Inclusion & Engagement 

Supporting your child through recess and lunch breaks at school.

Supporting your child to have a successful day at school starts at home.  Establishing routines and clear expectations is important to support your child to develop their independence in all aspects of their schooling. Having a lunch box packed with healthy food options, including some student choice allows them to develop good eating habits and supports brain function and body building.  Ensure that your child can open any containers, reduce the amount of pre-packaged food and check that they have a freshly filled drink bottle.

Building friendships with their peers provides additional social and emotional support.  If they find the playground too overwhelming, encourage your child to find a quite area.  Activities might include colouring in books, beading, loom bands, toy cars, sandpit time.  Some students enjoy their own company during outside time, but it you have any concerns, always feel free to have a chat with your child’s classroom teacher. Arranging playdates may also be another supportive activity to help your child develop friendships.

At home, make some time to do some outside activities as a family.  Create games and use sports equipment, rather than depend on technology. Think about what your child can access at school for their break times.  Again, if you are unsure, check in with your child’s teacher.  Even introduce your child to some of the games you used to play as a young child yourself.  Discuss expectations around turn taking, deciding as a group what to play, playing ‘fairly’/following an ‘umpire’s’ decision.  If students are already involved in sporting activities after school hours, encourage them to practise these skills at school with their peers, such as, footy and cricket.

Outside time during the school day is an important part of a child’s development and independence.  It supports their growth as an individual and fosters effective decision-making processes in an unstructured setting.  At times, they may benefit from some guidance and suggestions about appropriate play options.  Our goal as carers is to provide the support that they may need.