Living with a child or teen who has changed from the well-mannered youngster you knew to a belligerent person whom you don’t recognize at all can be incredibly difficult. It could have been a slow process with your teen slowly showing worsening behavior. Or you may have seen a virtually overnight change in his behavior.
Many parents take the approach of “wait and see” with adolescent behavioral issues. There is also the hope that things will turn around again and the troubled youth will change his behavior with no need for serious interventional by mental wellness professionals.
Parents also feel that times of crisis are when they should circle the wagons, so to speak. Protecting their children and their family from external influences can prove to be a strong driving factor in why parents may wait as long as a year or two to seek help.
How long has your teen been challenging you? Does his behavior appear to be further declining? Your search for help for your teen may lead you to wonder whether military school is the right choice for your teenager.
Military Boarding Schools for Troubled Youth
There is often a fair amount of confusion about what a military boarding school can offer. Parents may only have knowledge gleaned from movies and tv shows that make military schools out to be harsh, cold, and practically abusive facilities. It can’t be denied that these types of environments have been a reality in years past.
Before there was a better understanding of the mental wellness needs of teens in crisis, the view was that a hardline approach was better for seeing results.Today, it would be exceptionally rare to encounter a facility that falls under that heading. Just what is a military boarding school and how does it differ from other types of alternative schooling solutions?
Military boarding schools offer some of the same benefits as any other boarding schools. With that comes comfortable accommodations, typically in a dormitory environment. Here, children and teens will learn more about taking responsibility for their own space and learn how to be accountable for cleaning and tending to their other needs.
Education is an important component of a military school. Each student will attend the classes that have been structured to match where they are right now in terms of their academics. Quite like traditional school and boarding schools, the education will have a focus that addresses the needs of the individual, while encouraging values that will have meaning.
As an example, a military school may focus on a set of values that are held in high esteem within the military. This could include unfailing discipline, personal accountability, and strong character development.
Many military boarding schools have a strong fitness program. They offer a range of athletic activities that will help a youth meet and exceed their health and wellness goals. These activities all often align with the physical strength that will be essential if the teens pursue a military career.
Why might a military school prove to be the better choice for your troubled youth? If you’ve tried to get help through therapy and other solutions, only to see your teen’s behavior worsening, military school might be the right option for your teen.
Sometimes it can be a struggle for teens to respond well to boundaries and discipline at home, for many reasons. These teens findthey are able to can better respond and thrive in the structured environment that they will meet in a military boarding school.
Pros and Cons of Military Boarding School
As with any decision, there are a few pros and cons to consider about military boarding school. It’s a good idea to keep them in mind as you set about finding the best solution to help your troubled teen.
Let’s look at some of the potential pros to consider about a military boarding school.
- Parents who feel like they have tried everything to get their teen back on track may have a disobedient, angry, and even violent teen. They may find that military schools offer better structure to right the ship.
- A fresh start can be good for each of us. For a troubled youth, being able to get a fresh start can prove hugely beneficial. With the new environment and structure offered by a military school, teens may get just what they need.
- Teens will learn accountability and learn more about themselves and their inner strengths.
- Military boarding school can be a good starting point for teens who plan to pursue a career in the military.
It’s always good to be aware of any potential cons for your teen and your family.
- A military school can be a more rigid environment that what some parents are looking for to help their teens.
- Military boarding schools are not the ideal choice for teens who will not consider a military career. However, that’s not to say that they can’t still benefit from the structure within the military school.
- The zero-tolerance and no-exceptions rules of a military school can take some change for students. Some teens, particularly those who may deal with unresolved trauma, may struggle to adjust.
- Military boarding schools rarely offer teens help with counseling and other beneficial therapeutic solutions that they need. This can include help for substance abuse.
A military school is a good option for some teens, but not for all teens. Your struggling child or teen may benefit from another solution that addresses his mental wellness struggles.
How Much Does Military School Cost?
It’s understandable to have concerns about the costs associated with sending your teen to a military boarding school. Most military boarding schools will take steps to make sure the cost does not work against the family seeking help. This can be achieved with financial aid, financing options, scholarships, and even insurance help somtimes.
The costs can be up to $40,000 for some facilities, but there is a wide range to consider. There are many factors that can go into the costs associated with a military boarding school. For parents who are concerned, the best course of action is to speak with an enrollment counselor who may refer you to the right programs. This will help you achieve your plans of sending your teen to the military boarding school that can offer him the supportive atmosphere he needs.
Cost doesn’t need to be the reason that your teen cannot get the help he needs to turn his life around.
Let Us Help
Knowing where to turn can be one of the first hurdles that parents face when seeking help for and with their teenager. HelpYourTeenNow will listen to your concerns and help to connect your family with the resources that will address the specific issues that you are trying to work through.
It may feel like there is no hope in sight, or that it’s too late for your family to find your way back to normalcy. There’s always hope, and it’s never too late for you to get your teen the help that he needs.
