There is an epidemic of disengagement in Australian classrooms.
And our students’ education is suffering as a result.
Research from the Grattan Institute has shown that around 40 per cent of school students are regularly unproductive, bored, or struggling to keep up with the curriculum.
This ‘passive disengagement’ can result in students being up to two years behind their engaged peers in the academic setting.
But who or what is to blame?
We’ve talked about how to raise motivated children children on the blog…
How to help them develop good habits, how to be happy, how to thrive in school, how to avoid becoming too materialistic…
But the question of how to raise moral children is a different ball game.
Just like these other positive qualities and habits we hope to encourage in our kids, morality isn’t something we’re born with — it’s learnt.
And the fact of the matter is that sometimes, teaching our children moral lessons will get in the way of their immediate happiness.
Kids and money — it’s one of the most divisive conversations in parenting, and the topic is approached in a myriad of ways.
Some kids have limitless handouts, some kids have consistent allowances, some work for pocket money, some don’t…
And the age at which parents choose to give children control over and knowledge about money differs widely as well.
There’s no one right or wrong answer, but it can be helpful to follow some guidelines from experts.
They say a leopard can’t change its spots.
But according to the longest personality study undertaken of all time — they absolutely can.
The study started collecting data from 1,208 fourteen-year-olds in 1950…
And more than 60 year laters, 174 of the original participants agreed to be tested again, with surprising results.
In great news for British students and their families, the UK Department of Education will be investing over 2 million dollars in mental health support over the next few years.
This comes as a response to what has been called a ‘youth mental health epidemic’…
With around 10 per cent of UK students suffering from a diagnosable mental health condition.
Many students suffer from symptoms of anxiety and depression directly as a result of the extreme academic pressures they face in schooling.
So it’s a proactive and thoroughly appropriate response to tackle these issues within the school framework.
There is no denying — or avoiding — the fact that children, and even very young children, are suffering from more anxiety than any generation before them.
This increase has been heavily documented in university research papers, psychology studies, and even noted by education professionals…
Up to 55 per cent of teachers in the UK have reported a dramatic rise in anxiety levels in their students in the last few years, and in Australia, the figures are similar.
Talking often and openly with your children is — quite obviously — incredibly important.
It strengthens your bond, gives you insight into their feelings, keeps you on top of any struggles they may be dealing with, and significantly, it lets them know you’re there for them when they need you.
Plus, we’ve discussed how important family time is on several occasions, and how speaking with your children in certain moments will keep them engaged, help them to focus, and even to be less reliant on technology.
Car trips and meal times are perfect opportunities to spark up meaningful and productive conversations with your kids.
But particularly for young kids, sometimes getting more than a one-word answer can be like pulling teeth!
So how do we engage with children in a way that will benefit you both?
In a recent post on our blog, we discussed the links between diet and mental health.
The nutritional content of the foods we consume (or lack of) have shown to have varying impacts on our cognitive processes including memory, and our experiences of anxiety, depression and happiness.
Many parents are accustomed to fussy eaters in the family…
But some are more stubborn than others, and some show genuine aversions to specific (often healthy) foods.
So how do we get deal with fussy eaters, and encourage them to consume more nutrient-rich foods, for both their mental and physical wellbeing?
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.
During the formative years of childhood and adolescence, it can be difficult for a parent to understand what their child is going through.
Particularly when it comes to mental and emotional challenges, the lines between what’s normal and what might need to be addressed can be very blurry.
Depression versus sadness; anxiety versus stress; learning difficulties versus disengagement…
They can all present overlapping signs and symptoms.
That’s why psychologists are constantly researching and analysing these conditions, so that they can be addressed and rectified as early as possible.
Social anxiety, shyness and introversion are three concepts which can be confused for this exact reason — they all lie on the same spectrum.
But while the latter two can be harmless and even positive personality traits, social anxiety can interrupt a sufferer’s ability to function on a day to day basis.
So what’s the difference?
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.)