TALKING TECH WITH TWEENS AND TEENS WEBINAR SHOP NOW

Michelle’s Speaking Topics

Presentations

It’s Michelle’s warmth & insightfulness that make her radiate on stage. She doesn’t just teach but speaks to the heart of her audience – whether they be parents, educators, businesses or community groups. Her inspiring presentations typically run for an hour and are often followed by Q&A and book signing. For those wanting to go further, Michelle also offers warm, engaging workshops (half-day or full day) tailored to suit the needs of each audience.

Building Confidence and Courage

Audience: Primary and High School Parents

Grounded in research, this presentation unpacks the science of building confidence and the realities of what happens when it wobbles. Michelle will move beyond quick fixes to offer meaningful strategies that
will help kids and teens develop a strong sense of self, learn from mistakes and grow through interaction with relationships they are surrounded by.

Together we will explore:

  • The development of self-esteem from childhood through to adolescence
  • Why a realisitc self-view is more powerful than a purely positive one
  • Common pitfalls of traditional self-esteem boosting techniques
  • The impact of social comparison, technology, and external feedback
  • How to deliver feedback that fosters a growth mindset
  • How to safeguard confidence when children fail or feel inadequate
  • The unique power of a parent’s personal journey has a guiding narrative

Teens: Staying Connected on the road to Adulthood

Audience: High School Parents

Full of humour, honesty and practicality, this presentation offers parents an overview of adolescent development, along with bite sized actionable tools to help parents guide their kids as they differentiate and become their own unique person. Michelle will give parents insights into the needs, desires and pressures that today’s teens face, and how we can best establish values to guide their lives.

Together we will explore:

  • Three key developmental stages parents should be aware of
  • How kids develop their own moral compass and develop values
  • How to set boundaries and make decisions with adolescents
  • How best to connect with a teen who isn’t talking
  • What to do when they mess up
  • What is normal teen behaviour and when to seek help

Tweens: What kids need now, before the teenage years

Audience: Primary School Parents

Our tweens are not children but nor are they teenagers. The even better news is that they are not aimlessly caught in limbo. They are in a period of development that is so unique, that once understood, will
revolutionise the way you care for them. This presentation will highlight “in-between” solutions that ensure
those aged 9 – 12 are safe while stretching into new freedoms and responsibilities as they grow.

Together we will explore:

  • New, groundbreaking research about tweens’ development
  • Insights into the “attachment stretch” and how best to support it
  • A look at sibling rivalry, body image, and a non-judgemental, up-front discussion about technology
  • Memorable ways you can forge an unbreakable connection

Resilience: The Power of One Caring Adult

Audience: Primary and High School Parents

This unique presentation will invite you into “Michelle’s office” where she highlights just how important one caring adult can be in a child’s life. It offers realistic, compassionate strategies to help parents support both primary and high school-aged children through everyday setbacks and bigger emotional hurdles.

Together we will explore:

  • The role of relationship in fostering resilience
  • Language we can use in our homes to help kids adapt and think flexibly
  • Setting realistic expectations that stretch but not snap kids
  • The trust equation – and why character, competence and consistency are critical in our kid’s resilience journey
  • The dual role of trust and self-trust
  • How to talk to a kid or teen about counselling

Handling Tricky Friendship Days

Audience: Primary and High School Parents

Michelle’s 12 guiding principles of friendships have been a real hit within schools, helping kids develop more supportive relationships. Without these principles, she has seen young people fear, fight, compete and chase closeness instead of attracting it. With them, she has seen young people voice their needs, stand strong and experience more meaningful connections.

Together we will explore a handful of these principles to help give parents the language to support their kids as they:

  • Define friendship
  • Hold boundaries with more ease
  • Manage transitions in friendship groups
  • Celebrate others
  • Understand the importance of belonging and significance
  • Accept disappointments, and resolve conflict

Talking to Tweens About Puberty, Sex and Staying Safe

Audience: Primary School Parents

This presentation arms parents with the tools to approach conversations about puberty, sex, consent and online safety. It recognises that natural curiosity needs to be channelled to safe people and places, and gives parents language to talk to tweens in an age appropriate way. This presentation may be coupled with Michelle’s student presentations, delivered either in person or online.

Together we will explore:

  • What today’s tweens need to know, and why
  • Overcoming the awkward and tips to kick start conversations
  • Scripts parents can use to explain puberty, sex, unsafe people and pornography to a child
  • Understanding the needs of anxious kids
  • Laying foundations of respect and consent in every conversation
  • Tips for helping children who feels anxious about discussions

Self-Harm: Why Teens Do It and What Parents Can Do to Help

Audience: This is an important and pracCcal event for anyone who lives with or works with school aged children, aged 6 – 17

Exploding with hope, this presentation will help anyone living or working with young people to better prevent, understand and respond to self-harm. Although self-harm is often an overlooked and misunderstood issue, the right knowledge and approach can ensure young people are met with the care, compassion and competence they need.

Together we will explore:

  • What self-harm is and why it is an attractive coping strategy
  • What to do and say if you suspect your child is self-harming
  • The difference between voluntary and habitual self-harm, and the strategies that may best be suited to each situation
  • What harm minimisation strategies are
  • When to seek support, and how best to do that
  • What to do if nothing seems to be working