Whatever!: A Down-to-Earth Guide to Parenting Teenagers

"I am really surprised by the previous two reviews as I found it invaluable. Really down to earth, practical advice that was delivered with good humour and common sense. If one of the authors is running parenting classes that are being well attended she must be doing something right, and judging by the sound advice in this book I think she is! I particularly liked the chapters on clothes and sex which I found particularly useful for discussing with my 17 year old daughter. I also liked the question and answer sessions that were easy to read - a really inventive idea that keeps you reading. We left it lying around for everyone to read, and as a result have found we have better discussions with our teenagers."
~ Written on 2007-10-29

"As with an earlier reviewer I thought the authors had scant experience to offer- one with no children and one whose children were not yet or barely teenage when the book was written. I think most parents would agree that the main problems are later on in the teenage years.
I di find the instructions for how to run a family meeting were useful & although we only did 2 or 3, the way of addressing issues has stuck and was definitely helpful."
~ Written on 2007-10-23

"I found this book disappointing for many reasons. Firstly because one of the authors who is not herself a parent runs "Parenting Classes" for a living and thinks she can tell us parents how to behave with our teenagers and the other is a parent who went to the parenting classes and just happens to be "in publishing" and helped the first author to get this rubbish published.
The book opens with two introductions, one from each author, neither made the book sound very good and both seemed to say the same thing. There is no humour which is vital when being a parent.
And there are many and various quotes from other parents and children who attended the parenting classes and are therefore no wiser.
This book is not worth your money. BEWARE"
~ Written on 2007-06-21

"The authors of this immensely helpful book are Gill Hines, who has thirty years’ experience of working with children, and Alison Baverstock, who is a mother of four. Children’s author Jacqueline Wilson contributes a useful foreword. The book provides a wealth of useful strategies for parenting.


There are chapters on being a parent, being a teenager, self-esteem, communication (‘talk, don’t tell’), the role of the family, peer pressure, bullying, self-organisation, money, clothes, sex, drugs, drink and hobbies. Each chapter has a sensible discussion of the issue, followed by commonly asked questions and suggested answers.


On the important matter of sex, the authors observe that Denmark has the earliest introduction to sex education, and the lowest rate of teenage pregnancy. Doubtless, the other positive aspects of the Scandinavian social model are important too.

The authors’ key ideas are that parents should encourage teenagers to have a positive attitude towards themselves, and parents should try to remember how it was for them at that age. They also emphasise that parenting takes time and that it is a top priority.


Families need to renegotiate boundaries for the teenage years and they have to encourage young people to take the initiative and to take responsibility for their actions. This is best done by the parents setting good examples.

The authors recommend that parents should gradually stop doing things for teenagers, especially for boys, to ensure that they develop the skills they need for independence. The authors note, a little sadly, that all these efforts to improve relations with teenagers lead, as they should, to separation and independence.

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~ Written on 2007-04-26

""All power to these two authors. There's a real understanding of young people and practical advice, such as what you can and cannot control in your teenager's life. This book offers the comfort of self-recognition, and assurance that others must be having the same experiences. A good book for parents and, perhaps, for form tutors, especially those with no children of their own." Times Educational Supplement


"Masses of practical ideas about how to help teenagers feel good about themselves, how to keep family communications open and how to deal with problems, from parties to swearing. A valuable summer read for any parent gearing up for a new school year with the 13s and over." The Independent

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~ Written on 2007-02-07