As your child enters the new and unknown world of secondary school, it is a very important time to nurture the confidence and self-esteem of your son. Adolescence can also be a time of bewildering physical changes and strong emotions, opinions and increasing independence. Nurturing their confidence, self-esteem and assertiveness will go a long way to helping them to have the self-belief to tackle difficult new academic challenges, to developing new friendships and social skills, and assertiveness.
• Give praise willingly but also don’t encourage mediocrity. Always support your son to do their best and it is okay to calmly challenge them to reach the next level. It is of course always important not to highlight any of your child’s shortcomings or show frustration if they are struggling with a subject for example.
• Concentrate on what they are doing well and let them know that you are proud of them if they are applying themselves and making the effort. It is also important to ask them if they need help and encourage them to problem-solve issues themselves.
• It is also very important to devote quality time with your son in the evening. Allow your son to have full access to you if they need it. Don’t brush aside their worries or concerns or say ‘’we’ll talk about it later”. This will only result in them feeling that they can’t take their problems to you and that you don’t take them seriously.
• Make the effort to offer your support and ask your son about their day. It may be best to feed them first as growing boys get very hungry at the end of the day! Ask them also ‘’what was the best thing about school today?’’ and so as not to make him feel the spotlight is on him, share the best thing about your day too.
• Always focus on the positives but encourage discussions about what things can be improved. Emphasise that it is okay to make mistakes and whenever possible try not to be critical if your son has had a bad day or not performed to expectation in an assessment task or game. The important thing is to emphasise that failing in part or whole is a natural part of life and that excellence can only occur when one has learnt from their mistakes.
• Encourage your son’s independence and open thinking. Encourage stimulating discussion where their opinions are listened to and integrated into adult conversation. This will serve to help your child to develop good social skills and also give them a strong sense of self. Giving them more responsibility to get up in the morning on their own, setting out their uniform at night and ensuring their bag is packed are all ways to start to increase their independence, particularly those in the first few years of secondary school.
• As a parent, you need to be in tune with your son’s emotional state. Sometimes changes are noticeable whilst others are less obvious. If you think there is a problem, ask your child. Listen to them, believe them, and explain that you are not angry with them. Take their concerns seriously, stay calm and contact the School to seek their assistance.
We wish your son the very best as commences Year 7, we are privileged you have chosen Toowoomba Grammar School to share this journey and to develop his good character.
Latest Blog
Reducing Stress: the Key to a Peaceful Life
Have you ever felt the soul-crushing burden of stress dragging your life through the mud? Ever had your precious time dwindled away at the hands of stress, while you are left powerless and alone? Well all this pain and anguish can be resolved in an instant; and all it takes is a change in the way we think. This alteration in brain chemistry is defined as mindfulness, the ability to obtain momentary awareness and recognition of our thoughts and feelings. Mindfulness is the key to defeating…
Gaining Ground with a Growth Mindset
I have seen the posters. I have sat the assemblies. I have watched the ads telling us about growth mindsets and how to develop one, and I'm sure you have too. But what we don't do is apply it to ourselves to help benefit our lives, however, there is no reason to blame yourself. The growth mindset is a deep topic that has many layers to it and is extremely important to have today. While we might blame other things on our weaknesses, it all links back to one thing – our mindset. To benefit our…
Sleeping Away the Mental Health Crisis
Two in five. That’s how many young Australians between the ages of 16 and 24 have experienced a mental disorder in the last 12 months (ABS, 2022). Let that sink in. Think of your closest five mates. Odds are that two of them are suffering right now from a crippling mental illness. According to recent studies conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australia is witnessing an unprecedented rise in mental health issues among its youth, leaving them vulnerable and struggling (Headspace,…
Time for a Wake Up Call
Did you know that one in five 12–17-year-olds average over 8 hours of screen time a day? That means that in a 14-hour day, 57% of their waking hours involve looking at a screen! This madness is contributing to a very significant problem all teenagers face - sleep deprivation. It is killing us. We are becoming walking zombies rather than happy, growing lads. However, we can end this treacherous technological tyranny by putting down our screens before bed. Stop and think for a second. How much…
Breaking the Stigma
Strangling you in chains. Smothering you in despair. Anxiety and depression can be mighty beasts to break free from. Unfortunately, the state of traditional masculinity is reinforcing these chains. Mental health is a major threat to the well-being of men. This cage constructs barriers and borders which limit their ability to thrive in the modern world. Traditional Masculinity refers to a set of societal expectations foregrounded through the centuries by gender roles, stereotypes and beliefs.…
The Power of Gratitude
“What do you say mate?” your mum nudges you as the waitress hands you your dinosaur nuggets. “Thank you.” You have always been told to use good manners, and to say thank you, but what does thank you actually mean? Is it just two meaningless words uttered with monotonous regularity, or is it a tool that can alleviate mental health issues generating happiness and a sense of wellbeing? Gratitude is the sunlight that lights up those dark days. The ability to be grateful is at the core of personal…
The Silent Epidemic: Unveiling the Consequences of Sleep Deprivation
“Sleep that soothes away all our worries. Sleep that puts each day to rest. Sleep that relieves the weary laborer and heals hurt minds.” William Shakespeare (Macbeth, 1606) Heart Disease, Cancer, and Alzheimer's. Three life-threatening diseases. Three diseases all linked to lack of sleep. According to Dr. Okorie from the children’s health division of Stanford University, “7 out of 10 high school students are falling short of… (sleep) on school nights.” The Bulk of American teens are not getting…
Tik Tok - From Fun to Fear
Social media platforms have ingrained themselves into our daily lives in a time when technology is constantly evolving and drawing millions of users with seductive features and never-ending streams of captivating content. Among these, TikTok has become a worldwide phenomenon, captivating users with its viral challenges and short-form films. Underneath the fun and inventiveness however, there is growing concern about the risks connected to TikTok and other social media platforms. TikTok's…
Active Procrastination – Unlocking the Gates of Time
“Procrastination is like a credit card: it’s a lot of fun until you get the bill.” - Christopher Parker – professional actor. Unfortunately, procrastination is a term that we are all familiar with as students; the vast majority of us have experienced it firsthand. It saps our time and results like a parasite, a burden on its host. However, despite it’s reputation, recent studies have shown that when harnessed correctly, procrastination can be a powerful tool to improve both academic efficiency…
