Parents

Ian receives enthusiastic support from parents

Here are a few of the testimonials Ian has received over the years:

Aldon Tutoring Systems

May 2003

I’m not sure specific elements impacted upon me, but the overall presentation from someone who not only knows his subject, but has first hand experiences, was wonderful. Ian has that gift to be able to keep an audience interested with information, examples and solutions to a genuine concern in our schools. As a parent and educator, I strongly recommend anyone involved in the overall education of boys attend Ian’s presentations.

Allan Matheson  Teacher and Parent

Nambour Special School

May 2003

Ian’s presentation was professional, very easy to be involved in, relaxed, good humoured, relevant, realistic and helpful. He is knowledgeable and practical in sharing information and knows what he is talking about. He also has practical ideas, solutions and strategies. I actually thought it would be irrelevant and hard to sit through before I came here but I found it quite the opposite. Thanks Ian. A day was too short.

Raelee Cannon  Teacher and Parent

Bli Bli State School

May 2003

Ian’s seminar was the best in-service I have attended in 22 years. His advice was practical, very interesting and easy to connect with everyday teaching experiences. Every teacher and parent of boys should have the opportunity to listen to Ian. I know I will be a better mother and teacher for having this opportunity. Thank you.

Karen Campbell  Teacher and Parent

To hear Ian Lillico speak was so refreshing. His down to earth, practical and sensitive approach to such an important subject is long overdue. The functionality of society and community is tied up with having well balanced boys. Ian gives to parents solutions on how to relate and interact with our boys. This understanding helps build quality relationships during those formative years.

Absolutely a message our society dearly needs to hear and act upon.

Russell & Anne Reinbott  Parents

My husband and I attended the parent seminar in Brisbane on the 4th of March. We found it both enlightening and encouraging, we came away with a sense of hope that we could help our sons through the turmoils of life.

We found Ian Lillico to be a captivating speaker who used research and his own experience as a parent and a principal to make his seminar real life and entertaining.

Thank You.

Julie and Rob  Parents

As the mother of a ten year boy who at the age of seven was diagonised with ODD , my primary motivation for attending Ian's seminar was to gain some new insight and answers as to why all the books I had read and all the advice child psychologists had given me, still I felt a lack of harmony with my son.

After attending Ian's seminar 'Boy's Forward' I was enlightened by his simplistic approach. His presentation did not put me ill at ease, as he did not criticise bad parenting, but only gave encouragement and just told our group how boys think.

How his words made sense!

"I am now practicing more positive, supportive parenting methods as advised, and am seeing a result in my son's attitude and self esteem. I was asked by the organiser of the 'Boy's Forward' seminar recently what I thought of the information tape which I had purchased that evening along with nearly every other inspired parent.

My comment was that, in all honesty I hadn't listened to it .....it has been on loan since that evening to friends of mine with son's whom I knew needed to hear some commonsense advice too!

Jill of Toowoomba

I would like to thank you for a very rewarding presentation last night. I have now, just overnight, restored my faith........ in myself as a parent......my son [that he is "normal"]...I have lots to work with now [THANK YOU] and I look forward to many wonderful years with my son. I am a single mum who very much appreciated [you're doing OK too!!]...thanks...I guess we all need to be OK sometimes.

Donelle from WA

We found Ian's seminar funny and sad...it gave us ideas and areas to reflect on. As parents of two teenage boys we are often frustrated and despair, but Ian gave us hope and reminded us of the joys of having sons. His is a seminar that appeals to parents of all ages of boys - there is something there for everyone. We are now reading his booklets and practicing his techniques....there's a lot to change to make for a balanced household, but Ian has made us feel better about our parenting, and for that we thank him!

Sarah Garnett and Shane McLachlan
September 2003

Communicating with your son is a constant challenge. Ian gives you ideas and methods to keep the lines open. Ian has helped me be more positive with my son and understand what he is going through.

Michael Bradbery  Parent

Gladstone Park Secondary College, Melbourne

The beginning of High School saw the end of my boy. No longer was he the sweet kid who enjoyed so much fun and laughter. Instead, overnight, my boy had grown five heads and multiple personalities, all of which I had never met before.

What's happening.......

"He has dramatic mood swings...is loud and boisterous, argumentative, big, strong and awkward. He has a large mixture of culturally diverse friends, being both male and female, with whom he spends most of his time sending and receiving messages on a mobile phone. My boy is wearing up to five different masks to accommodate all that is happening in his life. He is changing and, at times, I don't like what I see and I don't know what to do about it.

I remember that overpowering yearn to become a mother, to have a baby, but at no time did I want a teenage son. How naive I was not to look further down the line. Now my baby boy has grown and I have a teenage son, i find myself questioning ' how can we get through this?'

That's when I attended an evening at Gladstone Park Secondary College on "Boys and their Schooling" and listened enthralled to their guest speaker Ian Lillico. The alsrm bells ring....up to five boys a day are ending their lives...WHY??......mixed up, confused, misunderstood???

Ian Lillico probably didn't tell us things we didn't already know. As we called out answers to his questions he rummaged through our understanding and knowledge of our boys to highlight the positive aspects of our sons.

