Prep to Year 1: MacKillop’s dynamic primary curriculum delivery enables literacy and numeracy across the curriculum as the key skills for success in skills to help them transfer their understanding across subject areas. Learning
enables students to develop a deep knowledge. There is an emphasis on in all areas of study. It also focuses on enhancing students’ cognitive Learning is therefore relevant, meaningful and contextualised.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock over recent months, you would’ve heard that the KidsLife Expos are back!! And we couldn’t be more excited about that. After 16 years we have not only brought back KidsLife Magazine, but we have reintroduced our much loved KidsLife Expos. Make sure you mark your calendars, as Saturday 3rd August 2024 is the day it all happens on the grounds of Seville Mercy Centre, Earlville.
We are expecting up to 3,000 people to converge on the site throughout the day (from 9am-3pm) for fun, food and entertainment for all ages. It’s only $5 per person to enter and that gets you a full day of fun and loads of giveaways and prize draws! Bring a blanket to sit on the lawn and watch the show unfold. There’ll be something for the whole family. Local market stalls, food trucks, street theatre and performances. Face painting, jumping castles, magic shows and even animals from our local zoo will be in attendance!
We will be raising money on the day for the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation, so every dollar spent at the expo will not only help support local businesses, but also go towards a very worthy cause to uplift healthcare services in our regional community.
The full program for the KidsLife Expo is inside so you can see what will be on offer. And we are excited to introduce you to some Kid Entrepreneurs we’ve been working with, who are getting ready to make their expo debut. Read all about how these inspiring kids started their little businesses. We couldn’t be more proud of what they’ve achieved.
This is our biggest edition of KidsLife Magazine since launching 12 months ago. We hope you enjoy what we have created for you. Your ongoing support means the world to us!
COVER IMAGE:
Imogen Gardiner, Dakota Jones, Kooee the Kangaroo, Kelly Moran (Sweet K Facepainting), Jaxon Corbett & Trinity Jones Photographed by Lauren Shield
Tanks Arts Centre 9am - 2pm www.tanksartscentre.com
We are delighted to announce that the KidsLife Expos are back!!
After 16 years, now seems the perfect time to bring back this beloved event. Our local families have had it tough over the last few years with covid, floods and now the crippling cost of living, and we feel they deserve a fantastic, affordable day out – we hope you will join us in making this possible!
We are also very excited to announce that the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation is our chosen charity to benefit from this event!
The KidsLife Expo will be taking place on Saturday 3rd August 2024 at the beautiful and easily accessible Seville Mercy Centre in Earlville. We are extremely excited to be bringing back this incredible community event which promises to be a jam-packed day for local families! We look forward to showcasing lots of fun, food and entertainment for all ages, and there will also be educational workshops and speakers to inspire the whole family!
Delve inside this edition and see what we have in store for you!
COLLEGE
We celebrate each individual, promote excellence in learning and teaching and foster active community participation.
2024 FNQ Yr 5/6 Readers Cup Winners
Awesome teamwork by Orla, Chloe, Josie and Mary!
We wish them all the very best for the State Finals in September
Receive>Respond Exhibition
Wonderful creativity from Max, Rihanna, Erin and Brendan who were selected to be a part of this year’s Exhibition at the Tanks Arts Centre
Pentecost Sunday
At our whole college liturgy we celebrated in our College and on our individual life
Going for a Song
This locally written musical was a joyful show with catchy original songs that gave a wide range of students the opportunity to shine on stage
St Andrew’s Cricket Academy
Bulls Masters Visit - An awesome practice session with the Bulls Masters crew of Michael Kasprowicz, Joe Dawes, and Gavin Fitness
Sports Jersey Day
Students wore their favourite team’s sport jersey all for a good cause, to raise funds for the wonderful local charity COUCH.
Musical Showcase
A spectacular evening of music from our Concert Band, Emmaus Ensemble, Foundation Band and Nothing But Treble Choir
Students have been networking with local businesses TaWax Beauty and The Coco Balloon to gain real world insights into business start-ups
Reconciliation Week
A collaborative ‘Sea of Hands’, decorated boomerangs, yarn bracelets; working collectively to achieve reconciliation.
Kid EntrepreneurS
Kids showing entrepreneurial spirit is something we have always admired. We’ve all been there as kids trying to create and sell things to earn pocket money. But some kids really stick at their business endeavours and take them to the next level.
The team at KidsLife & CityLife Magazine have identified a handful of local kids doing just that, taking their business ventures up a notch! We recently selected four kid businesses and reached out to them to offer our support as they get ready for their first ever public showcase at a community event in our KidsLife Expo.
