How to help your child adjust to boarding school
Jan 20, 2009
A child should be able to settle in a few weeks or months but sometimes it may take longer. Mary Muhoozi, a child counselor at Naguru says children need parental care, love and guidance.
A child should be able to settle in a few weeks or months but sometimes it may take longer. Mary Muhoozi, a child counselor at Naguru says children need parental care, love and guidance. “Sending them to boarding school early without this parental training may result into emotional loss and social let down. The child may feel unloved and may develop anti-social behaviour,†she says.
Many children react to undesirable news with anxiety or anger but you need to remember that as a parent, it's your responsibility to decide what's best for your child. This is not the first decision that you've made that doesn't meet with their immediate approval.
“But this doesn't mean that you don't empathize with their feelings. It's important to take time to listen to their thoughts and try to understand them .â€
Muhoozi gives some ideas for helping your child adjust:
Present the idea over time. Bring up the subject several times over a period of a few weeks not as a done deal but as an option that you are considering in their best interest.
Let them look at literature about the school.
Consider the help of others. Your child might want re-assurance from someone else they respect.
Discuss the advantages of the school with your child, e.g. an opportunity for extra-curricular activities and his new friends.
If possible, visit the school with your child. Let them see where they will be living, what the curriculum is like, and what the other students look like. Allow them to ask questions.
Allow your child as many small choices as possible, e.g what to pack, which classes he's interested in taking, to feel a part of the process.
Many children react to undesirable news with anxiety or anger but you need to remember that as a parent, it's your responsibility to decide what's best for your child. This is not the first decision that you've made that doesn't meet with their immediate approval.
“But this doesn't mean that you don't empathize with their feelings. It's important to take time to listen to their thoughts and try to understand them .â€
Muhoozi gives some ideas for helping your child adjust:
Present the idea over time. Bring up the subject several times over a period of a few weeks not as a done deal but as an option that you are considering in their best interest.
Let them look at literature about the school.
Consider the help of others. Your child might want re-assurance from someone else they respect.
Discuss the advantages of the school with your child, e.g. an opportunity for extra-curricular activities and his new friends.
If possible, visit the school with your child. Let them see where they will be living, what the curriculum is like, and what the other students look like. Allow them to ask questions.
Allow your child as many small choices as possible, e.g what to pack, which classes he's interested in taking, to feel a part of the process.