Publisher's Synopsis
Growing up more difficult and more dangerous than it has ever been. Every day, even in ?safe? places like school, teens face complicated decisions about personal behaviour, involving everything from drinking and drugs, to sex. Unfortunately, many adults don?t fully grasp the true scope of this perilous world. Stephen Wallace points out the ?reality gap? separating parents and adults from young people at the time they need them most - adolescence - and offers concrete solutions to bridge this gulf. Grounded in hard-facts with practical, common-sense advice, Reality Gap combines Wallace?s 25-plus years of experience working with young people as a school psychologist, adolescent counsellor, camp director and college professor with groundbreaking research on adolescent attitudes and behaviours from SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions). Wallace includes concrete suggestions for improving teen-adult communication as well as age-specific ?decision-points? before which parents should address various issues with their teen and pre-teen children. With Wallace?s strong media contacts, professional affiliations and extensive speaking platform, Reality Gap promises to be a go-to book on this vital topic.