Dear Parents and Carers,

As we approach the end of another enriching and transformative year, I want to take a moment to express my gratitude. Thank you for championing your child's wellbeing, nurturing their curiosity for learning, and instilling in them a resilient and positive growth mindset. Together, we have created a community that values not just academic achievement, but the holistic development of each child.

As the holiday season approaches, I wish you and your families a safe and joyous Christmas break. May this time be filled with warmth, laughter, and moments of togetherness. May the spirit of the season bring you peace, and may the coming year be one of continued growth, discovery, and shared successes.

Thank you for being an essential part of the OLF family. I look forward to another year of collaboration and shared achievements.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Warm regards,

Lisa Mann

Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Primary School

Parents in Touch Site Updates

The Power of Parental Engagement in Wellbeing

We firmly believe that a child's holistic development is best nurtured when parents and educators work hand-in-hand. We recognize that the challenges of modern parenting can sometimes feel overwhelming. The Parents in Touch site was created to empower parents with practical tools and ideas to enhance their own wellbeing and, by extension, their children's wellbeing.

What's in Store

Parents in Touch acts as a comprehensive repository of wellbeing ideas, strategies, and content that is continually updated with the latest research and expert insights. We understand that wellbeing is a multifaceted concept, encompassing mental, emotional, physical, and social aspects of life. As such, the website will continue to feature the following key elements:

Wellbeing Strategies: Access a treasure trove of evidence-based strategies to support your mental and emotional health. From stress management techniques to mindfulness exercises, we have curated a collection of effective practices to help you navigate the ups and downs of everyday life.

Support Agencies: Sometimes, seeking external support can be crucial in overcoming challenges. Our website will provide a directory of local and national support agencies that cater to various aspects of wellbeing, ensuring that you can easily find the assistance you need, whether it be parenting advice or counselling services.

Podcast Recommendations: In today's fast-paced world, podcasts have become an accessible way to gain knowledge and inspiration. We will regularly update our list of recommended podcasts that cover a range of topics related to parenting, self-care, education, and personal growth.

Book Recommendations: Books have the power to transform lives. We will feature an ever-growing collection of recommended reads from experts and thought leaders in the fields of psychology, parenting, and personal development.

Community Forums: Engage in open discussions with other parents and educators to share experiences, seek advice, and build a supportive network within our school communities.

Growing Together, Thriving Together

By continuing to provide parents with this platform, we hope to foster a sense of belonging and mutual growth within our School communities. We firmly believe that when parents feel supported and equipped with the right tools, they can play an even more significant role in their child's well being, happiness and academic success.

Together, let's nurture wellbeing, strengthen connections, and create an environment where every member of our School Communities can thrive.

Warm regards,

Our Lady of Fatima, Caringbah

School Refusal

You’re glancing at the clock every 90 seconds. The space between making it and not making it is closing. “Hurry up!”

Initially it was a polite reminder. “We need to be on time today. Let’s get things moving ok, sweetheart?” But as your child continued to stall, your tone shifted. Urgency crept in. Then fear; you didn’t want to be late. Not today. Then frustration. Now… you’re at boiling point.

Paradoxically, the more force you apply, the more your child resists. “I don’t want to go to school. I’m not going. You can’t make me. It’s not fair.”

You never wanted to be this kind of parent. You’re feeling like an ogre. But being out the door on time is a priority. It matters. You can’t be late. It’s happened too much. You feel desperate. Helpless. Angry. And so sad for this child who you love so much, because the fact that they don’t want to go to school means things aren’t quite right for them somewhere, somehow. You just don’t know what to do… and you don’t have time to figure it out because that clock is still ticking, the space is still shrinking, and your little one still won’t put on their school uniform and help you get out the door on time.

Click HERE to read on as Dr Justin Coulson shares his insights….

The art of good conversation with young people

Conversations can be challenging with every age group, young and old, and for so many different reasons. With children and teens, just getting the conversation going can be the biggest challenge. How many times have you said, “How was your day?” only to be told “Good” or asked them what they did today only to be told “Not much”! So where to start?

Click here for 8 tips for turning chit-chat in to richer conversation

Mind your language. How what you say creates your child’s mindset.

One of the big ideas in education over the past 10 years has been Professor Carol Dweck’s work on Growth Mindset. However, despite (or perhaps because of) the hype, much of Dweck’s work has been misunderstood, or misapplied. Too often we’ve tried to teach about growth mindset, instead of teaching for a growth mindset. Importantly, the role parents play in helping develop a growth mindset in their child has been largely overlooked.

Read on to see ways you can help your child develop a more growth-oriented mindset.

