Dr Justin Coulson, from Happy Families, goes through a series of questions that will help you determine whether or not a boarding school aligns with your family’s values.
Dr Justin Coulson, from Happy Families, shares strategies for making the most of weekends and holidays with your child when they’re at boarding school.
Dr Justin Coulson, from Happy Families, discusses the important topic of helping your child transition to boarding school. Key points include: Watch Justin’s video, where he explains each one.
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.
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: Watch Justin’s video to learn more.
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: Watch Justin’s video to learn more.
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, opportunities, and a certain type of educational experience. If you decide that boarding school is right for your child, there are several things to consider when deciding on a particular one. This includes co-ed or non co-ed, religious or non-religious, the overall environment, past histories with previous schools, and costs. Watch Justin’s video to learn more.
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 first time living away from home. While it’s normal for children to feel scared, homesick, lonely, or unsure, parents can be reassured that the schools themselves will do everything they can to help the children through that transition. They’re experts in this. They’ve been doing it for years and have effective systems in place to support students during this challenging transition. But of course, parents want to do what they can from their end as well. So, here are some tips on how to make the transition to boarding school easier for your child. How to make the transition to boarding school easier Encourage them to stay in touch with friends back home While your child is settling in, trying to learn new routines, navigate increased independence and create new social circles, it can be helpful if they stay
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 17 years experienced mental health disorders in the previous 12 months. This number is equal to about 591,000 children and adolescents across our nation. Two years later, the Youth Mental Health Report raised that number to one in four of all young people aged 15-19 years of age. And with the impact of COVID-19, we are seeing mental health services swamped as more and more people come forward with mental health issues – including young people. A Mental Health and Wellbeing report from Headspace showed high levels of distress for one in every two young people. These are alarming statistics, and show that our teens are already facing an uphill battle when it comes to their own mental health. However, some boarding students may face an even more difficult time managing stress and anxiety, as well as
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 be able to answer some of the questions and give insight into some of the things that your teen is worrying about. And you can get the ‘vibe’ of the school, meet some other students and parents, and ideally leave with a sense about whether or not the school will suit your teen. (The Boarding Schools Expo is also a fabulous resource where you can see a range of schooling options all under the one roof!) As helpful as open days are, it also might be worth visiting the school on a ‘normal’ school day, as well. Open days are showcases for potential families, and they’re a great way to see all the options and opportunities a school might have. But they don’t necessarily give a fully accurate picture of what
Your teen is getting ready to venture out into the boarding school world. Encouraging independence in your teen will help them be prepared for their new responsibilities. Here’s how to do just that. Research shows that independence, or agency, is one of the most important contributors to success and happiness. It is a predictor for almost all the positive outcomes that we want for our kids – better wellbeing, lower stress, better health, increased longevity, greater career success and even lower use of drugs and alcohol. At boarding school, your teen gets the chance to explore their independence. They’ll be responsible for organising themselves and their belongings, keeping their room clean, getting to class and extracurricular activities on time and just generally keeping their lives together. And while this is a great opportunity for them, it can also be overwhelming. Of course, they’ll have support, but not in the same way they’ll have at home. So, now is a great time to get them ready for this increased independence. Here’s how. Hand over decision-making power (within limits!) Getting our teens ready for making good decisions by letting them make decisions seems counter-intuitive. But the best thing we can do for our
Boarding school vs day school. When it comes to motivation, engagement and psychological wellbeing, which is the better choice? Boarding schools have been a feature of the educational landscape here in Australia for a long time. But unlike in the UK, Australian parents aren’t choosing boarding schools because of the advantage they provide their children to get into university. Australia is unique. It’s extremely large, and has vast regional areas. That’s meant that historically regional Australian children didn’t have the access to education that their peers in the capital and regional cities might. In Australia boarding schools have been essential for many students who really didn’t have any other choice when it came to getting a high school education. Of course, today there are more options for Australian parents for schooling. Distance learning for one. And many regional areas have grown enough to offer their own high schools. But boarding school is still an option, and one that many parents are considering for their children. So, if you’re making a decision between boarding school vs day school, what should you consider? Boarding School vs Day School Boarding schools are residential schools were students live on campus during the school terms.
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