If you have a teen in crisis or is otherwise troubled, you may wonder if another educational or behavioral solution is the best option to help your teen. How much do you know about so-called bad kids’ school?
It could be that your knowledge of them is exclusively linked to what is often portrayed in movies and on television. A far cry from the harsh and cold institutional settings depicted on the screen, these schools can offer troubled teens a warm and nurturing environment that will allow them to recover and heal.
Is this the right choice for your troubled teen? The more you learn about bad kids’ schools, the better position you will be in to make the right decision for your teen.
Understanding alternative school options
Perhaps one of the first steps you can take is to restructure how you think about these types of schools. It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that your teen’s poor behavior makes him a bad kid, and that he needs to go to a school for bad kids to get his life back on track. This can be a harsh way to look at it.
There’s rarely a situation where a child or teen should be dubbed as a bad kid. Many parents have children and teens in crisis, fighting with mental health issues, struggling with unresolved trauma, dealing with very adult situations, and being unable to cope healthily. They may act out in any number of ways. Many of which may put them into the category of being thought of as bad.
Teens in crisis often struggle in school, battle to maintain healthy friendships and relationships, and find themselves walking down the wrong path to unhealthy decisions.
At a school termed a bad kid’s school, teens who are struggling and acting out can start fresh. They can get the proper treatment to address their concerns. What that treatment looks like will depend on the needs of the individual. Academic options can help improve grades and catch up.
Parents have several school options to consider, including some regarded as military schools. Your teen may respond well to the routine and structure that he’d experience in a military school, but he may not. Your teen’s needs and levels of comfort must be considered when you’re looking at alternative school options for him.
The curriculum at a therapeutic boarding school
The curriculum followed at therapeutic boarding schools can vary between each facility. Each school will take steps to try to match the curriculum that your teen was following at his previous school. The academic advisors will work with parents and teens to ensure that they design an academic program that will best support the educational goals unique to the student.
Therapeutic boarding schools have highly qualified, certified teachers who will help teens learn valuable problem-solving skills while working towards their academic goals. Teens will be supported and motivated to continue focusing on their education while in treatment for their mental wellness.
Some of the benefits teens can experience include the following.
- A low student to teacher ratio
- Opportunity to learn meaningful life problem-solving skills
- Change to recover credits
- One on one tutoring opportunities
- The use of the latest technological tools
- College prep courses
Your teen needs to be able to focus on his mental health and recovery from the other issues he’s struggling with. Ensuring he can keep up with his academic goals will play an essential role in how your teen can prepare for his future.
Many alternative schools will also offer your teen the opportunity to participate in activities that will energize his body and brain. This could include swimming, hiking, riding bikes, team sports, horseback riding, and art classes. Suppose your teen is interested in outdoor activities. In that case, you could find that selecting a school with outdoor adventures that appeal to him will serve as the right motivation he needs to make the necessary changes.
Benefits for your teen
Many concerns may have led you to search for an alternative school for your troubled teen. A therapeutic boarding school also referred to as an alternative school, can offer several benefits for teens in crisis. The facilities that you consider will each have mental health professionals who will be able to help your teen get his life back on track.
What can your teen get help with?
- Concerns with skipping school. There is any number of reasons your teen may be skipping school. The issue is that skipping school can get your teen into legal trouble while also seeing him fall behind academically.
- Substance abuse. This could include the use and abuse of alcohol, prescription drugs, and illicit drugs.
- Behavioral disorders. There are several disorders that can fall into this category. Each requiring its own focused treatment plan. It’s essential that your teen gets the right type of treatment plan that addresses his specific needs.
- Concerns surrounding violence, anger, or abuse. This could involve a teen being the one who is violent, abusive, or quick to anger, or a teen being the victim of these behaviors.
- Anxiety, depression, and other concerns surrounding mental wellness.
- Problems with stealing, running away, lying, deception, and sexual activity.
While it might be dubbed a bad kid’s school, the truth is that an alternative school can help your teen to get the help that needs with each of the issues that he is struggling with.
Connecting with the right resources will help you make the right decisions for your teen and your family. HelpYourTeenNow can connect families with information and resources that can help every family member. There’s no reason to delay. The sooner your teen gets the help he needs, the sooner peace can be restored to your family.
