Setting kids up for success ‘expensive’

With a 12-year-old at intermediate school and a 4-year-old at daycare, Onehunga mum Cindy Tuitupou is starting to become more aware of the costs of education.

“The ongoing cost of supporting a child and making sure they’ve got everything to set them up for success . . . is becoming more expensive,” she said. “That is a concern.”

PMO analyst Tuitupou, 37, said: “Cost is an issue.”

However, she’s more concerned that her daughter Simone, a Year 7 pupil at Royal Oak Intermediate School, and 4-year-old son Masini become well-rounded individuals, ready to cope with life outside school.

We do have Netflix and YouTube, and that can be a big distraction. Cindy Tuitupou

“I’m kind of more concerned for their overall development, making sure that they’re emotionally ready, socially ready and all set up to go to uni after school,” she said.

These ‘soft skills’ could be taught better at school, she said.

“I know schools are quite good for academia, and the school that my daughter goes to is really a sportfocused school, which is great, I really like that because they can focus on things like teamwork.

“But the other factor is once you get into the real world, looking at things like how do you deal with stress and pressure and that kind of thing.”

Screen time was a major issue in her household, she said.

“Yes, it’s great for research and for projects, but we do have Netflix and YouTube, and that can be a big distraction.

“That’s a big issue in our house at the moment, and it’s just finding a balance of, yes, the internet is there, but we need to spend more time outdoors with the family.”