Wellbeing

Talking to children about safety

It is so important that parents have good communication with their children. The following information is taken from a resource called Talking to your children about safety by Childwise.

Children have the right to be and feel safe at all times. Talking to children from an early age about safety, their bodies, and how they can protect themselves, is an important part of keeping them safe. The Safety Continuum Using the ‘Safety Continuum’ is a good way to engage children. Children like to explore and take risks in their everyday lives.

The Safety Continuum is a way to explain when this might become unsafe, putting experiences and situations on a scale: How to talk to children about safety Using examples, talk with children about each of these situations, and how they might respond to each one. For instance, fun to feel scared might involve trying a flying fox for the first time - because we know the flying fox is safe.

Risking on purpose might be when they jump from a swing at the playground - you know it is a risk but it is unlikely you will get badly hurt. An unsafe situation might be if a stranger or someone they don’t know well offers them a lift home in their car.

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Safe Fun to feel scared Risking on purpose Unsafe

The Resilience Project at home (TPR@HOME)

The Resilience Project delivers emotionally engaging programs to schools providing practical, evidence-based, positive mental health strategies to build resilience and happiness. There is a resource that can be used at home, called the The Resilience Project at home or TPR@HOME. It is hub of activities and ideas to bring Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness to day-to-day life: from kitchen table conversations, to bedtime stories and backyard expeditions.

@HOME LEARNING is for parents and carers who are learning remotely. Here you’ll find age-specific home-based activities and lesson plans to support school curriculum and family wellbeing.

@HOME FOR EVERYONE is for adults and young people alike! Head here for wellbeing tips and ways to build resilience and happiness for yourself, family and housemates. The link to access TPR@home is https://theresilienceproject.com.au/at-home/

BeYou

BeYou is a resource for educators to help support the mental health of all members of the school community.

During this remote learning period, it is important to be aware of your child’s mental health and how they are coping with all the changes happening.

It is important to recognise signs of stress in your children. This week’s fact sheet from the Be You website is all about stress and how it impacts on our bodies and our behaviour.

Stress is the body’s reaction to change or overload

It can show up in children and young people’s behaviour, emotions, body and thinking. This can look like:

sleep changes or tiredness
changes in appetite or interest in food
returning to earlier behaviours (such as bedwetting or needing frequent comfort)
not enjoying or participating in usual interests or experiences
withdrawing from friends and family
changes in engagement in learning or academic results
irritability and frustration
fearfulness or constant worrying
tearfulness and crying
poor concentration
overreacting to small things
being physically run down or feeling unwell (for example, stomach pain or headaches)
mood swings
low levels of motivation.

Many of these signs of stress are similar to an adult’s experiences. Being mindful of the different ways that stress manifests in people is an important first step in offering support.

Covid 19 Resources

Our mental health has never been more important. With going back into lockdown, many families are feeling quite anxious about returning to remote learning. There are many valuable online resources available for parents, students and family to help support your mental health during this challenging time.

Headspace has a resource to help support friends that might be going through a tough time.

How to help if your friend is not ok - headspace Factsheet.pdf

Mindfulness is so important to practice in challenging times. Watch this video to explain what mindfulness is and why it is important to practice.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaRDbLWeSXE&feature=youtu.be

Remote learning

If you have any concerns for your child’s wellbeing during the remote learning period or would like some support, please do not hesitate to contact me rlenko@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au.

I am happy to do google meets with students or parents during this time or a phone call to support you and your family.

Rachel Lenko

Student Wellbeing Leader

On-line Gaming

Often parents share with me concerns they have about their child’s use of online gaming.

Concerns range from the safety of games, addiction to health and behavioural changes.

Over the coming weeks, I will include in the school newsletter some strategies for you to

use that may help you and your child be in a win/win situation with online gaming.

This week, can I draw your attention to the free one hour parent webinar that the esafety

commission is holding on Tuesday 28 th July at 7.30 to help parents understand online

gaming. To register go to https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/webinars

Apart from the esafety site, https://www.esafety.gov.au/, being an excellent place to find

information about all things relating to online gaming, can I recommend the site,

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/, as another place to find out about the content of

games, their strengths and weaknesses, age appropriateness and reviews by parents.

Maureen Flanagan

Student Chaplain/Counsellor