When children are young, their friends are typically chosen by their parents and they tend to just be happy to have a little playmate without being emotionally invested in the relationship. As children age, however, their friendships become more complex; they start to base relationships on trust and greater intimacy. Although these relationships seem more mature, they are still quite fluid and some issues will arise from time to time. It’s important for parents to be ready for these little bumps in the road and do their best to help their child get through it. Read on for some advice from an independent school in Hertfordshire.

There are many benefits to sending your child to an international school. Some of these benefits include exposure to new cultures and languages, growth in personal skills, enhanced extra-curricular activities and improved career opportunities.

To help you decide on the best educational path for your child, a primary school in Cambridge have listed below some of the key benefits that an international school can offer your child…

From attending university open days and receiving conditional or unconditional offers to opening the envelope on A-level results day, a lot goes into getting into university. It can be a very daunting process.  An established independent Sixth Form College in Hendon carefully and skilfully advises pupils and parents on appropriate courses and universities and has prepared some guidance below.  

If you’re a parent, you’re probably aware that getting your kids to talk about school is quite the challenge. Most of the time when you ask them about their day, they have simple one or two word answers. Not to worry, a prep school in Hertfordshire have prepared the following advice for parents who want to encourage their children to really open up about school. 

Its exam period for many a level students in the UK and some teenagers might be feeling quite worried about the results they’ll receive in a few months. Many parents might be thinking “can my son/daughter retake their a levels if they really have failed?” The answer is “Yes”! Read on to find out more information, shared by Mount House School in Hertfordshire.

If your child has come out of an exam feeling upset and anxious, it’s important not to worry too much, as re-sitting the exam is an option. Your child can still get into university and progress into the career of their dreams. Many colleges and Sixth Forms offer re-sit courses for both A Levels and GCSEs and your child’s tutors will be able to give them appropriate advice to ensure they are making the best possible decision. Re-sitting the course will also help your teen rebuild the confidence they have lost from failing the first time.

The final two years of secondary school, known as Sixth Form, are very important for teenagers. Sixth Form is a time for students to make serious decisions about how they want to progress with their higher education, and consequently their career. The Dixie Grammar School has the following advice for parents of teenagers who are transitioning into Sixth Form.

First and foremost your child will need to decide which subjects they would like to study. They will need to identify which are their strongest and which are their favourite. You can help them by researching what a levels lead to certain careers and what a levels are required for certain university courses. If your teen seems quite anxious about the decisions and the uncertainty, you can help by learning as much information as possible with them, so that you all know as much as you can and feel a little more in control of the situation.

Play is hugely important for the development of our children because it promotes their cognitive, physical, social and emotional well-being.  In fact, it’s one of the biggest ways they learn and develop. What’s more, playtime is a great opportunity for parents to bond and engage with their little ones. I have teamed up with a nursery and prep school in Somerset to explore the benefits of play time in more detail.

When our children are young, it’s important that learning is fun for them. It should involve experimentation and exploration. Each child is unique; they grow and develop in their own way and at their own speed. With that in mind, you should never compare your own child to another but instead, help them explore different types of play.

Physical play, like ball games or dance, helps them develop their strength, coordination, and flexibility. Alternatively, doing a jigsaw or playing with building blocks will help your child identify shapes and develop logic. Dressing up or playing with dolls allows children to develop their imagination as they create and explore new worlds.

Generally speaking, play allows children to learn useful skills that they can carry with them throughout all aspects of their lives, including independence, curiosity, resilience, confidence and so on. As a parent, it’s your job to encourage your child to play and explore different environments, both inside and outside.

As the exams begin and the school workload gets heavier, it is essential that your child makes time at home to study.

Studying may not be at the top of your child’s priorities; however, you can help to make this time more enjoyable by following some simple strategies and encouraging good study habits.

Here are three helpful strategies from Dover College to help your child develop a new love of learning…

Getting your kids ready for school in the mornings is often a huge challenge for parents, especially if there’s more than one child. The trick is to be organised and allow yourself plenty of time, just in case there are any hiccups. I have teamed up with an independent school in New York to offer you some advice on how you can save time and ensure the school run runs smoothly.

First and foremost, be sure to prepare as much as you can the night before. Encourage your kids to pack their school bags and lay their uniform out before bed so that everything is ready in the morning. If your children eat a packed lunch, you should lead by example and make the sandwiches etc. the night before too. The more you get done the night before as a family, the more time you’ll have in the morning. Checklists are great for ticking everything off and making sure you don’t forget anything.

