Wellbeing Officer

Welcome Back!

With the latest lockdown over and school returning, mornings may feel a little chaotic in your home. We have recently moved so I know first hand how rushed you can feel if you cannot find your bag, shoes or keys.  A morning routine can be immensely helpful to ensure your child arrives at school calm and ready to learn.  This will look different in every family however the strategies below can help your child feel ready to take on the day.

• A healthy Breakfast: Skipping breakfast can lead to poor concentration, memory issues and your child not wanting to participate in learning. Remember, your child has not eaten for 8-12 hours so their body is ready to be refuelled.
• Preparation and planning: Ensuring homework is completed, bags are packed and school uniforms are laid out the night before can provide a child with a sense of accomplishment. This also helps us as parents for those mornings when nothing seems to be going right, being organised the night before gives us those extra minutes we need to regroup.

Conversations: 

If your child is occasionally resistant to going to school there is often a valid reason. Although it may seem small to us, the feelings are big for your child. My son was diagnosed with anxiety when he was in pre-school and conversations were the key to him arriving at school calmly. He was often worried that he would be late or that he would forget to change his reader so we would leave a few minutes early and talk about his concerns on the way. I remind myself that when I say goodbye to my children every morning it is the last conversation I will have with them until the end of the day so making that last interaction a positive one can make all the difference.

                Classroom Wellbeing Sessions

This term I have the privilege of supporting the students in the junior rooms by leading wellbeing programs in the classroom. This week we read a very funny story called Fart and Burp are Superstinkers by Zoe Foster Blake. Poor Fart and Burp are lonely and very sad because nobody wants to be around them. Throughout the book they use their superpower to save people in their community. The children discussed how they would feel if nobody wanted to be their friend and being different can unlock your superpower. 

                      Dad's Group Project 

Earlier in the year we received expressions of interest for The Dad’s Group Project. The group provides opportunities for you connect with other dads/caregivers, have fun and learn from each other. We would love to establish the group in term 4 so please contact me via email to confirm your interest. 

                                          nicole.agius@crosswaylifecare.org.au

                A Little Wellbeing Wisdom 

“It is not what you do for your children, but what you have taught them to do for themselves that will make them successful human beings”. Author unknown