Advantages and disadvantages of boarding schools for children

Before making a decision about the type of education you want for your child, it is important that you talk about it and listen to it.

Last update : February 04, 2023

The moment when we have to choose the type of education we want for our children always poses challenges and uncertainties. We know that it is a tool that we offer them for their quality of life and their present and future development. Today, the educational proposals are more and more varied. Among them are boarding schools for children. Let’s take a look at their pros and cons now.

Discover the advantages of boarding schools for children

Like any educational proposition, boarding schools for children have their strengths and weaknesses. As for the advantages, we find:

1- Complete training offer

In general, boarding schools for children have an enriched program that addresses different themes. Thus, learning occurs in a wide variety of domains.

2- They are useful for certain family dynamics

With a proposal rich in activities, the boarding schools can provide quality time and be useful for families whose parents work long hours or travel continuously for professional reasons. In addition, families who live in remote areas and who have to travel long distances every day with their children can benefit.

3- Lasting relationships and unforgettable experiences

When the climate of cohabitation in the boarding school is positive, the children often form close and important relationships. Due to shared time and activities, THE friends end up becoming a big family and strong support.

Disadvantages of boarding schools for children

Among the disadvantages of boarding schools for children, we can find:

1- Separation from the family

It is important to take into account that boarding schools mean that children stop living with their families. Depending on each child, this separation is experienced differently. For some it can feel like abandonment and detachment, with consequences in the way of living and expressing affection. However, when there are also other family members in the boarding school, such as siblings or cousins, the stay is usually more convivial.

2- Economic cost

Some boarding schools, with the complex training offer they offer, involve a significant investment that is not always within reach of all families.

3- Closed groups

Another disadvantage of boarding schools is that children’s socializing spaces are reduced to the same classmates. This marks a difference compared to other alternatives, such as when the child goes to school and then to a language club or center and has the opportunity to interact with other people.

Listening to the child’s voice is essential

Often adults have very clear values ​​about what they consider best for children and adolescents. These ideas are born of our education, our experience and the influence of the society to which we belong. No one doubts that we can be motivated by a good goal, but it is essential to remember that our decisions have an impact on children’s lives.

It is essential to talk with the children, dispel their doubts and ask them how they feel and what they would like to do. We agree that the little one won’t have a choice whether it’s to go to the bathroom or go to school, but we can involve him in certain aspects of this decision. For example, ask him if he wants to take his bath in the morning or in the afternoon and how he feels in this school.

On the other hand, the children also come to teach us things and build with us. Therefore, if your child does not feel comfortable with a learning proposal, instead of getting angry or frustrated with him, you can look for other forms of education that complement school. For example, making cultural visits, educational trips or activities at the library, among others. On the other hand, forcing him to do something he doesn’t want will have negative consequences for his well-being.

Let children be children

Finally, education always challenges us as adults. It invites us to ask ourselves what happened to us when we were children, what we would like to repeat and what we would like to change. Moreover, it asks us to recognize the values that are at the heart of our decisions and our practices. In this sense, it is a question of putting oneself in the shoes of these children and breaking out of the mold of adults.

We are sometimes governed by parameters that speak of the future, of success, of developing potential and making the most of time. However, many of these aspects are related to the world of work and have their place in boarding schools. On another side, maybe we should think more in terms of children playing and enjoy their free time. Ultimately, let children be children, because they will have plenty of time to be adults.

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