home
The EmpowerYOUth Cards contain short ideas, questions and practical exercises connected to topics young people may face.
Parents can use them as gentle conversation starters. You might look at a Card yourself first, invite your child to choose one, or simply ask whether they would like to look at an idea together.
The Cards work best when they are offered without pressure. They should not become homework, a test or another way of questioning a young person.
Using the Nine Boxes at home
The Nine Boxes is a simple reflection tool that looks at different areas of a young person's life.
The idea is balance. When one area becomes difficult, other parts of life may still provide support and stability.
Parents can use the Nine Boxes together with their child as a way to begin a conversation. For example:
- Which area feels strongest right now?
- Which area might need a little more attention?
- Is there one small thing that could help this week?
It is not a test or a diagnosis. The purpose is to notice strengths, support and areas that may need care.
The downloadable Nine Boxes resource will be available here soon.
Four short videos for parents and guardians
The four EmpowerYOUth parent videos are designed as a short series. Each video is approximately 10 minutes long.
They can be watched in order as a short introduction to adolescence and EmpowerYOUth, or individually when a particular topic feels relevant.
Together, the videos move from understanding adolescence, to understanding EmpowerYOUth, to practical ways of supporting wellbeing at home, and finally to using the EmpowerYOUth platform and tools.
Understanding adolescents today
Adolescence involves major biological, emotional and social change. This video looks at what is happening during this stage of development and some of the additional pressures young people face today, including academic pressure, social media, comparison, identity and uncertainty about the future.
It helps parents look beyond behaviour and consider what may be happening underneath it.
Understanding EmpowerYOUth
This video introduces the EmpowerYOUth learning programme — where it comes from, what it is designed to achieve and how it works.
It explains the eight-session structure, the role of young people's choices and the main approaches used to strengthen resilience, including values and purpose, Nine Boxes, CBT and DBT techniques and help-seeking.
Supporting wellbeing at home
As young people become more independent, parents may need to support them in different ways. This video focuses on three important relational experiences: Acceptance, Connection and Understanding.
It offers practical exercises that parents can use to listen with greater curiosity, reflect on their own expectations and better understand their child's perspective.
Using the EmpowerYOUth platform at home
This video shows how parents can use the EmpowerYOUth platform as a practical resource at home. It explains how the Cards can be used as gentle conversation starters and how the Nine Boxes can support reflection and small actions.
The central message is that the platform should support conversations, not replace relationships, school support or professional help.
Small changes in the way we listen, respond and create space for conversation can make a difference over time.
The EmpowerYOUth platform is there to support conversations, not replace them. It does not replace your relationship with your child, school support or professional help when that is needed.