Our Kids Need Cop On

New book from leading child and adolescent psychotherapist says we need to teach our children cop on.

In a new book for parents, leading child and adolescent psychotherapist and father of three Colman Noctor says we need to teach our children cop on if they are to survive and thrive in today’s world. Cop On was launched by Newstalk broadcaster Sean Moncrief last week, on Tuesday, 3 March 2015 at 7pm in The Lecture Hall, St Patrick’s University Hospital, James St, Dublin 8.

The book cover depicts a young girl in a super hero outfit because the author says ‘a bit of cop on’ is the ultimate super power we can teach our children. Sean Moncrief and a number of children dressed in super hero outfits were on hand to launch the book.

So what does cop on mean?

The author describes ‘a copped on child’ as one who has the ability to be rational, resilient and sensible. They have the grit and the good judgement needed to cope with life’s challenges. He says,

‘I feel some important building blocks of our personalities are being lost – a sense of cop on being the most basic one. Ultimately, this book’s goal is to help parents become aware of the core qualities that can sustain their children through the challenges they will inevitably face through their lives.’

He uses a raft of new terms to illustrate how the dramatic social and technological changes of recent years are impacting on the parent-child relationship. Readers will discover the meaning of M50 Parents, The GAA Tiger Mum, iPhone Envy and Social Snacking. They’ll also come to understand how our ‘on demand’ culture of constant entertainment, instant gratification and high expectations is leading to higher levels of frustration and anxiety in our young people today. The book provides parents with the practical know-how to help children navigate these challenges. Some say that cop on is something you cannot teach but here the author shows you how!

Colman Noctor is a child and adolescent psychotherapist with St Patrick’s Mental Health Services. He specialises in the treatment of emotional disorders. As a self-confessed technology addict himself he has a keen interest in the effects of contemporary media on child development and mental health and frequently contributes to national media on this topic. He was recently interviewed at Dublin’s web summit where he discussed how the internet is changing our world and how we prepare our children for a future that we can’t even imagine. He also contributed to the RTÉ documentary, ‘We Need to Talk About Porn’. He lives in Co. Wicklow with his wife and three children.

Cop On: What it is and why your child needs it to survive and thrive in today’s world is in shops from Tuesday, 3 March and is priced at €16.99. It is also available as an ebook from online retailers.