Principal's Corner

Welcome to Term 2 2012

Dr Michael Carr-Gregg is the rare combination of a top academic, a compassionate therapist and a superb communicator. He has an advice column for parents in the "New Idea" magazine and is a sought after speaker at conferences for educationists and parents.

What he has to say is backed up with solid research and should make us all think about the challenges facing parents today. He is very clear on the things he wants parents to get better at. "Become the world expert on your kids:know their temperament and the real secret is looking for changes. A lot of their acting out behaviour is not just kids being wilfully bad; sometimes they have a major problem and getting on to that problem is a parent's responsibility."

 He advises parents to stop being their child's best friend rather than their parent. Parents need to understand that their own self esteem shouldn't be wrapped up in making their children happy all the time. Research has shown that the young person's brain isn't through growing yet and won't be until their early to late 20s. Part of being a parent is being in authority over this developing brain: setting limits and boundaries, and sometimes the children are not going to like that.

 His advice is encapsulated in the following 5 point plan: talk to your child, educate by example, engage in their life, nurture the relationship,set clear boundaries. His sound advice can be heeded by parents and teachers alike. 

I trust you will all have a rewarding second term and I will enjoy returning to school in the beginning of term three. 

Linda M Munkowits

Principal

This excerpt is from the cover story of the summer issue of the magazine Parenting 2011/12