Click here....to read on

Helping your young perfectionist

There’s a perception in our society that perfectionism is a good thing, akin to ‘being perfect..’ That it’s something we should strive for or drop into conversation in job interviews… Yet the reality is quite different.

Perfectionism leads us to place unreasonably and often unrealistically high expectations on ourselves. Essentially, it causes us to raise the bar so high, that we frequently wind up feeling like failures, consumed by frustration and self-blame.

Click HERE to read more.

Tricky Friendship Days

Relatively small issues, like not being invited to a party, can arouse big, intense feelings in our kids. Because belonging is at stake, friendship challenges will always feel like a life-threatening experience – so be assured that most parents find themselves dealing with powerful tears and shattering disappointments after tricky friendship days. Click here to read on for some strategies to support your child...

Tips for HSC Student Success & Parent Survival

Click here to view a presentation from De La Salle.

Parenting introverts and quiet kids

Many parents worry when their child is shy, quieter than others or not the outgoing type. The thought that their child may be a loner turns parents into social organisers who arrange playdates and parties or friendship coaches. They may upskill their kids to start conversations, manage conflict and play with others. This flurry of activity can be exhausting, and they cause a great deal of angst for kids. However, it may be that their child is introverted by nature, and they are trying to make them fit the extrovert mould. Click here to read on....

Is Playtime dead?

For anyone driving around their neighbourhoods after school or during the holidays, it might seem as though playtime has vanished from our children’s lives. Many parents and grandparents nostalgically recall games of cricket on the street with all the neighbourhood kids or fighting for space on the monkey bars on the local playground. But now the playgrounds regularly stand mostly empty, the streets devoid of children. We have clearly moved past the golden age of outdoor play of the 1960s. But is play time dead?

Maybe not. Read on by clicking here...

Why dads matter

Father’s Day can be a tricky occasion for some families, especially for those who don’t have a father who is present in their life because of family breakdown, or a geographical distance which may not allow them to be close by. There are also those of us who have lost a father, or who are being raised by single mums who are both mum and dad to their kids. This too can impact how our kids view ‘dad’ and what he means to them. Other family structures exist where dad is not present either, and this can complicate Father’s Day further.

The reality is that dads, when present and safe, take different shapes and forms. And research shows that kids thrive when dad is that positive, safe presence in their lives. Click here to read on.

Just like physical fitness, mental fitness requires regular effort. This can be challenging to maintain. There are many things that family and friends can do to help a young person look after their mental health. Click here to read how we can support young people with School Stress

Making friends can be tricky, even as adults. For our children, social skills and making friends can be such a happy time. It is a chance to connect, belong and be a part of something.

However, it is not always so easy for every child. In this article from National Association for Gifted Children; www.nagc.org Austina De Bonte, Kristy Mall and Michele Kane address some quick tips and points to consider when helping our gifted Children make sustainable friendships.

How to change your parenting for the teenage years

Parenting teenagers is traditionally seen as the most difficult parenting stage. However, many parents have discovered that raising teenagers is a lot easier than raising younger children. For this to be the case, there are three changes parents make to survive their kids’ adolescence.

Click here for more information

Supporting a highly sensitive child

Does your child cry easily? Is she prone to becoming overwhelmed in loud or busy places? Does your child seem sensitive to the moods and emotions of others? Does he tend to “meltdown” or “shutdown” when there is a lot going on? Does your child startle easily? Do you consider your child to be highly sensitive?

Raising a highly sensitive child can come with a unique set of parenting challenges but it also gives you—the parent—more influence to positively shape your child’s development! Yes, that’s right. Parents have even more influence on the development and wellbeing of their highly sensitive child compared to less sensitive kids.

Click here to read on...

Check out the Apps below to assist with Improving Sleep Patterns, Stress Management, Burn Out and other Self Care tips.

https://www.balanceapp.com/

happynotperfect.com/

What to do when life feels overwhelming

A friendly reminder: it’s perfectly OK if you’re finding things tough right now.

Being a parent is awesome. It’s also exhilarating, frustrating, hilarious, exhausting, sun-drenched, rain-soaked, love-soaked, and overwhelming.

All the emotions. The full spectrum of them!

If you’re having a hard time at the moment, I’m sending you a very large coffee and an uninterrupted night of sleep (preferably not at the same time).

Read the link below for some helpful tips from the Parenting Ideas site.

Click here to read on...

How can we foster ‘Creative Mindsets’ in our children?