Ian Lillico enabled me to truly accept my boy's changes and to look forward to the following years. He opened not only my eyes, but also my whole being.

My son is not strange. He's not a five-headed monster. He's an adolescent, developing and finding his place in society. My job is to assist him in all ways and, with thanks to Ian Lillico, I realise I have the tools, the means and the way.

Parent

Adult Training & Support (Youth Programs)

I wrote the following the minute I got home from the talk, I was on a real high and a month later I am still very impressed with Ian's thoughts and presentation. It was great to have a quick chat to Ian after the presentation, and he agreed that Scouting and Schools were on an even keel when it comes to the Youth of today.

What a guy!!!!! The talk was fantastic. It would be great if we could ask him to do the Relationships and Needs of the Scout Age Youth Members, He really knows his stuff and puts it across with a fun but serious outlook. At first I thought he was going to say that the males are the forgotten species and that girls have moved into the school system and taken over, but I was wrong.He had some very valid points on how to bring up our teenagers and what the youth of today need in school and at home.

He says that boys need the outside- hiking, camping, fishing..... not just in with the computer and T.V. and striving for attention from their dads. They need time outside with their fathers and don't be afraid to show love and affection between the males. They love and need the rough and tumble that they do with Mum or Dad as it is contact which they need.

He mentioned the Duty of Care in Schools as we have in Scouting. He mentioned how to tackle the child with problems and how they need to be listened to.

Many boys are choosing their subjects at school to keep their popularity up with their peers, not the subjects that they are really interested in like Arts because it is sissy.

Thanks for letting me attend it was ACE and very worthwhile.

Joan Powell  Assistant Victorian Commissioner

As a primary school teacher I had recognised a pattern between boys, learning difficulties and behaviour. The learning difficulties don't just exist in curriculum subjects - they are an intrinsic part of many boys' entire being. Ian's presentations confirmed my observations and gave many practical examples of ways to empower boys to approach life in a responsible and thoughtful manner. Girls are not forgotten - they are included as learners in their own right, and as a fundamental base to boys' development.

Ian addressed issues such as bullying, reinforcing behaviours and whole school approaches. I came away feeling that my school is offering many high quality experiences to all students however we can do more. From a parent perspective, Ian made me realise that there are many little things which mean a lot in the upbringing of my own two boys.

My interactions with my sons are more meaningful and less confrontations are occurring. I would highly recommend Ian's presentations to anyone who has any contact with boys - which means most people!

Julie Christensen
June 2003

Regarding the ADD/ADHD Seminar

My son is 4 years old and has been on medication for 2 months. The only information I have been able to access is the internet. There are no support groups for parents that I know of.....so this seminar was incredibly informative for not only parents but educators also. It was reassuring to hear of other people's experiences...not only parents of ADD children but parents with ADD themselves. I came home so enlightened and full of enthusiasm to tell everyone who would listen about his seminar.

I feel it would be of great value as an educational tool for ALL who come in contact with anyone with ADD/ADHD. I believe there is a lack of information and resources available...especially for educators. Teachers would benefit greatly in that they would have a greater understanding of children who have this condition and not being so quick to label them as the 'naughty child.'

Deborah Havenstein  Parent
May 2004

Well what can I say ... other than what a brilliant seminar I thought you presented last night! I went home buzzing.... and couldn't sleep with excitement of what I had learnt.

We have a boy 11 and a girl 9. Mitchell attends Marist College at Pearce and Stephanie the above school. You made the whole night so much fun and interesting.

We all laughed so much I thought we would cry. I feel your points were so relevant regarding boys and girls. I also went home with the thought that I have some one on one work to do with my son. We do 90% of what you suggested anyway but the issue with our world being so sad a place to be' due to all the bad news stories and rubbish TV hit the nail on the head. I was only having that discussion with my husband and friends last week. This issue will be fixed in our place immediately.

I can't thank you enough for a most wonderful and inspiring night. I only wished that I could have attended your seminar on 'Raising Boys' at Chisholm Primary today but I had to work. I have ordered all the boys books you suggested. I can't wait to receive them. I look forward to meeting you once again at another seminar soon. Knowledge is a wonderful thing!!!!!

Melinda Rodwell  Parent
June 2004

Hi Ian,

We were at your presentation on Monday night at Parade in Bundoora and we thoroughly enjoyed it. We came away with some new strategies, feeling really positive and that we're not doing too badly.

When you suggested for the Dads to write a note to their sons I thought "I'm not sure that will happen in our house!" But to my surprise, Joe rang me on Tuesday to say he had stopped in at home during the day and left a message on our sons' pillows thanking them for doing some chores we'd asked them to do on Monday on their day off. When they came home they found their notes and all commented on them. They all thought it was great! Later, while we were having our evening meal, James who is 14 produced the note and asked "Where's the money?" We're not sure whether he was really expecting any or not, but he hasn't mentioned it since. I noticed this morning he has the note pinned up on his corkboard in his room. This really touched me.

Thanks for such a great night and lots of new ideas. Don't know how we'll go with the videos on the list, but we'll definitely be giving them a go.

Angela O’Connor  Parent