Why I don't see my therapists?
A video telling your child what is happening with their therapy
Supporting your Children through Coronavirus
How do you answer all those why questions?!
We all have lots of questions, same as our children. Sometimes the questions are expressions of difficult feelings and confusions. Check out these websites to different social stories and ideas to respond to our children.
- Emerging Minds provides a suite of resources to help you and your children emotionally
- Raising Children’s Network – Coronavirus Family Guide
- Positive Parent Program (Triple P) Positive Parenting in Uncertain Times
- A range of (online) parenting workshops at ParentZone, Anglicare
- Amaze’s Positive Tips and Activities for Isolation is great place to start. Amaze is the peak body of autism but the links and info is for everyone.
You might find these resources useful in talking to your children about Coronavirus, and getting them to wash their hands, keeping social distance.
Emerging from Lockdown!
It is exciting but preparation would help children!
With talks about easing the restrictions and focus shifts to increasing activities, it’s time to get ready to the new normal. Everyone’s experience and feelings towards COVID-19 is different. It’s important to take steps in a pace that you are comfortable with.
Prepare your child (and yourself) as returning to school after the summer holiday or starting school. Don’t be alarmed by the word “trauma”!! It is an unprecedented experience. Resources for post traumatic events and natural disasters can be useful for some people.
- Positive Partnerships – collections of social stories, visual schedules, videos to prepare your child
- Australian Childhood Foundations – ideas to support a smooth transition back to school, childcare, kinder.
- Raising Children’s Network – Starting School
- Tips on getting ready to return to school/kinder/childcare
- Amaze: Return to School Resources
Keeping Children Busy
to keep them out of mischief!
It is important to have a balance of activities to keep the brain and body busy. It takes planning and organisation to establish a routine.
- This is an example of a routine for preschool children. Feel free to adapt it to suit you and your child’s need. Make sure to schedule in time for YOU to have breaks from your child.
- Play promotes health, learning and risk taking. Children learn a lot without knowing!
- Physical activities are great for learning lot of skills. Get active with the kids!
- Now that we are not rushing to get out the door, let the children take their time to practise getting changed, putting on the shoes. Some might want to learn to make their sandwiches. Getting the children to clean up after play is always a good habit!
- We emphasise self-care skills a lot. Able2learn shares loads of visuals to assist the teaching of self-care skills. Don’t forget to check out their visual recipes too.
- We love this list of endless play ideas from Playgroup WA with suggestions in “adding language”. Have fun!
- Cooking is great fun and you might get nice surprise that your child tries new food.
- Yarra Plenty Libraries go online too. Story Time is streaming live on Facebook.
- You can’t keep the screen out completely, it seems like Bluey is the answer! Don’t forget good old Play School.
- Tips on learning from home. There is professional advice available for teachers to learn to support your children’s online learning.
Your Needs
Get you well from inside out!
Everyone has needs. Looking after yourself and meeting your needs is more important in stressful time. Help is easier to get than you think.
- Tips for coping with Coronavirus anxiety
- Let’s admit it, “it is stressful!”
- Mental Health Resources (DHHS)
- Kids Help Line
- Beyond Blue
- Lifeline
- Parentline
- Tara Mohr – an expert on women-leadership and wellbeing
The Logistics
Let's look at the practical side!
Help is available, let’s make use of them. It is also important to keep up with the changing information.
- the NDIA regularly introducing and updating the response to Coronavirus, e.g. NDIS participants have access to priority home delivery services
- Homeschooling?! Homework Help is available at Yarra Plenty Libraries (for free).
- Free Flu shots at Northern Health
- Whittlesea Community Connection – Whittlesea Food Collectives provides emergency support
- Amaze Community Information – this information is regularly updated. It is general useful for everyone.