Curiosity: ask ‘what if’ & ‘why’ & seek new ways of learning & doing.
Growth mindset: no limits on learning!
Courage: dare to step out of your comfort zone & try new things, take learning risks.
Persistence & Grit: learn to work through failure & keep trying.
Opportunity seeking: actively observe, identify & act where you can see an opportunity to be creative.
Problem solving: proactively develop creative solutions for the problems that matter.
Redefining failure: see failure as a learning opportunity & launchpad for your next success!
Optimism: be confident and hopeful in your ability to innovate & your ability to make an impact.
Resourcefulness: build strategies & ways to overcome challenges.
Adaptability: make smart changes when challenges arise, without losing heart.
Empathy: think about, & keep in mind, other people’s needs & feelings.
Ethics: always look for the best/‘right’ solution & cause no harm.

You may like to watch the TED talk on “Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance” by Angela Duckworth that highlights the importance of this characteristic.

Five ways to raise a balanced technology user

The little devices that connect us, entertain us, provide us with information, show us where to go, keep us organised and allow us to indulge in retail therapy from almost anywhere, have become an integral part of our daily lives.

But when it comes to our children and their screen-time habits, we often lament the role the devices play. These little screens that offer so much and answer so many of our needs also leave us wondering how much is too much for our kids, and how do we keep it under control?

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

Returning to School

Next week, students will begin to return to school, but, school will be different from when they were last on site and this can cause a range of emotions -anxiety, fear, excitement and happiness to name a few. Students will be faced with a change in rules, including social distancing and will also be facing a longer ‘school’ day that might cause fatigue. Here are seven tips to help your child make a smooth transition back to the classroom:

Talk to your child about how they feel and reassure them that all feelings are normal.

Pack right: make sure your child has everything that they need for the day.

Make sure they understand the rules: explain to them the hygiene and social distancing measures that will be in place and why.

Make sure you know the rules too: younger children, especially, will be keen to see you at the end of the day so make sure you know where to go and what time pick up is and have communicated this with your child.

Give them time to regulate and ‘let off steam’: children will hold a lot of emotions and behaviours in during the school day so make sure they have time to unwind and relax and let out any emotions they have had from the day.

Get some rest: make sure that your child gets a good night’s sleep as they have probably had a different routine during lockdown. A good night’s sleep will help them cope with the school day.

For more information and advice, download the PDF from the Australian Psychological Society.

Transitioning-to-school-P1.pdf

Smiling Mind

The best way for parents and caregivers to support children learn to be mindful is to model it by learning about and practising mindfulness themselves. While we understand that parents and caregivers already have a huge amount on their plate, the good news is that engaging with mindfulness not only benefits children, it also supports parents’ and caregivers’ wellbeing, and the wellbeing of the family as a whole.

The site offers links to a FREE app as well as resources for the whole family. including primary and secondary school aged children. I found the website very simple to navigate, gentle and helpful.

As a parent I felt calm and happy to engage in this knowing it would be a simple and successful addition to our home routine (or some days, no routine).

https://www.smilingmind.com.au/mindfulness

Understanding anxiety in teens

An anxiety disorder is when worry or fear gets out of control and starts to interfere with everyday life, affecting 1 in 5 young women and 1 in 10 young men aged 16–25 years. Understanding more about teens and anxiety can help parents and carers to determine if anxiety is an issue for your child so the correct steps can be taken to assist them to manage it (ReachOut.com, 2021).

Michael Grose, leading parent educator and founder of Parenting Ideas, acknowledges that the COVID pandemic has accelerated parents’ and educators’ worries about young people’s experiences of anxiety. He reminds us that whatever the source of a young person’s anxiety, the way that the adults in their life react is critical to their outcome (Grose,M, 2021).

So how can you help? UNDERSTANDING IS THE KEY. Showing your teenager that you understand how they feel can go a long way to helping them feel supported. When a parent or carer listens to, and validates the feelings of their young person, they provide the necessary reassurance and compassion that young people with anxiety need. Ignoring a child’s worries and dismissively encouraging them to ‘get on with it’ are unhelpful. Similarly, allowing them to avoid an activity that makes them feel anxious, may help children to feel safe in the short term, but it risks the establishment of a long-term pattern of avoidance that can be impossible to shift (Grose,M, 2021).

Beyond understanding how they are feeling, there are a number of things that parents and carers can do, to help their teenager manage anxiety. Communicating effectively with your teen, setting a good example by leading a healthy lifestyle and providing positive reinforcement to your teen are just some things to try. Further information to best equip parents and carers in supporting their teens can be found at Reach Out Parents- a fabulous resource providing fact sheets about anxiety and many other helpful resources.

Games are an integral part of human behaviour. It is normal and healthy for young people to engage in play as a part of their daily lives, including playing games online.

