A message from Emily Bieber:

January holiday survival idea….

Hi everyone,

I wanted to send out a few ideas to maintain your child’s socialisation and activity over the summer holidays. The students did SO well to get back into gear after many months of lockdown. The stamina of many students was understandably diminished and for all of us, the effort to socialise become more challenging as we emerged from isolation. What an amazing achievement by all of us – Victoria overcame something HUGE together.

Let’s keep on building our social skills and stamina by planning small and achievable activities for the summer break …

Playdates (screen-free)
Camping, picnics in the backyard & cubbies indoors
Local library: stay for a few hours and read, enjoy the air-con!
Reconnect with cousins or other family (knowing that your child may be nervous about this as many months have passed since the last visit)
Try a new local park: https://www.maroondah.vic.gov.au/Community-support-business/Children-and-families/Nature-Play-in-Maroondah
Try a short bushwalk: https://www.timeout.com/melbourne/travel/the-best-day-hikes-in-melbourne
Make a cardboard box city (ask your local white goods stores for BIG boxes)
Screen time is OK in small quantities. Save it up for days over 35 degrees
Look after your neighbour’s pet

What are the skills we are building on and practising all the time?

Turn taking and sharing
Talking with other adults
Navigating exchanges with other children (free play and board games support this)
Keeping active in body and mind
Staying curious and having a flexible routine

Family Supports

If you would like support that Kalinda Primary School can offer, please contact

Shaun McClare : shaun.mcclare@education.vic.gov.au

Lauren Hopkins : lauren.hopkins@education.vic.gov.au

or kalinda.ps@education.vic.gov.au

If you or a family member is struggling with their mental health, please consider the following resources as well.

Beyond Blue

1300 22 4636 (24 Hrs)

Lifeline

13 11 14 (24 Hrs)

Suicide Call Back Service

1300 659 467 (24 Hrs)

Kids Helpline

1800 55 1800 (24 Hrs)

Other helplines

Blue Knot Foundation Helpline information, support or referral for adult survivors of childhood trauma and abuse. Call 1300 657 380, 9am-5pm / 7 days a week.

Butterfly Foundation's National Helpline counselling and treatment referral for people with eating disorders, and body image and related issues. Call 1800 33 4673 8am-9pm / 7 days a week.

MensLine Australia telephone and online support and information service for Australian men. Call 1300 78 99 78, 24 hours / 7 days a week.

MindSpot Clinic telephone and online service for people with stress, worry, anxiety, low mood or depression. Call 1800 61 44 34 AEST, 8am-8pm (Mon-Fri), 8am-6pm (Sat).

QLife telephone and web-based services to support lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people. Call 1800 184 527, 3pm-12am (midnight) / 7 days a week.

PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia) telephone information, counselling and referral service. Call 1300 726 306, 9am-7:30pm AEST (Mon-Fri).

SANE Australia support, training and education enabling those with a mental illness to lead a better life. Call 1800 18 7263, 9am-5pm (Mon-Fri).

Beyond blue child mental health checklist:

https://healthyfamilies.beyondblue.org.au/age-6-12/mental-health-conditions-in-children/child-mental-health-checklist

What is anxiety in children?

https://healthyfamilies.beyondblue.org.au/age-6-12/mental-health-conditions-in-children/anxiety

How to support your anxious child:

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/personal-best/pillar/supporting-others/how-to-support-your-anxious-child

Reassuring your child about the unknown:

https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/news/coronavirus-reassuring-your-child-about-the-unknown/

Dr Justin Coulson speaks about anxiety:

https://www.happyfamilies.com.au/freebies/anxiety/?fbclid=IwAR2-CJFzQ6Ogk4GWAF4deUSNCb8K6C29gFqMwM8JfdAqSoHDdZofYCb77pU

For your Diary