As young people navigate a constantly changing educational environment, we know one thing is certain: no matter how much technology advances and impacts education, maintaining strong relationships and developing adaptive social skills are critical to students’ well-being and capacity to thrive academically and in their future professions. These skills are not “soft skills.” They are essential for young people to best engage in their education and support their emotional and mental health. 

For young people at highly competitive boarding schools, parents are an essential part of a student’s support system even if they aren’t in close physical proximity. Parents can be the first people students share their frustrations with. But how do parents know when to be a sounding board and when to offer advice or become more actively involved? How can parents offer the right support when they are often not around? At the same, many young people today feel that the world is so different now that it is increasingly difficult for older people to relate to their experiences and challenges. It is easy for parents to feel that their well-meaning attempts to understand their world or be helpful are rebuffed. 

Combining the most current brain and behavioral research with over twenty-five years of experience, Rosalind will answer these questions, uniquely focused on the boarding school environment. 

Audience Takeaways:

• Understanding the most current research on young people's motivation 

• Understanding the protector, enforcer and mentor mindset

• Scripts to help avoid power struggles and miscommunication when giving feedback

• Concrete strategies to strengthen communication between parents and children based on feedback from Hotchkiss students