It is a question that has puzzled hard-pressed parents for thousands of years – how do you tame an unruly teenager?

The issue has inspired a host of comedy creations, including Harry Enfield's Kevin and Perry and Catherine Tate's Lauren Cooper.

Now an East Anglian school is hosting a 10-week course that will give top tips on how to 'effectively manage' youngsters aged 13-19.

The course, backed by Cambridgeshire County Council, is being held at Witchford Village College and aims to help parents to deal with teens' 'challenging and risky behaviours'.

At the end of the course, parents go through an evaluation to see what changes they have made and whether they have brought about a difference in their teen.

The course, run with help from specialists Sharing Parenting, will take place every Wednesday from January 22 until April 2, 7-9pm.

According to the county council, the course will help 'parents and carers to support positive and effective management of your teenagers and their challenging and risky behaviours'.

It says the course will also improve relationships and help parents understand and communicate effectively with their teenagers.

A spokesman said: 'Raising Teens is a course aimed at parents of teenagers.

'It will help you to understand why your teen behaves as they do and how you can deal with their emotions and yours.

'It will also give you effective strategies which work with teens.'

Sharing Parenting, the company which has provided training for the course, bases its methods on the work of Alfred Adler, an Austrian doctor who was working in the late 19th and early 20th century.

On its website the company promotes the idea that 'children are not born good or evil but can be influenced either way'.

Suzanne Pearson, of Sharing Parenting, said: 'The teenage course is particularly popular with dads who perhaps see it as their role as a disciplinarian or who want to improve communication with their teens.

'But the course is not just for parents who have had hiccups with their children; it is also for parents who are doing just fine – because, like all things, it is good to keep things ticking over.'

To book your place on the free course, call Dil Owen on 07990 856683 or Jane Tuck on 07827 309394.

What do you think? Is it possible to tame teens?

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