How much pocket money should I send with my child to boarding school?

It depends on the school's rules and what the child must cover, but the most important thing is that the amount is planned and budgeted to last the full term. Many Kenyan parents work backwards from the term length and the canteen or shop prices, then teach the child to split it across the weeks so it does not run out early. Always check the school's policy on how much money students may keep.

How do I prepare my child to manage money at boarding school?

Start months before they leave. Give a regular allowance at home, let them practise budgeting a fixed amount across a week, and talk through real trade-offs. A child who has already practised making money last will cope far better than one handling a lump sum for the first time away from home.

What life skills should a child have before boarding school?

Beyond money: washing their own clothes or managing laundry, keeping their space and belongings organised, basic time management, and the confidence to ask for help. Building these through chores and routines at home before they leave makes the transition much smoother.

How can I stay connected with my child at boarding school?

Agree on a rhythm before they leave — visiting days, calls, and letters — and keep promises consistent. Co-parents and guardians should align on schedules and on how money and responsibilities are handled, so the child gets one clear, reassuring message from everyone.

Preparing Your Child for Boarding School: Money, Independence & Staying Connected

Boarding school is a rite of passage for many East African families — and the children who thrive are the ones who arrive prepared. Beyond the metal box and the shopping list, the biggest predictors of a smooth transition are money skills and independence. Here's how to build both before the term begins.

Start months before, not the night before

The single biggest mistake is handing a child a lump sum and a packed box on day one and hoping for the best. Children who have already practised managing money and looking after themselves at home settle far faster. Treat the months before boarding as a training season.

How much pocket money for boarding school?

There's no universal figure — it depends on the school's rules, the term length, and what your child needs to cover (canteen, toiletries, small extras). What matters most is that the amount is planned to last the whole term. Work backwards:

Check the school's policy on how much money a student may keep or deposit.
Estimate weekly needs (canteen, replacements) and multiply by the weeks in the term.
Add a small buffer — and teach your child to treat it as a buffer, not extra spending.

Then have your child plan how they'll spread it across the term before they leave. The planning is the lesson.

Budgeting skills to teach first

A child who has only ever received money on demand will struggle to ration a term's worth. Before boarding, give a regular allowance at home and let them practise:

Making a fixed amount last a set period without topping up.
Choosing between wants now and saving for something later.
Tracking what they've spent and what's left.

This is exactly the muscle they'll need in week six of term when the canteen is calling and funds are low.

Build independence through responsibility

Money is only part of it. Use the run-up to build the everyday skills boarding demands: managing laundry, keeping belongings organised, basic time-keeping, and the confidence to ask for help. The simplest way to build these is through consistent chores and routines at home — responsibility practised now becomes resilience later.

Prepare them emotionally too

Talk openly about what to expect — homesickness is normal and usually passes. Agree a connection rhythm (visiting days, calls, letters) and keep your promises consistent. Predictability is reassuring.

Keep co-parents and guardians aligned

In many families, more than one adult is involved — co-parents in separate homes, grandparents, or guardians. Agree before term who sends what, how money is handled, and the visit schedule, so your child hears one clear, consistent message from everyone.

A simple pre-boarding checklist

Child has practised budgeting a fixed allowance at home for at least a few weeks.
They can manage their own laundry, space, and basic routine.
Pocket money is planned to last the full term, within school rules.
A connection rhythm (calls/visits) is agreed.
All caregivers are aligned on money and responsibilities.

Build the money habit before they board

Tija Kids lets your child practise earning, budgeting and saving at home — and lets co-parents, grandparents and guardians stay perfectly aligned. The perfect training ground before boarding school.

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