Dr Justin Coulson, from Happy Families, discusses the important topic of helping your child transition to boarding school. Key points include: Talking it through so they know the transition is comingVisiting the school with your child so they can familiarise themselves with the schoolGiving them a little bit of experience with time away from home Chatting with them … [Read more...]
Healthy Habits for Boarding School
Dr Justin Coulson answers the important question “what are some healthy habits that every student should know about before they start boarding school?”. He touches on sleep, diet, exercise, friendships, and practicing their spirituality when away from home. Watch Justin’s video to learn about the importance of each one. … [Read more...]
Staying Connected with your Child
Connection is critical for healthy relationships with our kids. But how do you maintain a strong relationship with your child when you’re physically apart? Dr Justin Coulson discusses some communication strategies, including: TextingEmailingSocial mediaOld-fashioned letters Watch Justin’s video to learn more. … [Read more...]
What are the most important factors to consider when choosing a boarding school?
Dr Justin Coulson, from Happy Families, chats about the factors to consider when choosing a boarding school, in addition to friends, philosophy and fun which he mentioned in the last video. Other factors worth considering include: Class sizeYour child's strengthsPastoral care and wellbeing optionsLevel of supervisionDiscipline Watch Justin's video to … [Read more...]
Deciding if boarding school is right for your child
Dr Justin Coulson, from Happy Families, discusses the all-important questions parents ask themselves when considering boarding school for their child—"is boarding school right for my child?" and "is a boarding school right for my child?". There are many reasons you might consider boarding school for your child, including access to resources, peers, … [Read more...]
When your teen is having problems with friends at boarding school
During the teen years our children’s friendships become increasingly complicated, volatile and important. Suddenly friends and friendships begin to mean everything to our teens, and when there are problems with those friendships it can feel utterly devastating. Before the age of about 12, friendships are typically and loosely based on convenience, a shared interest, or … [Read more...]
Connecting With Teens: 5 Ways to Stay Connected to Your Teen at Boarding School
Connecting with teens can be challenging. The stereotype tells us that our sweet, loving child has turned into an argumentative, rebellious young person. More likely, however, is that your connection has shifted. Your child is more inclined to stare at a phone, hide in their bedroom, or connect with friends on social media. You miss them. These challenges can feel … [Read more...]
How to make the transition to boarding school easier
It’s normal for children to feel scared, homesick, lonely, or unsure. Here’s how to make the transition to boarding school easier. Every January boarding schools welcome new students into their doors. These students come from different backgrounds, situations and walks of life, and range from year 5 to year 12. And each year a good portion of them are experiencing their … [Read more...]
Teens’ Mental Health and Distance: What to Expect
Our teens’ mental health can be impacted by distance from family and loved ones. Here’s what to expect if you are sending your children to boarding school. A surprisingly large number of Australian teens are struggling when it comes to mental health issues. The Young Minds Matter Survey for 2013-2014 showed that almost one in seven children and adolescents aged between 4 and … [Read more...]
10 Questions To Ask Boarding Schools Before Attending
Starting boarding school, or any new school for that matter, can be a bit of an upheaval for teens. But being armed with information can be reassuring and assuage some of those nerves. The trick... is getting that information. Open days are a great time to find out about a school. In most cases you and your teen will be shown around the school by a current student. They’ll … [Read more...]
