Connection
A Year of Great Conversations with Your Teen
Will be published approx. on 4. March 2027
Book
Hardback
280 pages
979-8-216-46414-3 (ISBN)
Description
An insightful guide for parents to cultivate meaningful conversations and connections with their children.
When today's world, and certainly tomorrow's world, looks so different from the world we grew up in, as parents we grapple with complex and urgent questions: How do we talk with our children so that we nurture resilience in an age of uncertainty? How do we prepare young people for an uncertain future while grounding them in a strong sense of purpose and values? How can we help our teenagers flourish and stay strong mentally when so many are struggling?
In Connection: A Year of Great Conversations with Your Teen, Nicholas Alchin helps parents reflect on and talk about these matters with their kids, especially pre-teens and teenagers. It bridges the gap between mundane realities (kids going to school, being on social media, arguing with parents, falling out with friends) and timeless philosophical inquiries (who we are, who we aspire to be, how we find happiness and fulfilment), while challenging parents to reflect on their role in shaping their children's values, growth, and futures. With an inquiring, philosophical stance on growing up, parenting, wellbeing, achievement, and careers, Alchin offers specific, practical guidance to support parents in their journey to finding a deeper connection with their kids through intentional conversation.
Open-hearted discussions can invigorate any relationship. But especially during the pre-teen and teenage years, being able to discuss the rocky parts of growing up is particularly impactful. Connection is born of this need, offering a map of ideas, conversations, and tools that enable families to have deep, meaningful conversations together.
When today's world, and certainly tomorrow's world, looks so different from the world we grew up in, as parents we grapple with complex and urgent questions: How do we talk with our children so that we nurture resilience in an age of uncertainty? How do we prepare young people for an uncertain future while grounding them in a strong sense of purpose and values? How can we help our teenagers flourish and stay strong mentally when so many are struggling?
In Connection: A Year of Great Conversations with Your Teen, Nicholas Alchin helps parents reflect on and talk about these matters with their kids, especially pre-teens and teenagers. It bridges the gap between mundane realities (kids going to school, being on social media, arguing with parents, falling out with friends) and timeless philosophical inquiries (who we are, who we aspire to be, how we find happiness and fulfilment), while challenging parents to reflect on their role in shaping their children's values, growth, and futures. With an inquiring, philosophical stance on growing up, parenting, wellbeing, achievement, and careers, Alchin offers specific, practical guidance to support parents in their journey to finding a deeper connection with their kids through intentional conversation.
Open-hearted discussions can invigorate any relationship. But especially during the pre-teen and teenage years, being able to discuss the rocky parts of growing up is particularly impactful. Connection is born of this need, offering a map of ideas, conversations, and tools that enable families to have deep, meaningful conversations together.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Product notice
Laminated cover
Illustrations
2 bw images, 5 tables
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 140 mm
Thickness: 15 mm
Weight
328 gr
ISBN-13
979-8-216-46414-3 (9798216464143)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Nicholas Alchin is the Head of College at the United World College of SE Asia, the largest international school of its type in the world. He has previously worked at established international schools of excellence and local public community schools. He has served as International Baccalaureate Chief Assessor for Theory of Knowledge and Vice Chair of the IB Examining Board. Nick is also a textbook author, IB examiner, workshop leader, speaker and strategic consultant. He resides in Singapore.
