From Principal Steve - Lighthouse Parents Have More Confident Kids

Dear Parents and Carers,

Our BPS leadership team recently read Lighthouse Parents Have More Confident Kids by Russell Shaw (The Atlantic, 2024), which offers powerful insights into the long-term benefits of stepping back so our children can step up.

Several quotes resonated deeply with us:

• “We’re biologically wired to prevent our children’s suffering… but a young person who grows accustomed to having a parent intervene begins to believe they’re not capable of acting on their own.”
• “When parents seek to control outcomes for their kids, they are trading short-term wins for long-term thriving.”
• “Sometimes what a child needs is simply to be acknowledged: “Wow, that sounds like a lot.” “I can tell you are working really hard.” “Do you have ideas about what you want to do?”

The article makes a compelling case for the Lighthouse Parent—a calm, reliable presence who provides guidance and boundaries while allowing children to navigate challenges independently. It suggests that when parents substitute their impulse to fix problems with patient listening, they foster resilience, confidence, and emotional growth in their children.

We encourage you to read the article and reflect on the powerful impact of parenting with long-term flourishing in mind.

Warm regards,

Deb Barden – Student Wellbeing Coordinator

Tatjana Linklater – Teaching & Learning Specialist

Riley Hall – Assistant Principal

Steve Meade – Principal