Wellbeing

SMPS Wellbeing

Please note that for extenuating services in relation to school services and support, we have a Wellbeing email address: wellbeing@southmelbourneps.vic.edu.au This email address is monitored between the hours of 8:30am and 4:30pm Monday to Friday. A member of the Wellbeing Team (Miss Carmen Britnell or Miss Jenny Davies) will endeavour to respond within 24 hours during the Remote Learning period. 

Conversations with Children and Young People

Families and caregivers of children and young people should discuss COVID-19 in an open and honest way that they will understand. Talk about the facts without causing alarm, and in a way that is appropriate for their age and temperament. It is important to listen to any questions they may have, to let them know that they are safe and that it’s normal to feel worried or concerned.  If the media or the news is getting too much for them, limit exposure for young children and encourage teenagers to limit their exposure or turn it off completely. 

Supporting with Remote Learning Anxiety

(full article can be found: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/virtual-learning-anxiety-how-to-help-your-kids/)

The challenges of Remote Learning are significant for parents/carers and children. There are ways to cope, and even succeed with Remote Learning. Clinical psychologist Kate Eshleman PsyD who cares for children and adolescents, has some advice that can help when students anxiety levels are high.

Find your calm zone:

The way parents behave can have a significant effect on children. When anxiety levels rise, try phrases such as “I know how upsetting this is. We’re going to figure it out" or “It looks like you’re feeling frustrated/angry/sad. Let’s see what I can do to help you.” Parents can model good coping skills when they become frustrated, and kids will learn from them. When faced with a challenging Remote Learning situation, take a few deep breaths. Step out of the room for a minute. It’s not easy, but it’s a valuable skill that will help both you and your child.

Tackle the problem:

After you’ve calmly validated their feelings, address whatever caused the anxiety/outburst. Talk about the problem and work through it together.” Discuss steps you or your child can take. This may include talking to the teacher or searching for their login information. Maybe they can ask friends, teachers or school contacts for help.

Plan ahead

Brainstorm ways to prevent future mishaps with Remote Learning. Involve your child in the process. Planning can help them feel calmer and in control. Consider these prevention strategies:

• Create a daily schedule with login information for each class.
• Set alarms for class start times, breaks or other important times.
• Keep a list of each teacher’s name and contact info handy.

Being proactive can help you avoid (some of) the elements that can trigger anxiety.

Webcams:

Does your child avoid Webex meetings or become unsettled when it’s time for a check-in? Some children get anxious or self-conscious when they see themselves on a video call. This can interfere with their learning as well as their mental health. Dr. Eshleman advises: “First, try to find out what makes them anxious. Is it their room in the background? Set up the call in another room. Are they self-conscious about their appearance? Help them get up earlier, so they have plenty of time to get dressed, do their hair and get ready.”

Talk with your child about how to deal with webcam-phobia.

“We all think everyone is looking at us, but this isn’t the case,” says Dr. Eshleman. “Tell them you know it feels uncomfortable, but others aren’t staring at them. Their classmates are focused on their own appearance, too.”

Avoid 'Toxic Positivity'

Managing anxiety does not mean having a 'everything is great' attitude.

“Toxic positivity is when we pretend everything is great even when it’s not,” Dr. Eshleman says. “It doesn’t allow us space to express frustration, anger or sadness. We don’t want to teach our children that we don’t have thoughts or feelings. We need to identify and label our feelings and express them in healthy ways.” In other words, you don’t have to pretend that a pandemic is easy. We can acknowledge the challenges and frustrations and use some of the strategies above to try to support children and ourselves in this time.

Signs of anxiety in children

Sometimes stress is something more. These signs could mean your child needs medical care for depression, anxiety or another health concern:

• Sleeping more or less than usual.
• Not eating enough or eating too much.
• Getting upset when a parent leaves (separation anxiety).
• Loss of interest in activities or friends.
• Ongoing health problems like stomachaches, nausea or headaches.
• Episodes of dizziness, trouble breathing, shakiness or sweating.

Mental health issues don’t go away on their own. If you have exhausted the strategies above and are concerned about your child, talk with your GP for advice/support.