Content
Acknowledgements
Introduction
How to Use This Book
1 Dialogue: How to Turn Small Talk into Deep Connection
2 Growth: Stop Building, Start Growing
3 Authenticity: The Myth of the "Real You"
4 Stress: Why Your Teen Needs Struggle
5 Respect: People Over Position
6 Purpose: Your Job, Your Career, Your Calling
7 Desire: Why Getting What They Want Won't Make Them Happy
8 Influence: Why "Just Say No" Fails (and What to Say Instead)
9 School: Why You Are Thinking About School All Wrong
10 Habits: Identity First, Actions Second
11 Systems: Why Willpower is Overrated
12 Popularity: Status is a Trap
13 Creativity: Why Imagination Matters More Than Logic
14 Technology: Being Human in an AI World
15 Repair: The Four Steps to Healing a Rift
16 Motivation: Why Rewards Don't Work
17 Self-Awareness: You Are a Committee, Not a King
18 Calm: Be a Fly on the Wall of Your Own Life
19 Belonging: Fitting in Without Losing Yourself
20 Passion: Dreaming with Your Eyes Open
21 Happiness: Why Having It All Feels Empty
22 Attention: The Power of Simply Noticing
23 Teaching: The Subtle Art
24 Empathy: Everyone Has a Story
25 Confidence: Thriving in the Shadow of Talent
26 Dignity: Rise Above the Insult
27 Perspective: Meeting Your Future Self
28 Balance: The Curse of Too Many Choices
29 Connection: Bond Over What You Love, Not What You Hate
30 Engagement: Why School Shouldn't Always Be Fun
31 Resilience: Winning the Reaction, Not the Game
32 Challenge: Embrace the "Good Hard"
33 Courage: Don't Just Stand There
34 Grit: How to Get the Boring Stuff Done
35 Commitment: Why Too Much Freedom Paralyzes
36 Identity: The Golden Threads of Family
37 Options: Freedom is a Choice
38 Anger: Righteous Indignation vs. Destructive Rage
39 Failure: Not an Option, But a Requirement
40 Discernment: Disliking People for the Right Reasons
41 Life Skills: What They Forgot to Teach You at School
42 Boredom: The Value of Being Bored
43 Independence: Saving the Goal is an Own Goal
44 Reading: Literature as Rebellion
45 Meaning: Why Happiness is a Lousy Goal
46 Hope: How to Avoid Cynicism
47 Becoming: Trusting the Open Journey
48 Autonomy: Real Independence is More Than Choice
49 Wisdom: Don't Ask Siri
50 Wellbeing: Decoding Distress
51 Needs: Wants vs. Needs: How to Spot the Difference
52 Time: The Long Drive Home
Afterword
Appendix 1: Seven Central Parenting Themes
Appendix 2: More on Conversation Techniques
Notes
Bibliography
About the Author
Introduction
How to Use This Book
1 Dialogue: How to Turn Small Talk into Deep Connection
2 Growth: Stop Building, Start Growing
3 Authenticity: The Myth of the "Real You"
4 Stress: Why Your Teen Needs Struggle
5 Respect: People Over Position
6 Purpose: Your Job, Your Career, Your Calling
7 Desire: Why Getting What They Want Won't Make Them Happy
8 Influence: Why "Just Say No" Fails (and What to Say Instead)
9 School: Why You Are Thinking About School All Wrong
10 Habits: Identity First, Actions Second
11 Systems: Why Willpower is Overrated
12 Popularity: Status is a Trap
13 Creativity: Why Imagination Matters More Than Logic
14 Technology: Being Human in an AI World
15 Repair: The Four Steps to Healing a Rift
16 Motivation: Why Rewards Don't Work
17 Self-Awareness: You Are a Committee, Not a King
18 Calm: Be a Fly on the Wall of Your Own Life
19 Belonging: Fitting in Without Losing Yourself
20 Passion: Dreaming with Your Eyes Open
21 Happiness: Why Having It All Feels Empty
22 Attention: The Power of Simply Noticing
23 Teaching: The Subtle Art
24 Empathy: Everyone Has a Story
25 Confidence: Thriving in the Shadow of Talent
26 Dignity: Rise Above the Insult
27 Perspective: Meeting Your Future Self
28 Balance: The Curse of Too Many Choices
29 Connection: Bond Over What You Love, Not What You Hate
30 Engagement: Why School Shouldn't Always Be Fun
31 Resilience: Winning the Reaction, Not the Game
32 Challenge: Embrace the "Good Hard"
33 Courage: Don't Just Stand There
34 Grit: How to Get the Boring Stuff Done
35 Commitment: Why Too Much Freedom Paralyzes
36 Identity: The Golden Threads of Family
37 Options: Freedom is a Choice
38 Anger: Righteous Indignation vs. Destructive Rage
39 Failure: Not an Option, But a Requirement
40 Discernment: Disliking People for the Right Reasons
41 Life Skills: What They Forgot to Teach You at School
42 Boredom: The Value of Being Bored
43 Independence: Saving the Goal is an Own Goal
44 Reading: Literature as Rebellion
45 Meaning: Why Happiness is a Lousy Goal
46 Hope: How to Avoid Cynicism
47 Becoming: Trusting the Open Journey
48 Autonomy: Real Independence is More Than Choice
49 Wisdom: Don't Ask Siri
50 Wellbeing: Decoding Distress
51 Needs: Wants vs. Needs: How to Spot the Difference
52 Time: The Long Drive Home
Afterword
Appendix 1: Seven Central Parenting Themes
Appendix 2: More on Conversation Techniques
Notes
Bibliography
About the Author