The Benefits Of Boarding School



Choosing to send your child to boarding school isnt an easy decision. Were all well aware of the tropes about lumpy beds and terrible food, and of pranks morning to night!

 

In reality though, boarding schools arent much like the ones that you see in the movies. They are schools like any other, often attracting the best quality teachers and boasting better facilities than a lot of other schools.

 

Whether boarding school is the right decision is dependent on you and your child, but here are some of the benefits that children who attend boarding school can experience.

Promoting independence

As your child grows up there is an almost constant battle for independence; your child wanting more freedom and you having to decide what is appropriate.

 

A certain amount of freedom and independence is important for children as they develop, as it gives them the opportunity to explore the world and themselves, and become more self-assured and confident as a result. 

 

Boarding school can be a good way to find the right balance of independence. Your child is away from home, so there is a natural amount of independence there as they learn to become more self-reliant. At the same time, they are always supervised by qualified teachers and other staff, so you know that they are safe.

Amazing facilities

You can generally expect to find that the facilities on offer at boarding schools will be more plentiful than those on offer at other types of school. 

 

The Rugby School Thailand boasts an impressive co-curricular program that allows children to experience up to 70 new activities each term, including things like archery and sailing, which gives your child the potential to find something that they are really passionate about.

 

The Rugby School has some helpful information about boarding on their website, detailing what the different types of boarding are and how they are managed at their school.

Being part of a community

Boarding means consistently being part of a community made up of teachers, staff, and of course the other students. 

 

Being part of a community is highly beneficial for children as it gives them a supportive and uplifting influence that they cant find in any other way. It also helps them to learn more about themselves as they interact with other people, and helps them learn traits like generosity and compassion.

 

The community at a boarding school will be made up of a range of people from all sorts of different backgrounds, which will help your child to develop a broader world view.

 

The friendships that are made at boarding schools are often carried with pupils for the rest of their lives.

Academic excellence

Finally, one of the most important benefits of boarding school is the opportunity for academic excellence that it provides.

 

Boarding schools often attract the most highly skilled teachers in their field, and your child will have much greater access to their knowledge and expertise than they would in another type of school. They also have the opportunity to learn collaboratively with their peers, which improves learning outcomes.

5 Tips for Creating a Dog-Friendly Garden



 

Before welcoming a dog into your family, it's important to alter your home so that the pup is safe and comfortable. But many new owners forget to include the back garden in this preparation. 

 

Dogs love being outside as it keeps them mentally and physically active. However, gardens can be hazardous for pups without implementing the necessary precautions. You'll also need to keep your dog from destroying the space. 

 

So that you can enjoy being outdoors with your pup, with minimal risks to your dog and garden, here are five factors to consider. 

 

1) Implement security measures 

 

Unfortunately, thieves often target dogs in their owner's garden. Avoid making your dog vulnerable by leaving them unsupervised or placing them in the front yard where it’s easily accessible.

 

To enhance the garden's security:

• put up a fence that's at least six foot high
• ensure there are no gaps or holes in fences
• lock and attach bells onto gates and kennel doors
• fit external lights with sensory systems
• install CCTV


Securing the garden will also keep your dog from running away and getting lost.

 

2) Protect your dog from weather 

 

During hot days, dogs can quickly overheat and suffer from heatstroke, which can be fatal if left unnoticed. To help your pup stay hydrated, always keep bowls of clean, cold, and fresh drinking water in the garden. Installing shallow water features or sprinklers gives them a chance to cool off too. 

 

Avoid using artificial grass or asphalt as these materials can get overly hot, which would burn your dogs' paws in summer. Planting trees and shrubs also give the pooch shaded areas for relief from the sun. 

 

Kennels offer dogs shelter from rain and wind and are also insulated to keep them warm in cold weather. Benchmark Kennels have a range of sheltered, insulated, and spacious outdoor kennels for sale that you can customise to suit your dog's size, shape, breed, and personality. 

 

3) Keep your pup entertained  

 

If your dog gets bored, they might demonstrate destructive behaviour and take their frustrations out on your flowers and lawn. To make the garden a fun environment, create:

• a play area with toys
• an obstacle course with tunnels, balance beams, and jump hurdles
• clearly defined paths for patrolling and exploring
• a designated digging area with non-toxic sand


Keep an eye on your dog when in the garden to ensure they don't get up to mischief. Also, play games with the pooch to deepen your bond. 

 

4) Protect your lawn 

 

If your dog urinates on the lawn, it'll cause unsightly brown patches. To avoid this mishap, establish a designated toilet spot in the garden for them to use. If they do have an accident on the grass, spray the lawn with water to minimise the damage. 

 

5) Check plants are non-toxic

 

Avoid planting plants and flowers that are harmful to dogs, such as daffodils, lilies, and wisteria. Dogs that have eaten toxic plants may exhibit symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea, and irritated skin and will need veterinary attention immediately.  

 

While consuming a lot of any plant can harm canines, there are low-risk options, including fennel, sunflowers, and rosemary.  

 

Also, use organic gardening products rather than poisonous chemicals. If you do use chemicals, keep your dog out of the garden for several days after using. Lock the garden shed, too, as they usually host sharp tools as well as chemicals. 

