Direct, practical advice for parents on helping teens boost their self-esteem

The importance of self-esteem has been stated to the point of losing all meaning, yet it's essential to every human being's development and happiness. In what can be an incredibly toxic and frightening modern culture, young people in particular are struggling to gain some vestige of self-esteem and are subsequently battling myriad mental and physical health issues. For parents, teachers, and caregivers who want to help but don't know what they can do, there is Fundamentals—a self-help book for people who are fed up with patronizing self-help books. This guide will give you pragmatic, relevant advice on how to nurture self-esteem and discuss and deal with mental health issues, delivered with positivity, humor, and realism. Although touching on specific issues such as self-harm, eating disorders, and anxiety, this is more generally geared towards instilling confidence and promoting a positive state of mind. A collaborative effort between Lynn Crilly—a mother and counselor who writes with love and warmth for her fellow parents and carers—and Natasha Devon—a journalist and activist, who writes with passion (and a few swear words) for teachers—there's something in this book for everyone.