Talking to your child about their day...

How often are we tempted to say, "Tell me all about your day, I want to know everything that happened?" To answer, your child has to sum up a whole day, and that’s hard for children (and even adults!) to do.

A child might really want to say, ‘My day was so jam-packed with ideas and classes and social stuff that I don’t know where to start’. So it’s easier just to say, ‘OK’.

Every afternoon or evening will be different. Even if your child usually likes to share their day with you, there’ll be days when they don’t want to talk. Sometimes it’s a matter of sensing your child’s mood and picking the right moment. Some days there might not be a right moment at all, and that’s OK.

Simple, positive, and specific questions about parts of the day can get your child talking. It’s good to use questions that invite more than a ‘yes’, ‘no’ or ‘OK’ response. For example:

What’s the news from school today?
What was fun?
What did you like best at school today?
What does your classroom look like at the moment?
What did you do in class after recess?
Who did you hang out with today?
What subjects did you do today?
What topics are you working on in Maths at the moment?

These tips can help you get a conversation going:

Make time to talk. This can often be when you’re doing something with your child. For example, your child might like to talk when you’re walking the dog or preparing dinner together.
Give your child your full attention if they want to talk with you about their day.
Take seriously whatever your child tells you. For example, you can say things like, ‘That’s really interesting. Then what happened?’ or ‘And how do you feel about that?’
Use respectful language when you talk about the school and teachers with or in front of your child. For example, ‘I can see that’s frustrating, but Ms Adams is your teacher and you need to speak respectfully to her’, or ‘Yes, that seems unfair, but perhaps you don’t know the whole story’.
Use active listening techniques. These can help you pick up on your child’s feelings and work out whether they want to talk.

Source: https://raisingchildren.net.au/school-age/school-learning/school-homework-tips/talking-about-school

Last call for student interest in the Seasons for Growth at St James!

Seasons for Growth is an innovative, evidence-based change, loss and grief education program that draws on the metaphor of the seasons to understand the experience of grief. It builds the knowledge and skills necessary to strengthen social and emotional wellbeing following significant loss by:

Exploring the impact of change and loss
Learning about effective ways to respond and adapt

Participants learn that they are not alone in their experience of change, loss and grief, and are able to build their communication, decision making and problem solving skills within the context of a safe and supportive peer group learning environment.

All Seasons for Growth programs are grounded in sound, person-centred educational principles.

As such, our programs have been shown to be a very effective education intervention. The programs do not provide counselling or psychotherapy.

What people say about Seasons for Growth

"I felt a lot better because I was letting all the pain out. Sometimes in school I'd feel like crying about it, and I nearly cried. Then I just held it in. But when I went to Seasons (for Growth) I could just let it out, and talk about it. I didn't need to cry because I could talk about it" (Matt, 9).

"Having other people with the same problem to talk to has really helped" (Antonio, 12).

"My life has got worse but what Seasons for Growth has done is help me come to terms with it all. I cope a lot better. No matter how bad things get, I now have somebody I trust to talk to" (Emma 16).

"I'd like to think my son wasn't affected by the divorce but I know he was. The program has helped him to know that it happens in other families too" (Parent)

"The Seasons for Growth training has helped me to realise the impact that change and loss can have on a kid's behaviour at school" (Teacher)

84% of our Companions say that Seasons for Growth has changed them, particularly in relation to improving their understanding of children, and in strengthening their own personal qualities.

St James will be offering one Prep - 3 intake of the Seasons for Growth program in term three, and a possible Year 4 - 6 intake in term four, running for 8 weeks each.

Should you wish for your child to take part please complete the following Google Form before Wednesday 12th July. https://forms.gle/UijKLUvNCyrqWEJw8

Monica De Leo

Student Wellbeing Leader

monica.deleo@sjvermont.catholic.edu.au

Victorian Child Safety Standards

Here is the Catholic Education Council of Victoria's revised statement of commitment to Child Safety which we abide by:

Support Services Available to all students and families

Parent Zone

Parenting Programs

Parenting is the most important and challenging job in today’s rapidly changing world – but children and young people don’t come with a handbook. ParentZone supports parents, carers, and families to meet up, share and learn from each other. Anglicare Victoria understands the potential of families to shape lives. We help families to work together and create positive and long-lasting change for themselves and the community around them

ParentZone Pods - Parenting Podcasts

In late 2021, ParentZone launched a series of parenting podcasts called ParentZone Pods on sibling rivalry, dealing with anxiety, family meetings, getting your children to listen, how to stop yelling at your kids, and how to respond to kids’ behaviour. Due to the success of these podcasts, Anglicare has decided to create another series in 2022. So, watch this space for more helpful topics to aid in your parenting! Check out all ParentZone Pods here.

Parent Resources

Click here for access to the Smiling Mind Website

Smiling Mind’s vision is to help every mind thrive. Their mission is to provide accessible life-long tools to support healthy minds.

Click here for access to the Student Wellbeing Hub Website

It includes sections for parents, teachers and students with practical strategies and resources to support your child's wellbeing.

Click here for Raising Children Network

Reliable, and up-to-date information to help your family grow and thrive together.

Click here for access to Parenting Ideas Blog

It includes articles, testimonials and practical tips on a wide variety of topics.

Click here for Iparent - Office of eSafety Commissioner

To learn about the digital environment and how to help your child have safe and enjoyable online experiences.

Click here for access to CatholicCare

It is a social service agency of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne, they offer a range of programs and services that aim to build and strengthen relationships.

Click here for access to Beyond Blue

This website is regularly updated with information, advice and strategies to help you manage your wellbeing and mental health during this time. And you can stay up-to-date by joining our email community.

Positive Parenting Telephone Service 1800 880 660

Participants complete a workbook or online modules which are supported by weekly 30 minute phone calls with a trained parenting educator. All of this can be done from the comfort of your own home at a time that suits you.

Parentline 13 22 89

Parentline is available 8am to midnight, 7 days a week. It is a confidential and anonymous phone counselling service for parents and carers of children and teenagers in Victoria.

Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800

The Kids Helpline is Australia's only free, private, and confidential 24/7 phone and online counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25. Counselling is currently offered by phone, Webchat and email.

Spotlight on Learning

Students of the week

Xavier Dean-Blom