Parenting a teenager today isn’t easy.
Author Peter Benson has discovered a key way for parents and other caring adults to help all teenagers succeed: discover and nurture their SPARKS.
All parents wish to raise children who lead lives of purpose and passion. This wish becomes all the more important—and elusive —in a world that is changing rapidly.
Purpose and passion are the hallmarks of a life that matters, a life worth living. They are the source of joy and happiness. All adults learn this basic truth, yet often discover it later in life. The greatest gift parents can give their children is to help them discover and act on this truth now.
SPARKS ARE . . .
the hidden flames in kids that excite them and tap into their true passions.
SPARKS come from . . .
the gut. They motivate and inspire. They're authentic passions, talents, assets, skills, and dreams.
SPARKS can . . .
be musical, athletic, intellectual, academic, relational: from playing the violin to working with kids or senior citizens.
SPARKS can . . .
ignite a lifelong vocation or career, or balance other activities to create an emotionally satisfying, enriched life.
SPARKS get . . .
kids going on a positive path, away from the conflicts and negative issues—violence, promiscuity, drugs and alcohol—that give teens a bad name and attract so much negative energy.
And SPARKS gives you the five steps for igniting sparks in YOUR teen.more. . .
What people are saying
"Peter Benson has a powerful vision: a future in which all American teens find their "spark" and reach their full potential. A must-read for parents, this book is also an inspirational, practical guide for youth development professionals, teachers, coaches and mentors who want to help teens discover their passions and enjoy meaning, purpose, and happiness."
—Roxanne Spillett, president & CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of America
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“Peter Benson has written a lively, down-to-earth, eminently readable book for anyone who teaches, raises, or works with teenagers. Few have figured out the wondrous mystery that is adolescence, but Dr. Benson has made headway in doing so. Sparks is both a how-to manual and a recipe for inspiration.”
—Dr. Carol R. Johnson, superintendent, Boston Public Schools
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“The teen years can be the most challenging ones for both the teen and their parents. At the same time they can also be the most rewarding. Peter Benson provides valuable, practical insights and advice in Sparks which parents will turn to time and again as they support their teenager in making healthy choices.”
—Neil Nicoll, president and CEO, YMCA of the USA