<p>My child, a 9th grader, calls twice a week. We feel this is adequate.
I don’t see how the kids can focus primarily on their new environment, or have time to get things done, if they are contacting home every day or every other day.
Also, if part of the reason to go to BS is to become more independent, how does daily contact with mom and dad facilitate this goal?</p>
<p>Kids are different. </p>
<p>Some focus better if they check in quickly with parents–unloading some of the day’s worries–so they can move on to whatever they need to get done. We’re talking about young adolescents, living a way from home, negotiating classes, friendships, meals, laundry, sports, activities, without a parent in sight. I guess I don’t see how a daily call home could possibly be an impediment to his/her independence or that much of a time suck…</p>
<p>That said, twice a week calls are great too. To each family its own way of being and supporting.</p>
<p>I agree with Classical. I have one child in BS thousands of miles away. She calls almost every day for a 5 min. chat. I have another child 150 miles away and he barely calls home. Every child is different. If I were to predict which child would be the one calling home often I would have bet on DS, the child who wanted to be closer to home. It turns out that DD, the very independent child calls home the most.</p>