Empty nest syndrome is usually associated with families whose children leave home to gain independence, attend university or get married. But for some parents of boarders, there is a sense of loss when the youngest child goes off to boarding school. This time of year is typical for feeling that sense of sadness and loss…
Blog – Parenting
What to pack in care packages
One size doesn’t fit all
Don’t forget about the parents’ needs
We have spoken to lots of parents recently about the issues they consider when choosing a boarding school to meet the needs of their family. While the Boarding Expo team advises parents to start by thinking about all the aspects of the school experience and consider what is important to their child – whether his…
How do you get through to teens?
One of the mums on our Boarding Schools Expo team is having trouble communicating with her teenage son. She’s fallen into the trap of lecturing and, while she knows he wants to hear less of her voice, that’s not how she’s wired. When their son returned home from school camp recently, she took her husband’s…
When organised sport isn’t enough
Today was National Walk Safely to School Day. This coincided with the release of the Active Healthy Kids Australia report card, which reproted that more than 80% of Aussie kids aren’t getting enough exercise. The broad message of the report was “Sport isn’t enough”. Less than 20% of our 5-17 year olds do the recommended…
Are you living your life through your child?
Footy training, music lessons, swim squad, dance rehearsals, maths tutoring, leadership programs… the list goes on. Some children these days seem to have every minute of their day accounted for. But who sets these busy schedules? The child or the parent? Some parents are living out their own dreams through their children – and may…
What does your teen do after “lights out”?
Dan Haesler Special Guest at Dubbo and Wagga Expos
There’s a school of thought that too much praise is harming our kids. They think they are great singers and should win X Factor or play professional golf without too much effort. A study in the Netherlands suggests that high praise is actually affecting children with low self-esteem the most because they are too afraid…
Your Trust is in Their Hands
When you choose a boarding school for your child, you are putting a lot of trust in the hands of the school and, in particular, the person responsible for boarding. A boarding master or house mistress has a big impact on your child’s emotional and personal needs while they are living away from home. The…