 

Making these changes will allow your dog to benefit from being outdoors without coming into harm and destroying the garden.  

 

7 Extra-Curricular Activities Your Kids Will Love

 Kids have to go to school - it’s the law. But they do also get some free time during the week to relax, enjoy themselves and pursue things other than education. 

For parents, though, the subject can be a bit of a minefield. Yes - it’s critical for kids to have well-rounded lives. But which activities do kids actually want to do? And which are beneficial? Let’s take a look. 

Music Lessons

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Learning to play a musical instrument is one of the most critical things that a child can ever do. Not only is it an important life skill, but it also improves cognitive function which has spill-over effects on other areas of their life. Music ingrains things like rhythm and coordination into their bodies - a skill that never really leaves them. 

Painting And Drawing

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Painting and drawing can also be a lot of fun for kids who like art. It’s a critical first step into the art world and something that all children should try at least once in their lives. 

Some art clubs are just a free-for-all. Kids do whatever comes to mind. But others have instructors who can teach children basic techniques that they can continue using throughout their lives. 

Dancing

Kids naturally enjoy dancing. But, as a parent, you can also hone their skills by taking them to dance class.  

Dance is great for all sorts of reasons. It helps energetic children burn off steam, it enhances strength, and it boosts coordination. What’s more, the positive effects of dance tend to stay with the body long-term. Those who do it in regularly over a long time period tend to be healthier and more robust than those who don’t. 

Rock Climbing

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Rock climbing is one of the most rewarding, yet specialised, activities out there. Most climbing clubs meet at indoor venues and practice their skills, using artificial climbing walls. However, some also take field trips to local climbing venues where people can practice their skills. 

Languages

Kids might also want to learn a language they don’t cover in classes at school. Most schools teach French and German - as is traditional. But many parents also now want their kids to understand so-called “world” languages, like Mandarin and Spanish. 

Learning a language can be a lot of fun. Plus, it assists with cognitive development. Children who learn two or more languages tend to have higher brain power and more successful lives. 

Cookery

Imagine coming home to a dinner that your kids have prepared for you? It sounds impossible, right? Well, actually, it’s easier than you think when you teach your children the skill of cooking. 

Cookery classes start with the basics - such as how to prepare a simple meal. But they can also cover other critical topics, including nutrition and meal planning. Children learn basic skills that allow them to successfully navigate the kitchen at a later date. 

Martial Arts

Lastly, if your child struggles with confidence, you may want to enrol them in martial arts. It helps with discipline and comes with the nice side benefit that children can defend themselves if they get into trouble.Unsplash - CC0 Licensedancedancedance

4 Steps For Creating A Delightful Outdoor Space

 

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We would all dearly love to spend more time in our gardens. But actually creating an environment in which we want to spend time can be a challenge. It needs to feel right to make it worthwhile. 

Fortunately, outdoor living concepts have progressed considerably over the past few years. And now it’s easier than ever to create a space you’ll love. Just follow these steps: 

Step 1: Sort Out Your Privacy

Why aren’t you using your outdoor garden spaces already? Perhaps privacy is the issue. Neighbours can overlook your garden and listen to your conversations - not what you want. 

Solving privacy concerns, therefore, should be at the top of your list of priorities. But how do you do it? 

You have several strategies available. 

The first is to add privacy screens. These are usually a little taller than regular fences and allow you to create your own private oasis. If you’re not keen on the idea of privacy screens, you can also try using trellises or something similar, either getting professionals to install them or doing it yourself. 

Step 2: Add Function

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You want to spend more time in the garden, but if it doesn’t provide you with the functionality you want, you won’t use it. 

Start by getting some garden deck chairs with comfortable cushions to support you. Then add other elements that will make outdoor living more enjoyable. Ideas include: 

  • Sunshades
  • Loungers
  • Dining tables for family gatherings
  • Fire pits
  • Outdoor heating solutions, such as infrared heaters

Step 3: Set The Mood

Just adding function, though, isn’t usually enough to get you out into the garden. The space also needs to offer a different mood from your indoors. Otherwise, there isn’t much point using it. 

How you set the mood is very much a matter of personal choice. Many keen homeowners like to add outdoor elements such as planters, paving stones and fairy lights. 

If you plan on using your outdoor space in the evening, you can alter the mood considerably just by adjusting the lighting. Plain white light is okay, but you might also want to experiment with greens, purples and other interesting colors that bring out the best in your foliage. 

Step 4: Add Greenery

While your garden is probably already full of greenery, it’s critical to include it directly in your outdoor seating spaces too to make them feel more welcoming. For instance, sometimes, patios and decks can feel a little sparse and inorganic. Yes - they’re attractive. But you can always improve on them by adding more plants. 

When adding plants to an outdoor seating area, try to add verticality. 


Start at the ground level with potted plants and shrubs of different heights. And then look for ways to add more height to the space. 

There are all kinds of ways you could do this. If you have a suitable wall, you could grow creeping plants that will eventually create a beautiful green backdrop. Or, if you don’t have time for that, you can make a vertical garden by stacking hooks on your walls and then slotting your planters into them.patios and decks can feel a little sparse