Many schools and training centres are finding it difficult to deal successfully with the disruptive behaviour and lack of motivation demonstrated by some young people. Mental health problems such as depression afflict more and more children and teenagers. Parents today often navigate between being too tough or too soft on kids who are becoming increasingly demanding and materialistic thanks to the influences of our culture. Bullying and a general lack of empathy can make school a dangerous place for children. Eating disorders are increasing, as girls feel the pressure to succeed academically and present a perfect appearance. Emotional intelligence is waning as learning disorders such as ADHD and autism appear with ever increasing frequency.

Many children’s diets are denying them the fuel to enable their brains to develop fully, think clearly and manage their emotions. Consuming large amounts of sugary and fatty foods not only creates obesity as a danger but also impacts behaviour negatively, increasing aggression and distractibility. Research programs in schools and prisons provide evidence of the power of the right diet and supplements, for example EPA fish oils, to improve academic performance and behaviour and decrease aggression.

Increasingly children are missing out on the experiences of free play outdoors and contact to the natural world. Interestingly there is now research to support the beneficial effects of being in nature on children with ADHD and related learning difficulties. Surrounded by parental fears of crime, fearful of what they see on the news and in films and increasingly addicted to computer games high on aggression, children are far from carefree today. Technology offers them a virtual world in which they do not develop the practical and social skills that will help them find their way in today’s real world.

For more information on the contents of our mentoring and training programmes aimed at schools and parent groups, click the download button.

Over the last two years many young people’s lives and life chances have improved thanks to the YES Project – Youth Education Success, a course funded by the Learning Skills Council and offering an OCN Level 3 accreditation. Three trainers, including Sue Bayliss, have taught NLP and Coaching skills to youth workers, teaching assistants and learning mentors in many schools and training establishments throughout Norfolk including Connexions.

The results have been extremely positive. Young people have achieved better academically, setting and meeting targets. They have improved relationships with teachers, parents and peers and learnt to control their behaviour and improve their concentration in class. Those who work with young people have developed a greater understanding of their challenges and learned a toolkit of techniques to facilitate their own and their pupils’ personal development.

Building on this success, Sue is offering training in mentoring to any school or parent group in this country or abroad, as well as training for peer mentors or for any young people who want to improve their emotional intelligence. There is also the opportunity of combining these courses with challenges in an outdoor environment. With mental health problems and learning difficulties multiplying, now is the time for schools and parents to teach children and teenagers the skills of emotional management so that they can realise their potential and avoid the dangers of falling into drugs, alcohol excess and other dysfunctional behaviours.