On the 3rd August, these Kid Entrepreneurs will launch their products to the Cairns community and we couldn’t be more excited for them!
We have mentored and supported them through the process, offering product
development advice, marketing, public relations, branding and sales advice, and an understanding ear to them and their parents to help them maximise their business endeavours at the expo and beyond.
We are so proud of what they’ve all achieved and how they’ve supported one another, and we encourage everyone, young and old to join us at the KidsLife Expo 2024 to show their support for these kids and buy their carefully crafted products. We also encourage you to follow their journeys, like their social media pages and offer them encouragement as they set off on their first business journey.
With the help of their parents they have shared with us their origin story in this edition. Meet the wonderfully talented Summer Adams of Summer Spirit, Lilly Hogan & her sister Grace of Wild & Brave, Trinity & Dakota Jones of The Jones Sisters and Carter & Marlow Wright from The Wright Bros. All kicking incredible goals for their age.
CARTER
MARLOW
The Freshwater State School, Wright Brothers, Carter and Marlow have ventured out
to start their very own comic novel business. Carter Wright, 8 years old, closely followed by his enthusiastic younger sibling, Marlow, aged 7 together love adventures of climbing through rainforests, annoying the neighbours with their drumkit, orchestrating epic battles with action figures, and filling the pages of their sketchbooks with boundless imagination!
Their journey takes an exhilarating turn with the birth of The Wright Bros. Comics, fuelled by their passion for nightly storytelling and book reading. What began as a family endeavour to create the boys very own comic book and sell it at their school fete, has blossomed into an extraordinary odyssey, where every idea has come to life through selfbelief and hard work. Their first book, Poo Heads, aims to be a best seller across bookstores and in schools across Australia.
TRINITY
DAKOTA
After three years of tinkering with business ideas and their very own YouTube Channel, The Jones Sisters had many attempts at business ventures under their brand, including baked treats at Christmas and Easter time sold to family, friends and neighbours. Every time they did their stalls with their customised treats, they sold out immediately. The sisters soon realised that they had a winning formula working together as a team. But baked treats, while fun to make … and eat! ;), weren’t exciting the kids as much as the latest cosmetic and skincare craze that had swept the internet.
Trinity (12) & Dakota (10) Jones, like a lot of young girls their age, got caught up in the hype of the latest and greatest products that were being showcased on YouTube, but after careful consideration and the expert advice of some trusted local skincare professionals, they soon realised that many of the products being promoted were unsafe for kids their age.
Through their education journey of appropriate skincare for kids, Trinity &
Dakota discovered their passion for a business idea that met the current needs of them and their friends, and that was most importantly safe to use.
It all started in the kitchen at home making homemade lip balm and lip gloss. They sourced recipes and supplies and got to making products that were kid friendly. With the help of their parents, they decided to take their business venture to the next level. At the beginning of 2024 they worked hard with their parents to source suppliers that were willing to work with them and develop their ideas and
help them create kid safe lip balms, lip glosses, skincare and accessories.
While they have many product lines in the works soon to be released, they will be publicly launching their first range exclusively to the community at the KidsLife Expo on the 3rd August with the help of KidsLife Magazine.
The product range includes delicious fruit flavoured lip balms and lip glosses. Two types of compact mirrors, handcrafted beaded bracelets and hair accessories. They are both extremely excited to finally show the community what they’ve been working on behind the scenes.
The Jones Sisters have also just launched their very first social media pages (managed by their Mum) on Facebook & Instagram. They are about to launch their very own website with an eCommerce platform so they are able to process online orders too.
The Jones Sisters believe that all kids are born beautiful and it’s important to nourish and embrace your unique self.
Spreading Sunshine and Smiles: The Journey of Summer Spirit
Summer Spirit is an exciting adventure that started from Summer Adams’ passion for wildlife conservation. She wanted to raise money for wildlife conservation and other important causes without constantly asking her parents and friends for donations. That’s when she had the idea to combine her love for crafts and creativity with fundraising.
Summer launched Summer Spirit, a small business where she creates beautiful items while supporting a cause she cares deeply about. Summer (11), began by learning how to make candles and wax melts, and she says it was so much fun experimenting with different scents and designs.
The candles and melts that form part of the Summer Spirit range she has created come in a variety of wonderful fragrances and styles. The candle tins
are reusable, making them great for storing small jewellery and keepsakes. Summer is also excited to share that she will be adding keyrings to her collection very soon. These keyrings are super cute and a fun way to show off a bit of personality on your keys and bags.
