Wellbeing

Holiday Tips From Georgina Manning

Importance of Chill Out Time each day 

• As well as learning how to relax when there is anxiety present, it is important to also keep anxiety and stress levels low by factoring in time each day to just chillout. As children are often overscheduled and overstimulated through technology, it is vital that there is time to just ‘be’ each day. This can be by playing with a favourite toy, building something, creating artwork, playing with animals, playing a board game, drawing, making cubbies in the garden – the list is endless.
• Point your child in the direction of an activity that makes them feel good when they are also feeling anxious. An activity that is unstructured and free helps children to engage the creative part of their brain which in turn lessens anxiety. If children are used to spending chill out time each day, then it will be familiar to them if they need to calm down when anxious. If they spend a lot of time on technology and little time with creative play, it will be harder to direct them to creative activities when they are feeling stressed.
• It is important to note that chill out time is not time on technology. Although this may appear to be an activity that is relaxing, it is not effective for lessening anxiety or to wind down the brain after a full day of learning at school or after stressful events. Technology at night can also keep children wired up for hours which can affect sleeping patterns.

How Much Screen Time is OK for Our Kids?

Shifting our thinking from how much screen time to also include what kind of screen time.

I often get asked by parents, “how much screen time is ok for my kids?”. Well, here’s the thing, when we use the term ‘screen time’, it can refer to such a myriad of different ways in which we engage with screens. It is time we reconsidered the generic use of the term ‘screen time’, and here’s why.

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Consider how different the following activities are, that are all loosely categorised as screen time:

• Building an imaginative city in Minecraft collaboratively with their sibling
• Watching “epic fail” videos
• Playing an intense, multiplayer, first person shooter game
• Watching a Disney film
• Learning a language using an app like Duolingo

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As you can see, it is clear that not all screen time is created equal!

We need to start reshaping our understanding of screen time to be much more than just a number of hours per day/week but instead focus more on the type of screen time. Watch the video below as I explain a simple way that you, together with your children, can use the SPIIE challenge to start reflecting on the different types of screen time. From this reflection comes balance, and after all, balance is the key!

Carley McGauran

Psychologist

Wellbeing Support For Students During the School Holidays

This guide provides tips and resources for parents, carers and families to support the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people in their care during the school holidays. This includes services to reach out to if more support is needed.

Shelby Turner

Learning Diversity and Student Wellbeing Leader