The school holidays should be a time for some much-needed relaxation and family time, but this doesn’t mean that learning has to stop; in fact, the holidays can provide many fun and exciting learning opportunities.

Listed below are some activities recommended by Banstead Preparatory School to encourage your children to stay motivated and enjoy learning during the school holidays…

Every parent wants their child to succeed in school, not only in terms of their grades but also with regards to their personal skills. It’s completely normal for some students to struggle with their studies, so don’t be afraid to accept additional support from a professional private tutor if your child’s grades start to slip. I have teamed up with a prep school in Hertfordshire to outline some of the things you should look out for if you’re unsure whether or not your child needs a tutor.

The most obvious sign that your child requires a tutor is a drop in grades. They might fail to complete their homework on time and display general signs of disorganisation. However, this might be the result of lack of effort, so make sure your child is trying their best and taking their studies seriously; especially before you spend any money on a tutor. If they do display a lack of effort, ask them why. If it’s because they’re struggling and their confidence has dropped, then a tutor might help them stay motivated.

Nobody is born a ‘good learner’; even the students who are top of the class had to become good learners before they could be good students. With the right motivation, you can help your child become an excellent student, with the aptitude and desire to learn. I have teamed up with an independent school in London to help put together the following advice for parents who want to help motivate their kids to learn.

Exams are a big challenge for kids, no matter what their age. Fortunately, there are plenty of things that parents and carers can do to help. If your children know they have your full support, they will likely perform better in their tests. I have teamed up with St Catherine’s School, a prep school in Middlesex, to offer parents some advice around helping children manage the pressure of their exams so that they can perform well on the day.

Firstly, it’s vital to make sure your child is getting plenty of sleep. Rest helps us feel relaxed and revitalised, which is important for children who need to be alert and attentive. If your child is tired, they won’t be able to concentrate during lessons or revision sessions and they’ll be distracted on the day of the test. Regular exercise and a healthy diet are also important in ensuring your child is in good health for their exams.

Cycling is a fantastic way to stay fit and healthy as a family, plus it enables you to spend time outdoors. If your child is ready for their first bike, or if they’ve outgrown their current one and are needing something bigger, here are some things to think about when getting your child a bike. There are also some tips on bike security, as once your child is comfortable on their bike, you don’t want to find that it's been stolen the next time you go to use it.

Parents all over the world struggle with the same challenges as their children grow up. As your little ones learn how to explore the world by walking, running, and climbing, their energy levels will be far higher than yours, and keeping up with them can be a real challenge. This can last for many years, with some kids staying incredibly active as they enter their teens. While this may sound daunting, being able to make a difference in this area is easier than you might think, and this post is going to be helping you to prepare your body for this part of life.

It wasn’t an easy decision to make, but a growing number of moms are staying at home during those early formative years and you have joined their ranks. However, in today’s economy, that extra paycheck not only helps, but is necessary to meet all the bills. The one thing you may have considered was that you’d need to deal with kids underfoot, but you didn’t realize that some days the noise and confusion would keep you from doing either job well. How can you balance being a full time mom with the work you’ve taken on? Here are some pointers that should help you keep the level of sanity you need to stay productive.

As a new parent, you want the best for your baby and products that actually work. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to get through the first year when you don't have specific items on hand at all times. This could mean endless trips to the store at late hours or searching the internet for information on what is best for babies at the age you're giving it to them. These five must-have products are essential for life with a newborn.

Whether you are thinking about starting a family or are already a few months into the pregnancy, parenthood will be unlike anything you have experienced before. There is nothing that can completely prepare you, as the best way you can learn and understand what it means is to take on the role of parents, yourself. That being said, you can mentally and physically prepare yourself by considering how your life will begin to change.

During the early years of parenthood, it may take some time to adapt to the brand-new life changes you are about to experience. Your sleep habits will begin to change, and everything you do will circle around your newborn baby. Here are a few tips on how you can start preparing yourself.

There are a lot of challenges that teens may face growing up. Many people say that your teenage years are the best years of your life, but for some people, this simply isn’t true. There are many trials that you can face as a teen, and a lot of people don’t realise just how challenging this can be. If you keep reading, you will find some of the trials that your teen could face as a teenager.