Summer Spirit is all about bringing the warmth, positivity and joy of summertime to you. Every product is designed to bring out the sunny, happy feeling of summertime, no matter the time of year.
While some of the money earned goes toward her personal goals and savings, every purchase from Summer Spirit also supports a fundraising initiative. This way, Summer says her customers get to enjoy lovely products, “and together we have the power to make a difference.”
Through Summer Spirit, Summer says she’s learnt a lot about entrepreneurship. It requires hard work, dedication, and the support of family and friends, for which she is extremely grateful. She’s excited to keep growing the business, creating new products, and making a positive impact on the world, one candle, melt, and keyring at a time.
Lilly Hogan, now 10 years old, was just 5 when the concept of Wild and Brave was born. The idea came to life one morning before her school photos. When asked if she wanted her hair specially styled, Lilly confidently responded, “No, I would rather they see me as I am, Wild and Brave.” These words captured her spirit perfectly and inspired a motto to live by. From this, Wild and Brave Kids Clothing was created.
Wild and Brave celebrates the fearless and fun nature of children, encouraging them to express their true selves. The signature colours are designed to be unisex, allowing every child to find a design they love and wear it with pride. There are no restrictions—just the freedom to follow your heart and showcase your wild and brave spirit.
Lilly wanted to develop characters that represented the essence of Wild and Brave. The unique designs
feature three central characters that children can identify with: Fuzz (yellow), who represents fun; Miles
(green), who embodies confidence; and Spike (purple), who symbolises bravery. These characters help kids see themselves in the clothing, embracing the traits they admire.
Lilly is proud of what Wild and Brave has become. It’s not just a clothing line—it’s a project that reflects her vibrant personality and serves as an inspiration for other kids to be themselves. Her younger sister, Grace, who is about to turn 5, is also starting to get involved with the business. Lilly also looks forward to expanding Wild and Brave into books, furthering the brand’s reach and impact.
Wild and Brave offers the perfect blend of fun, confidence, and bravery. Wild and Brave Kids Clothing is more than just apparel; it’s a celebration of the wild and brave spirit in every child.
LiLLY
5 Sleep Tips to Help Your Baby Settle Off to Sleep with Ease
FVANESSA ANDERSON
inding the perfect sleep routine for your baby can feel like trying to crack a secret code. You’re not alone in this journey, and there’s no need to go through it feeling overwhelmed. Here are five tips to help your little one drift off to sleep with ease.
1. Embrace the Magic of White Noise
Babies are used to the constant whooshing sounds of the womb, which is why white noise can be incredibly comforting. It creates a consistent auditory backdrop that helps block out sudden noises that could wake your baby. A white noise machine or even a simple app on your phone can work wonders. Just make sure the volume is no louder than 50 decibels—about the sound of a running shower—and watch how quickly your baby finds their rhythm in the gentle hum.
2. Follow Age-Appropriate Awake Times
One key to a peaceful bedtime is understanding your baby’s natural sleep rhythms. Keeping your baby awake for too long can lead to overtiredness, making it harder for them to settle.
Here’s a quick guide to age-appropriate awake times:
- Newborns (0-3 months): 45 minutes to 1 hour
- 3-6 months:1.5 to 2.5 hours
- 6-9 months:2.5 to 3.5 hours
- 9-12 months:3.5 to 4 hours
- 12-18 months: 4 to 6 hours
Pay attention to your baby’s sleepy cues—rubbing eyes, yawning, and fussiness are all signs it’s time for a nap. By aligning their awake times with their developmental needs, you’ll help them settle more easily.
3. Create a Dark and Calm Environment
A dark room signals to your baby that it’s time to sleep. Invest in some blackout curtains to keep the room dark, even during daytime naps. This helps regulate their circadian rhythm and promotes longer, more restful sleep. Additionally, remove any stimulating toys or bright lights that might distract your baby from settling down.
4. Establish a Pre-Sleep Routine
Consistency is key when it comes to bedtime. A predictable routine helps signal to your baby that sleep time is approaching. Start with a feed then a warm bath, followed by a cuddle, story or song. By following the same steps each night, you create a comforting sequence of events that prepares your baby’s mind and body for sleep.
5. Use a Supportive Settling Technique
Every baby is different, and what works for one might not work for another. A supportive settling technique can be tailored to your baby’s needs. You ideally want your baby to feel supported while they learn this new skill, both physical touch and verbal reassurance can be a great way to help your baby learn to sleep well and know that someone will always be there for them as they gradually learn how to fall asleep independently. Remember to stay patient and consistent, it may take a few nights, but your baby will eventually learn to self settle.
