Parenting tweens and teens can be difficult territory to navigate, even more so in a pandemic when a life lived online is accentuated. Clinical psychologist Jo Lamble and Family GP Ginni Mansberg are riding out Covid restrictions in New South Wales. They have combined their years of experience working with families to write a practical parenting guide - The New Teen Age - how to support today's tweens and teens to become healthy happy adults. It is specifically designed for parents, step-parents and carers.

Parenting tweens and adolescents can be difficult territory, even more so in a pandemic.

An Australian clinical psychologist and GP have combined their years of experience working with families to write a practical parenting guide - The New Teen Age.

Listen to the full interview with clinical psychologist Jo Lamble and family GP Ginni Mansberg

The New Teen Age is specifically designed to help parents, step-parents and carers support today's tweens and teens to become healthy happy adults, Lamble says.

Parenting is constantly changing in this "new age" and boundaries might look a bit different.

"They need to know that there are boundaries, but they also need to be able to learn to develop and let go because we are just there helping them transition into adulthood."

If your child is acting appropriately and following rules, it's fitting to allow them some privacy online, she says.

"But if you're concerned, if you're thinking 'well, some of the decisions you're making aren't safe, there's risky behaviour here, I am concerned' so then for their safety you're saying ... 'I think we need to share passwords or be friends online, just for a period until we know you're safe again'.

"It's just showing our main aim is just to keep you safe and we're going to do whatever we can to do that. But we also know you need your freedom, your privacy, your independence, and we're all working towards that same goal."

When discussing tech use with children, Mansberg recommends parents focus on the Five Cs outlined in The New Teen Age - connection, compassion, confidence, competence, and collaboration.

"Instead of trying to control them and control access to their apps, try and keep that connection strong.

"You're like the trainer wheels on the bike, gradually loosening your rails and loosening your controls, so that they have a really good framework to use.

"The apps that they're using are changing quicker than the wind. You can't keep up with it ... having tech in their life is just inevitable."…

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details