Parenting Page
CatholicCare offers mental health support through Mindfulness webinars
The uncertainty of the current times we live in, mixed with physical distancing and isolation from families and loved ones due to the recent COVID lockdown has left many feeling anxious, stressed, and worried.
To help support people through these difficult circumstances, CatholicCare Wollongong has released six Keeping Calm and Connected: Mindfulness webinars with practical steps to reflect and calm the mind.
Family Wellbeing
This week, please take some time to read the information on the Keeping Focused, Interested and Balanced page of this newsletter.
NSW Creative Kids Vouchers
Great tip from Mrs Welsh (St Joseph's Pastoral Support Worker)
Tips for Parents in the Digital Age
In a world where children are "growing up digital," it's important to help them learn healthy concepts of digital use and citizenship. Parents play an important role in teaching these skills. Here are four simple tips parents can put into place right now!
Set limits and encourage playtime. Media use, like all other activities, should have reasonable limits. Unstructured and offline play stimulates creativity. Make unplugged playtime a daily priority.
Screen time shouldn't always be alone time. Co-view, co-play and co-engage with your children when they are using screens—it encourages social interactions, bonding, and learning. Play a video game with your children. It's a good way to demonstrate good sportsmanship and gaming etiquette. Watch a show with them; you will have the opportunity to introduce and share your own life experiences and perspectives—and guidance. Don't just monitor them online—interact with them, so you can understand what they are doing and be a part of it.
Don't use technology as an emotional pacifier. Media can be very effective in keeping kids calm and quiet, but it should not be the only way they learn to calm down. Children need to be taught how to identify and handle strong emotions, come up with activities to manage boredom, or calm down through breathing, talking about ways to solve the problem, and finding other strategies for channelling emotions.
Apps for kids – do YOUR homework. More than 80,000 apps are labelled as educational, but little research has demonstrated their actual quality. Products pitched as "interactive" should require more than "pushing and swiping." Look to organisations like Common Sense Media for reviews about age-appropriate apps, games and programs to guide you in making the best choices for your children.Please click on the attachment below for some APP FACT SHEETS you will find very useful. I would like to highlight the age rating and how important it is that you ensure that your child/ren do not have accounts or access apps with a rating above their age. Please note that Common Sense Media also provides you with detailed information about apps and the recommended age rating, which often differs from the app provider age rating.
If you have any questions or wish to discuss any of the information here please contact Mr Aguilera.
Parental As Anything Podcast
Presented by Maggie Dent
Maggie Dent is one of Australia's pre-eminent and much-loved parenting authors and educators. She's an advocate for kids and parents alike and is known for her common-sense approach to parenting.
How much screen time should you let your kids have? How do you talk to your tweens and teens about sex and consent? How do you keep your cool when your child throws a tantrum?
Maggie Dent, one of Australia's favourite parenting authors and educators gives you practical tips and answers to your real-world parenting dilemmas.
Maggie talks to parenting experts from around the world to find practical solutions to the challenges every parent is facing today.
She'll help you be the parent you really want to be and give you ideas on how you can raise healthy kids who thrive.
Listen for free from the ABC listen app, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or your favourite podcast app.
Access is also available via this linkhttps://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/parental-as-anything-with-maggie-dent/
Need Help with Devices and the Internet at Home?
The eSafety Commissioner website helps Australians to have safer, more positive experiences online. The site has a parent page that provides advice for parents and carers to help children have safe experiences online. eSafety Commissioner.
ADDITIONAL SHORT ARTICLES FROM 'PARENTING IDEAS'