Streetwise Parenting by Glenn Compain

Glenn Compain is an Auckland frontline policeman working largely with troubled youth, and he's seen things that would haunt your nightmares. Violent gangs, rampant drug and alcohol abuse, soul-destroying promiscuity, parents unwilling or unable to tackle the mess their kids are making of their young lives. Glenn's experience has taught him that every child is at risk at some stage during their formative years; that there are many influences in their lives that their parents can't hope to control. His message is that it is the parents' job to give their children the skills to make good decisions when the tough times come. By sharing his own story and experiences from the frontline Glenn gives concerned parents the tools they need to spot the danger signs for their children themselves. While he doesn't claim to have all the answers, his commonsense approach and experience with troubled youth make his insight and ideas valuable tools to empower parents. A book for parents, teachers and social workers, this streetwise, straight talking look at today's world will have everyone talking.
You check the backpack your kid’s taking to the sleepover to check they’ve got clean underwear and find condoms, dope and a brand new iPod you’ve never seen before. . .

Welcome to the nightmare many parents wake up to when it’s too late and their child is already going places they would never have imagined. Welcome to the world of the street, that isn’t on the other side of town, over the tracks or somewhere else. It’s in your town, in your neighbourhood and, if you’re not careful, about to grab your kids.

Glenn Compain is a cop on the beat and he’s tired of picking up the pieces of broken lives, shattered families and shredded dreams. He’s seen much too much of the things we like to pretend won’t affect us and he’s decided it’s time to speak out.

Time for the permissive anything-and-everything-goes parenting to stop - time for some tough love, some rule setting and some hard talking. Because our children are our future, and in the world of the street they’re all at risk. Streetwise Parenting gives parents an insight into the reality their children need to navigate, providing some of the information parents need to help them survive in a world that’s changed from the one they knew as children.

ISBN: 9781869506865
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers