Penny Goodwin is a parenting educator, author, youth mentor, and former Community Ambassador for The Children’s Society with extensive experience supporting young people and their families.

Drawing on years of mentoring teenagers and working closely with parents, Penny combines practical experience with research into adolescent brain development, mental health, and communication.

Her debut book, Hold Your Teen Close: How to Understand and Connect with Your Teenage Son: The Cognitive-Friendly Parenting Method, offers compassionate, evidence-informed guidance to help parents strengthen relationships with their teenage sons while navigating the challenges of adolescence.

Penny is passionate about helping families, and those who support young people, build stronger relationships that empower them to transform the lives of everyone involved.

Before becoming an author and youth mentor, Penny built a diverse career spanning sales, children’s portrait photography, and hospitality. Her work photographing children gave her valuable insight into family relationships, while her hospitality career, working as a chef, gave her the opportunity to cook for royalty. These varied experiences have shaped her understanding of people from all walks of life and continue to influence her practical, compassionate approach to supporting families.