Dear Families,

Some of you may be aware that we currently offer a program 'Peaceful Kids', a Mindfulness and Positive Psychology based program to lessen anxiety and stress and increase resilience in children from Prep to Year 6. This program helps children to build their emotional resilience so they are better equipped to deal with the day to day stresses that life brings them.

Overwhelmingly, the feedback from our students has been positive, as has the feedback provided by parents. What we have found is that there are some themes which have emerged from this work with students. One thing our children have expressed is their worry about you, their parents. This was a common concern raised by children from Year One through to Year 6. It makes sense that throughout lockdown, most students have spent an increased amount of time in the family home. It also makes sense that they may also have observed behaviours or heard conversations that they would not have typically.

The stress of a global pandemic and the affects of lockdown should not be ignored for either children or adults. Indeed, an article from Melbourne Uni highlights the stressors on parents, including those who have maintained their employment throughout the lockdown period. As restrictions ease, and some services become more readily available, please consider whether you or a member of your family may need some additional support. The benefits of doing so may extend beyond the individual.

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Some parents may have found their children's screen time increased significantly over the past 6 months due to lockdown. This is an understandable and logical response to the limitations placed on face to face social interaction. Thankfully, some sports have resumed and children are beginning to spend time together outside of school hours. Now may also be the time to review screen time boundaries in light of these changes. Whilst it may be challenging to do so, including your children in these conversations helps increase the chances of success.

This excerpt from an article from the BBC outlines some screen time considerations for parents: "Radesky’s been asked constantly in recent weeks what the “right” amount of screen time is in lockdown. There isn’t a single answer, she says, as it varies based on a child’s age, a family’s needs, and the mix of other activities the child has access to in a given day. Nor does she find it helpful to give parents another difficult standard to meet during a challenging time.

“I don’t want parents to feel the pressure that they need to be perfect and do that 24 hours a day,” Radesky says. “If you feel like you overdid it on screens one day, you can try again the next.”

Radesky summarised guidance for this unusual period in a helpful Twitter thread last month. If there’s any tech-related skill parents should teach their children now to help life return to normal after the pandemic, she says, it’s the ability to self-regulate their tech use, which in a child’s case means the ability to turn off a device voluntarily (even if they need a timer or reminder to do so).

As parents may need to remind their children (and themselves), this unusual time won’t last forever. Eventually the schools, parks and libraries will reopen, and families will be able to return to rules that make most sense for them. “When we get to the other end of this, you and your children will hopefully look back and say, ‘we came together and figured it out’,” Radesky says." (taken from BBC.com)

If we can do anything to assist you or your family with wellbeing concerns please do not hesitate to make contact.

best wishes,

Peta Overbury

Deputy Principal

Wellbeing Leader

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