According to a recent article in The Sydney Morning Herald, the Australian education is failing our kids.
While the school curriculum is becoming increasingly academically rigorous, more and more students are falling behind…
And the result is an increase in private tutoring for students around the country.
Health educator and GP Dr Annemarie Christie attributes these findings to a number of factors.
More news on how we can rewire our brains!
We recently published a blog post discussing the importance of gratitude, and what it can give back to you.
Research has shown that our sense of gratitude is directly linked with our sense of life satisfaction.
That is, the more gratitude we feel and express, the happier we are.
And the less grateful we are, the more disappointment we feel.
And disappointment gets in the way of our happiness!
It’s a simple formula… and one that to some people may seem too simple to be true.
But now, research is suggesting that this correlation is not just a theoretical one, it’s a neurological one!
There’s little question as to how and why teachers are such important and influential figures in our children’s lives.
Not only are they imparting knowledge and skill, they are also having a huge impact on their student’s psychological and emotional development.
And the best teachers can navigate all of your child’s education needs while keeping them motivated and engaged with school life and the study materials.
A recent article in The Conversation has identified what exactly our children’s Educational Needs are, and what we need to look for to ensure they are being met.
Summer holidays have been and gone, and the beginning of the new school year is upon us.
And the transition from long days and late bed times back to a rigid routine can be a bit of a shock to the system.
But with some effort put into how you and your children will approach the new school year, you can make the change as smooth as possible and help your child get the most out of their schooling.
So with some reflections from our blog posts from over the years, here are some of our top tips for making 2017 your child’s best academic year yet.
We all know what a bad night sleep can do to our mood and ability to function throughout the day.
But for working adults, we’re generally forced to self-motivate and get on with things, often with the help of caffeine.
For teenagers, on the other hand, sleepiness can have more ongoingly detrimental consequences at school.
This past week has likely been a time of excitement, anxiety and relief for year 12 students across the country, with the release of their final year results.
And while many students will be satisfied with their results, others will undoubtedly be upset or dissapointed.
Although this is a natural response to the situation, the last thing a recent year 12 graduate should feel is dissapointed with themselves.
And as the parent, you need to tell them why.
Consider, and share with them, the following points.
Saying ‘no’ frequently to your young children may be the opposite of your parental instincts.
But according to Georgia Manning ‑ counsellor, psychotherapist and the director of Wellbeing For Kids ‑ saying ‘no’ to your kids is one of the best things you can do for them.
Manning puts this down to the fact that many parents have shied away from saying ‘no’ to their children because of the ‘self-esteem movement’, where anything that could potentially damage a child’s self-esteem was frowned upon.
But as a result, ‘the pendulum has swung too far’.
‘We’ve gone from not being emotionally attuned with our children to thinking that protecting them from any discomfort or things that they don’t want to do is a way of showing love.’
When it comes to an approach to study, one size does not fit all.
Many students will find and develop their own approach over time.
But there are some principles that have shown to be particularly effective for many studiers, and can be a good starting point for a new study plan or a change of approach.
A recent article on Buzzfeed identifies some of the best approaches to study by a Professor of cognitive science, and our staff psychologist Christina has weighed in on how and why these tactics work!
It’s a given that most parents want to raise their children to be grateful.
We intuitively believe that being grateful will lead to a number of good habits and qualities: politeness, humility, and respect, to name a few.
But what can be easily overlooked is that an inherent sense of gratitude is not only beneficial for our experience and interaction with others…
It can also be one of the greatest gifts we can give to ourselves and our children.
How?
We’ve discussed a lot of issues surrounding the final years of high school on the blog over the years…
How to help your child survive the VCE, part 1, part 2 and part 3;
How to deal with the pressures of year 12 (by reducing them);
Motivation and success during VCE; and
How to help your child pick their final year electives.
But for many of you, you will now be in the grips of the climactic point of your child’s high school education: their final exams.
So Australia’s leading online mental health organisation for young people — ReachOut — has published some practical tips for parents, to help you help your child through this stressful period.
Got any questions before you book? Click here to request a phone call and a psychologist will call you at a convenient time (prospective clients only). Please keep in mind we are often busy with clients but we do our best to respond to all enquiries within one business day. :-)
(*As of 24th July, 2019.)