Every small step towards a consistent routine brings you closer to those peaceful nights and well-rested days. You’ve got this!
Vanessa Sleep Right Sleep Tight
The social change movement for healthy teen development
Meet two Aussie dads making waves in the social media space. Nova Sydney Breakfast presenter Michael ‘Wippa’ Wipfli and FINCH founder Rob Galluzzo. The dynamic duo have launched 36 Months, a social change initiative to amend legislation to raise the minimum age Australian teenagers can sign up for social media accounts from 13 to 16.
Research (raisingchildren.net.au 2022) highlights the impact social media can have during the critical phase of psychological development, especially the 36 months between ages 13-16, and rising social media use has been linked to mental health issues, cyberbullying, anxiety, depression, self-harm and even suicide in Australian teenagers.
36 Months aims to change legislation to delay social media citizenship for teenagers until they reach the age of 16, safeguarding their developmental journey.
Data shows social media is used by:
● 92% of Australian teens aged 15-16 years
● 59% aged 11-12
● 29% aged 9-10
Father-of-three, Michael ‘Wippa’ Wipfli, 44, who co-hosts the Fitzy, Wippa & Kate Ritchie breakfast show on Nova 96.9 Sydney, says, “Families I speak with across Australia daily reveal serious, grave concerns for their teenagers due to the effects of social media.
“We’re raising an anxious generation. We want our kids to discover themselves, before the world discovers them.
“36 Months strives to create a supportive platform for teenagers to cultivate a secure identity and navigate the digital landscape with resilience and mindfulness.
“The initial phase of 36 Months’ campaign is calling for Federal policy change to delay social media access for teenagers until they reach the age of 16, safeguarding their developmental journey.”
Rob Galluzzo is the Executive Producer of leading film production company, FINCH. A visionary leader, he’s also a youth advocate and pioneer in social change.
Among his many accolades, he co-founded The Lion’s Share, the UN initiative to protect the lives of endangered animals worldwide, of which Sir David Attenborough was Ambassador. He’s also on the Board of Directors for The Liv Project, a non-profit organisation for the prevention of youth suicide, and his documentary, My Sister Liv, revealed the realities of stigma and struggles of mental health, and the devastating aftermath after a death by suicide.
“As parents, we want to give our kids the best shot at becoming resilient and independent adults,” says father-of-two Rob. “The prevalent issue of excessive social media use contributing to heightened anxiety among teenagers is a growing concern for many parents and educators.
“The aim of 36 Months is to provide a safer environment where kids can foster a secure identity and healthy emotional development by raising the threshold of social media citizenship.”
Research from the University of Sydney reveals Australians aged 14+ spend an average of six hours a week on social media, and the eSafety Commissioner’s Digital Lives of Aussie Kids reports,
12–13-year-olds use an average of 3.1 social media services.
Wippa and Rob have recruited key figures across entertainment, education and politics to the 36 Months cause. These include author and parenting expert Maggie Dent, The Hon. Dominic, former Premier of NSW and Member for Epping, and media personality Hamish Blake.
Wippa says 36 Months is a movement every Australian can get behind to protect our children, explaining, “We’re already in talks with major policymakers identifying the steps needed to change the official entry age for kids starting their own social media accounts.”
Stage 2 of 36 Months is aimed at offering families and educators ideas and initiatives that enables them to better connect with teens.
Parenting expert and author Maggie Dent says, “While tech companies continue to make profits off social media despite the strong evidence of the harm they are causing, we need a collective effort to protect our kids and a ban is one step that can help.”
The Hon. Dominic Perrottet, former Premier of NSW and Member for Epping, Dominic Perrottet, says, “36 Months is the beginning of a crucial movement in prioritising the wellbeing of our adolescents.
“By advocating for a policy shift to delay social media access until the age of 16, we are taking a significant step towards safeguarding the mental and emotional development of our youth – now and in the future.”
Call to action
To drive momentum, 36 Months is calling on families, community leaders and educators to sign the 36 Months change.org petition that will be taken to parliament. The publishers of KidsLife & CityLife Magazine have thrown their wholehearted support behind the initiative and applaud the efforts of Wippa and Rob.
