Wellbeing

Well-being at GGLPS

It is essential that all students in the school feel safe and know that they belong to a supportive and caring environment. Well-being in a broad sense to us incorporates behaviour management, programs to support students socially and emotionally, and the development of strategies to act responsibly and aid learning. You are encouraged to discuss these ideas and strategies with your children to reinforce what is happening at school.

Anxiety

The holidays are here for the kids and that hopefully means fun times, but it can often lead to stress and anxiety. Perhaps finding time to do things is challenging or you don’t have the time to organise something. Maybe you need to ship the kids off somewhere. Whatever you do it can certainly lead to worries for some children. Sometimes this can be evident and other times it may come out in different behaviours. 

If you do have concerns that your child is anxious about going somewhere different or just worried about things in general, please watch the following clip that discusses very simply how to support your child. In the 3 minute clip from Heidi Rogers she explains 5 key areas to focus on when supporting your child with anxiety. She makes it clear that it shouldn’t be something to be afraid of but something that can be managed but that it needs to be learnt. 

I love the fact that she talks about breathing as this is such an important strategy to use when your child is not operating in the green zone.

The 5 key areas include - 

1. Externalise it – talk about what it is so they can be friends with it.
2. The amygdala – this part of the brain is where it comes from.
3. What to say – a script is needed for your child to know how to respond.
4. Teach about belly breathing – sending a message to the amygdala that it’s ok.
5. Validate your child’s feelings.

Mary Raschella

Family and Schools Counsellor