Online communities are providing more opportunities to feel socially connected and gaming can help young people feel a sense of belonging. At healthy levels, gaming can increase self-esteem and social acceptance. It can also provide an opportunity for a structured daily routine and can be a fun and relaxing activity.

However, any behaviour, when taken to extreme, can have a negative impact on a young person’s everyday life.

This website offers information on:

When should I be concerned about my young person's gaming?
How long should I let my young person play video games for?
What are the warning signs that a young person might be experiencing mental health issues
Setting boundaries as a family
How to have a conversation if you are concerned

Curiosity: ask ‘what if’ & ‘why’ & seek new ways of learning & doing.
Growth mindset: no limits on learning!
Courage: dare to step out of your comfort zone & try new things, take learning risks.
Persistence & Grit: learn to work through failure & keep trying.
Opportunity seeking: actively observe, identify & act where you can see an opportunity to be creative.
Problem solving: proactively develop creative solutions for the problems that matter.
Redefining failure: see failure as a learning opportunity & launchpad for your next success!
Optimism: be confident and hopeful in your ability to innovate & your ability to make an impact.
Resourcefulness: build strategies & ways to overcome challenges.
Adaptability: make smart changes when challenges arise, without losing heart.
Empathy: think about, & keep in mind, other people’s needs & feelings.
Ethics: always look for the best/‘right’ solution & cause no harm.

You may like to watch the TED talk on “Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance” by Angela Duckworth that highlights the importance of this characteristic.

School Refusal

You’re glancing at the clock every 90 seconds. The space between making it and not making it is closing. “Hurry up!”

Initially it was a polite reminder. “We need to be on time today. Let’s get things moving ok, sweetheart?” But as your child continued to stall, your tone shifted. Urgency crept in. Then fear; you didn’t want to be late. Not today. Then frustration. Now… you’re at boiling point.

Paradoxically, the more force you apply, the more your child resists. “I don’t want to go to school. I’m not going. You can’t make me. It’s not fair.”

You never wanted to be this kind of parent. You’re feeling like an ogre. But being out the door on time is a priority. It matters. You can’t be late. It’s happened too much. You feel desperate. Helpless. Angry. And so sad for this child who you love so much, because the fact that they don’t want to go to school means things aren’t quite right for them somewhere, somehow. You just don’t know what to do… and you don’t have time to figure it out because that clock is still ticking, the space is still shrinking, and your little one still won’t put on their school uniform and help you get out the door on time.

Click HERE to read on as Dr Justin Coulson shares his insights….

School Refusal

You’re glancing at the clock every 90 seconds. The space between making it and not making it is closing. “Hurry up!”

Initially it was a polite reminder. “We need to be on time today. Let’s get things moving ok, sweetheart?” But as your child continued to stall, your tone shifted. Urgency crept in. Then fear; you didn’t want to be late. Not today. Then frustration. Now… you’re at boiling point.

Paradoxically, the more force you apply, the more your child resists. “I don’t want to go to school. I’m not going. You can’t make me. It’s not fair.”

You never wanted to be this kind of parent. You’re feeling like an ogre. But being out the door on time is a priority. It matters. You can’t be late. It’s happened too much. You feel desperate. Helpless. Angry. And so sad for this child who you love so much, because the fact that they don’t want to go to school means things aren’t quite right for them somewhere, somehow. You just don’t know what to do… and you don’t have time to figure it out because that clock is still ticking, the space is still shrinking, and your little one still won’t put on their school uniform and help you get out the door on time.

Click HERE to read on as Dr Justin Coulson shares his insights….

School Refusal

You’re glancing at the clock every 90 seconds. The space between making it and not making it is closing. “Hurry up!”

Initially it was a polite reminder. “We need to be on time today. Let’s get things moving ok, sweetheart?” But as your child continued to stall, your tone shifted. Urgency crept in. Then fear; you didn’t want to be late. Not today. Then frustration. Now… you’re at boiling point.

Paradoxically, the more force you apply, the more your child resists. “I don’t want to go to school. I’m not going. You can’t make me. It’s not fair.”

You never wanted to be this kind of parent. You’re feeling like an ogre. But being out the door on time is a priority. It matters. You can’t be late. It’s happened too much. You feel desperate. Helpless. Angry. And so sad for this child who you love so much, because the fact that they don’t want to go to school means things aren’t quite right for them somewhere, somehow. You just don’t know what to do… and you don’t have time to figure it out because that clock is still ticking, the space is still shrinking, and your little one still won’t put on their school uniform and help you get out the door on time.

Click HERE to read on as Dr Justin Coulson shares his insights….