Research
Young people learn to cope from the adults around them.
My research looks at how young people learn to handle pressure and setbacks, and how their chances to learn it have changed. I'll add new work here as it's published.
The problem
Fewer adults in their corner
ThenYoung people learned resilience alongside adults at work, at home and in the community
↓
NowFewer adults outside the family are part of a young person's week
↓
MentoringPuts one back
The evidence
Same behaviour.
38% fewer escalations.
Share of Year 8 sanctions escalated to isolation. Same two classes, one school. A correlation, not a trial.
Why it works
Belonging and engagement rise together
Belonging
⇄
Engagement
Students who feel known by an adult engage more, and students who engage feel they belong more.
Pope and Miles (2022), survey of about 55,000 students.
From my working paper, When the Village Disappeared.
Get in touch
Let's talk about your child.
A free call with parents. No commitment, and an honest view on whether mentoring would help.