Adolescents are hardwired to explore and grow, and learning is mainly how they do this. But a shocking majority of kids are disengaged from school, simultaneously bored and overwhelmed.

This is feeding an alarming teen mental health crisis. As kids get older and more independent, parents often feel powerless to help. But fear not, there are evidence-backed strategies to guide them from disengagement to drive, in and out of school.

For the past five years, Jenny Anderson and Rebecca Winthrop have been investigating why so many children lose their love of learning in adolescence. Now, weaving extensive original research with real-world stories of kids who transformed their relationships with learning, they offer a powerful toolkit that shows you exactly what to do (and stop doing to support your kid’s academic and emotional flourishing). 

Their research identifies four modes of learning that students use to navigate through the shifting academic demands and social dynamics of middle and high school, shaping their internal narratives about their skills, potential, and identity. 

Understanding your child's learning modes is vital for nurturing their ability to become Explorers. Anderson and Winthrop outline simple yet counterintuitive parenting strategies for connecting with a withdrawn child, tailoring your listening and communication styles to their needs, igniting their curiosity, and building self-awareness and emotional regulation.