Connect and support the young people in your life

PCYC Queensland is offering a free practical guide to support your teenage children, grandchildren, family members, or friends during struggling times. 

Are you concerned about a teen in your life? Have you noticed shifts in their behaviour? 

Maybe they are constantly scrolling or spending less time with family and friends. Maybe there are some changes in attitude, more frustration, mood swings, or new friends on the scene? 

As we get older, and so do the young people in our lives, it can be challenging to find meaningful ways to connect. However, it’s important to try, or we are faced with younger generations left to navigate an increasingly complex world, without the positive guidance of older family members. 

This is especially true for grandparents, who might have less involvement in grandchildren’s lives – but are in a unique position to have a positive impact.  

That’s not to say it’s easy. That distance can make it hard to step in, even when deep down you sense that something about a young person’s behaviour isn’t quite right or has shifted and changed. And it’s true, the teen years are not for the faint-hearted! 

That’s where PCYC Queensland can help. They have developed a FREE practical guide to help you or your adult children recognise the signs that teens in your life might be struggling, and provides some advice on how to help and readdress their behaviour.  

PCYC Queensland has been a trusted community partner, helping build safer, healthier communities through youth development since 1948 – so they are well-placed to guide parents and grandparents seeking ways to connect that will resonate with young people. 

When you worry about your teenage grandchildren, or your adult children as they navigate parenthood, it can seem as if you are the only one with such concerns. But you are not alone.  

A 2021 National Seniors Australia (NSA) report found that many older Australians feel a deep sadness that younger generations may not enjoy the same opportunities they had, or that they might struggle to cope with the increasingly complex issues facing Australians today.  

This sadness and worry isn’t helped by the almost constant portrayals in the media of issues like an increase in poor mental health, the housing and affordability crisis, pervasive effects of social media and technology, and the rise of AI.  

One NSA survey respondent said, “There is not enough mental health assistance; help the youth early and reduce the number of struggling adults.”

PCYC’s practical guide can help you recognise the signs, as well as provide tips on when and how to step in if needed. For more than 75 years, PCYC has seen firsthand how quickly outcomes can improve when a young person is given the right space, support, and encouragement. Sometimes, simply knowing that someone cares makes all the difference. 

Donna, a grandparent, recently downloaded the guide and shared: “I forwarded the booklet to my daughter, who was having a little trouble with my teenage granddaughter. She found the guidance provided to be of great help. You guys do a fantastic job helping young people to get them back on track with self-confidence.”  

The guide also includes links to FREE community programs your teens might find helpful, including PCYC’s Drop In, which provides a safe place for young people to connect, make friends, and engage in positive social activities after school. 

PCYC Queensland also offers a range of programs offering connection, leadership opportunities, and a safe place. 

Navigating being a teenager is hard. Navigating parenting or being a grandparent to a teenager is hard, too. 

The fact is, no matter the young person, sometimes they need a hand; someone to say, “I’ve got you.” And that doesn’t have to be just you and your immediate family stepping in. 

PCYC Queensland can be by your side in building safer, healthier communities because the proverb still rings true today: It takes a village to raise a child.  

Leah’s story: A teen’s life can be turned around 

A teen’s life can be turned around at PCYC Queensland. Leah, a young woman who once attended After Dark boxing at PCYC Queensland, knows this firsthand.  

In a candid interview, she shares insights into her troubled past, the transformation supported by Sergeant Kelly (the Youth Club program manager at PCYC Cairns), her decision to take up a sport like boxing, and how she now volunteers at her local PCYC.  

“Something like this [After Dark] would have helped me enormously, especially at night. It’s good to do this sort of exercise then – you get better sleep; it takes you away from other things. You get a feed and are in a place where you know you are wanted,” says Leah.  

Every teen needs a safe place to belong and positive mentors who believe in them and accept who they are. For Leah, that was life-changing. Leah is now a professional boxer and is working towards building a brighter future.  

Ultimately, we all want the young people in our lives to feel loved, supported, and empowered to be positive and caring. 

You might already know about PCYC Queensland or recall attending a PCYC as a young person. They are still here to help you. If you need support, please follow the link to download your FREE practical guide.