Written by: Danielle Baron, Senior Level Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Danielle Baron, a finalist for Ms. Great Britian 2023, is a dedicated entrepreneur in the realm of diversity and inclusion. Her unwavering commitment to equity serves as the foundation for all her pursuits. Originating in 2016, her journey began with the establishment of an educational enterprise, following a decade-long career as a teacher and assistant head. Subsequently, she pursued qualifications as a coach and therapist, further extending her reach to support women and children, including those who are neurodivergent, in an even more impactful manner.
Navigating school, particularly secondary school, can be quite challenging for children, especially considering the tumultuous impact of hormones and the myriad changes they undergo during this period. Neurodivergent children face an additional layer of complexity in this environment. Approximately one in five children fall under the neurodivergent category, which encompasses conditions such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and dyscalculia, among others. Many of these children, including girls, might not even be aware of their neurodivergent status. Consequently, neurodivergent children may often form connections with less-than-ideal companions. For instance, children with autism may inadvertently choose friends who exert control over them, setting the stage for problematic relationships down the line. Hence, the significance of education in this context cannot be overstated.
The secondary school phase can profoundly impact a child's confidence, anxiety levels, eating habits, and academic performance. While some struggling children might resort to changing schools, statistical evidence shows that this only results in a marginal 5 percent improvement. The particular group of peers one ends up with, the quality of teachers, and the friendships formed exert a notable influence. Personally, I was fortunate enough to attend an all-girls school in Twickenham where I found a balanced group of friends. We didn't belong to the popular or nerdy cliques; we were the middle group. While we certainly encountered minor friendship challenges, they were not of a serious nature.
The friendships forged during secondary school can have a lasting impact, either positively or negatively, significantly shaping one's trajectory. It's important to recognise that private schools and state schools alike can harbour both beneficial and detrimental friendship dynamics. Issues such as eating disorders and self-harm do not discriminate based on school type. So, how can you empower your child to form meaningful friendships in school, and more importantly, the healthy kind of friendships?
Education serves as the foundation. Equipping your child with a clear understanding of what constitutes a supportive and positive friend is crucial to ensure they avoid falling in with the wrong crowd. A dependable friend during secondary school, although sometimes making mistakes, acts as an essential pillar of support and personal growth during this transformative phase. This friend is trustworthy, a confidant without judgment, and respects boundaries and values. Genuine friendship at this stage entails loyalty through the ups and downs, providing companionship and understanding that help alleviate the challenges of adolescence. Effective communication fosters openness and honesty, enabling both parties to share thoughts, dreams, and concerns. This friend listens attentively, offering empathy and emotional sustenance when needed the most. They encourage your child's passions and interests, celebrating achievements and aiding in overcoming obstacles. Their influence is positive, motivating responsible decisions and personal growth. The ability to handle conflicts maturely is essential; a true friend navigates disagreements, preserving the bond they share. Amidst the school and personal responsibilities, a good friend supplies laughter, shared experiences, and a reminder that the journey is not solitary. With confidence, your child is better equipped to establish friendships, particularly enduring ones.
To foster engagement with peers, encourage participation in school functions, parent-teacher conferences, and various gatherings that facilitate interaction with classmates and their families. These occasions provide valuable opportunities for your child to form connections that extend beyond the classroom. Embrace your child's authentic self and encourage them to embrace their unique qualities. Genuine friendships thrive on authenticity and mutual respect. Steers clear of intervening in friendship disputes unless they are genuinely serious. Getting embroiled in such matters might lead to awkwardness if your child and their friend eventually reconcile.
Modelling healthy and positive relationships in your own life is impactful. Children often learn by observing, so displaying kindness, empathy, and effective communication in your interactions can influence how they approach their own friendships. Social skills are paramount in facilitating your child's ability to make friends. Encourage open communication by actively listening to their thoughts and concerns, fostering an environment where they feel at ease expressing themselves. Teach them the importance of active listening, maintaining eye contact, and interpreting non-verbal cues to enhance their communication skills.
Engaging in collaborative activities or projects that require teamwork fosters skills such as cooperation, compromise, and effective communication. Encourage participation in extracurricular clubs, sports teams, or community events to provide opportunities for social interactions and the chance to connect with peers who share similar interests.
Emphasise the significance of empathy and perspective-taking, aiding them in understanding different viewpoints and treating others with kindness and respect. Role-playing various social scenarios equips them with problem-solving skills and strategies for handling peer dynamics and conflicts. Incorporate healthy relationships into your interactions, highlighting attributes like patience, active listening, and effective conflict resolution. Support their autonomy by permitting them to make choices and take ownership of their social interactions, while offering guidance and advice when necessary. Initiate discussions about online etiquette and responsible social media use, underscoring the importance of digital communication skills and respectful behaviour in the virtual realm. Encourage them to reach out to classmates, initiate conversations, and practice initiating social interactions to bolster their self-assurance. By nurturing these social skills throughout their secondary school years, you provide your child with a sturdy foundation for cultivating meaningful relationships, navigating diverse social settings, and maturing into a well-rounded and socially adept individual.
Be an attentive listener and sounding board when your child shares their school and friendship experiences. Avoid hastily offering solutions; as parents, our inclination is often to fix things, but it's crucial to first lend an ear and seek permission before providing advice.
Follow me on Linkedin for more info!
Danielle Baron, Senior Level Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Danielle catalyses children and adults to rise like a phoenix from the flames 🔥 and to reach their optimum potential. She is an entrepreneur, inspiring 11+ and 7+ entrance exams tutor, rapid transformational therapist®️, business coach for overachievers, a life coach for all, and an NLP Master practitioner, and she is also certified by the ILM.
One of Danielle’s much-loved abilities is being an overachiever because she thrives on the excitement and follows her passion, which is to help people live fulfilling lives.
Over the last five years of her tuition business, Danielle has become extremely popular and respected in the tuition industry and is a mentor and coach to other tutors to help them increase revenue in their businesses, but ultimately to be the best tutors they can be. Her own tuition service incorporates coaching for parents and children throughout the exam process and NLP classes for children to help them with lack of confidence, bullying, and anxiety and to help them focus on the imminent goal of exams and to visualise and believe in their success.
Danielle’s second business, coaching and therapy, has been a long time coming and her personal interest in people and psychology led her to invest in the most high-quality courses to be the best for her clients. For her rapid transformational therapy ®️, she had the privilege of personally being mentored by Marisa Peer, a world-renowned therapist. Rapid transformational therapy is a combination of NLP, CBT, psychotherapy and hypnosis.
It has been Danielle’s personal experiences that have led her to where she is today. At age four, her father died of suicide, which installed in her a determination to help prevent people from ever becoming despaired again. Her best friend passed away at fifteen, which solidified Danielle’s determination to live life to the full. Growing up with a single parent, they struggled with money, but Danielle was very inspired by her mother’s work ethic, which had a huge impact on her.
As a teacher in some schools, the politics and bullying amongst staff were toxic and she suffered from depression, stress and burnout and was treated badly at her most vulnerable time of being pregnant and having a newborn and that’s why she’s passionate about helping teachers. She wishes that she had someone to help her at the time.
She has been through the journey of setting up successful businesses on her own while undertaking childcare as a single parent of two after she divorced and strongly believes anyone can achieve anything they put their mind to with grit, focus, and passion.
