Is There A ‘right’ Age For Sending Your Child To A Boarding School?
It is not easy for parents to enroll their ward in a boarding school. But the benefits of a boarding school education trump the trepidations and nervousness associated with sending one’s child far away from home. Most people who have received a boarding school education and stayed away from home talk of independence that is not seen in their peers. Also, they talk of making friends for life and learning essential life lessons that enable them to adjust to all life situations.
But is there any proper age for sending your child to a boarding school? While there isn’t a cookie-cutter answer to this, the age of 8 to 13 years is considered appropriate. It is the age when children are at the cusp of being independent and capable of taking care of themselves. They also understand when instructions are given and try to follow them to the best of their ability. However, it is vital to remember here that every child is unique. Some children are more psychologically and emotionally adept than others. Therefore, you need to carefully study your child’s character and decide on the correct age to enroll them in a boarding school.
With that said, it is universally believed that children must be below the age of 13 and above the age of 8 for getting enrolled at a boarding school in Siliguri. 13+ kids are already used to a particular lifestyle, and it might be difficult for them to adjust to a new environment. Also, they might have already made friends and find it challenging to make new friends. To put it simply, the older children get, it becomes difficult for them to adjust and adapt to new situations quickly. So, you need to send your child to a boarding school as early as possible.
In this article, you will learn why researchers and even parents agree that 8 to 13 years is the most appropriate age for children to start their boarding school education.
- Young children are curious about the world around them, and they are interested in exploring beyond the four walls of their home
Young children are interested, and they are curious to know more about their world. They want to learn about their surroundings and how the world came to be. Everything is an adventure, and they want to wake up exploring new things. Therefore, they are ready for a boarding school education. They will have a fantastic time exploring a new environment where there are other children of their age.
However, children below the age of 8 are considered too young to take care of themselves. Students have to do daily chores and look after their belongings in a boarding school. Hence, a degree of maturity is required to successfully carry out chores like organizing their school items, knowing how to pack their bags, independently finishing their homework, etc.
- The ability to quickly make friends and interact with others without any prior prejudices
When children are around others of the same age, they quickly make friends. It allows them to come out of their shell and interact with people.
Today, most people choose to have nuclear families. Hence, children are often left on their own, and they don’t have anybody at home to play with or interact with. When they stay at a residential school like Sri Sri Academy, Siliguri, they have to share their dorm with one or two other kids. So, they are never alone and always have someone to talk to.
Even if you think your child is an introvert, they may discover a new personality after receiving a boarding school education. It might help break them out of their mold and sharpen their communication skills.
- Young children enjoy spending time outdoors
Boarding schools offer large campuses with playing fields. Apart from the hostel facilities, children are encouraged to spend time outdoors. Since other children live on campus, your ward will always find a playmate.
Young children are naturally inclined to play outdoors and enjoy participating in various activities. That’s where boarding schools offer them the right opportunities. Your ward might even learn new skills or find their passion in football, lawn tennis, or even dancing and music. As they play and partake in various activities, children tend to develop leadership skills and problem-solving skills and learn to function as a team. Such lessons come in handy as they grow up in life and move on to join the professional community.
Wrapping Up
Ultimately, parents want the best for their children. But you need to understand that every child is unique and different. While the age of 8 to 13 years is considered appropriate for sending your child to a boarding school, you need to decide after thoroughly assessing your child’s personality and character. Your child must be emotionally capable of handling being away from home.
In most cases, sending young children to boarding school is recommended because children have impressionable minds. It is always better to learn new things as a kid than when your child is almost a teenager. 13+ kids are already exposed to too many things, and they might find it difficult to adjust to a new environment. While you can also enroll your 13+ child in a boarding school, prepare yourself to give them an extra hand so they can comfortably adapt to their new environment.
So, what are you still waiting for? Start shortlisting boarding schools in Siliguri and access the country. You can even leverage the help of the school counselor to understand what your child is capable of and if they can settle in comfortably. But whatever you decide, do it quickly.