About 36 Months Founders
Michael Wipfli aka ‘Wippa’, is a prominent figure in the Australian media industry and co-host of the Fitzy, Wippa & Kate Ritchie breakfast show on Nova 96.9 Sydney. With a passion for youth advocacy, father-of-two Wippa brings a unique perspective to 36 Months, focusing on promoting teenage well-being and addressing the impact of social media on young minds to a large audience of Australians.
Rob Galluzzo is the CEO and Executive Producer of award-winning ANZ production company FINCH. His many accolades include co-founding The Lion’s Share. He personally flew to London to secure Sir David Attenborough’s involvement in the project and launched the charitable wildlife initiative delivering the closing remarks at the opening of the UN GeneralAssembly in 2018. FINCH’s works have been nominated Oscars, Emmys, AACTA and ARIA awards and he was instrumental in bringing the Emmy-nominated Chef’s Table to screens. His documentary, My Sister Liv, revealed the stigma and struggles of mental health, and the devastating aftermath for the survivors following death by suicide. His expertise in media production and sustainability advocacy has led the development of 36 Months.
Michael Wipfli
Rob Galluzzo
or the 2nd year in a row, Team CityLifers had a blast at the BDO Arrow Experience along with 75 other exercise enthusiasts, all while raising vital funds for the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation!
They conquered the Yellow Arrow with none other than the KidsLife Mini Squad leading the way for Team CityLifers!
Together they helped raise over $82,000 for uplifting FNQ health care services.
www.fcc.qld.edu.au
The Art of Responding, Not Reacting
BY DR JUSTIN COULSON
Parenting is a journey filled with joys, challenges, and everything in between. One of the most difficult challenges to navigate is how to manage your own triggers during moments of high emotion and intense behaviour – particularly when it feels like your child knows exactly which buttons to press to make you lose your cool!
Know Your Triggers
When your child’s meltdown hits, or they do whatever it is that makes you want to flip your lid, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and react without thinking.
Learning to recognise your triggers is a crucial step in managing your response. Pay attention to the physical and emotional signals your body sends when you’re getting upset. It might be a tightening in your chest, a clenching of your jaw, or a racing heart. Keeping note of what triggers you and the situations that provoke them can be helpful.
When you know your triggers you can anticipate and plan for high-stress moments, which in turn will affect how you respond to your child’s behaviour. Because although you can’t control
their emotions, you can control your response.
You Have The Power
Stephen Covey’s principle of the space between a stimulus (the trigger) and our reaction emphasises that we have the power to choose how we respond. In moments of stress, this idea can be incredibly empowering for parents. Use this space to pause, to take a deep breath. It’s your call what happens next.
Ultimately, “being triggered” is on you as the adult in the relationship. YOU are in charge of YOUR buttons. Rather than reprimanding your button-pushing child, lean in, soften your stance, and attempt to understand and work with your child in these trying moments.
Want to get furious? Choose to get curious.
Slowing down your responses and reactions requires considerable effort in the early phases, but as time goes on, it is required less and less. Soon enough, not only does slow become fast, but the effort you put into understanding your triggers and managing your responses will pay off tenfold.
The power of predictability in our homes
BY MAGGIE DENT
Thanks to my littlest grandson, age 3, and his wonderful passion for everything dinosaurs, I have recently been fascinated with how human evolution has occurred.
We are staying at his place at the moment and at bedtime, we have been reading lots of books that feature dinosaurs. On reflection, I am now aware that my grandson who has been read to at bedtime since soon after birth, knows that reading is one of the predictable steps that happen every night, before bed. This means that his brain has created a neural pathway that helps him predict what’s coming next.
When a neural pathway is really strong, it can be called a habit, and positive habits are fabulous things in our homes.
I remember reading somewhere in the last few years that the two most challenging experiences for children of any age are complete chaos and absolute rigidity.
I had thought that having a rigid (i.e. inflexible) routine would not be as challenging for children as chaos, however, rigidity requires complete control over children. We know from the science of child development that that kind of control would compromise the most important thing for healthy development, human connectedness.
When we practise safe attachment, both parents and children can better navigate the unpredictable nature of life with little humans. We all have different needs and different wants at different times and we need to respond to these in a way that causes no harm.
Scanning for survival
As I was wandering around in dinosaur land, I thought of the early civilisations of humans and how their brains and bodies were wired to survive and to continue the species. To ensure this happened, the threat centre in the brain, the amygdala, was constantly scanning the environment in every waking moment to ensure no threat could compromise the fundamental driver of humans, which is the continuation of the species. Men and women in these traditional kinship communities had very different
roles to ensure the survival of species and even though these have evolved over time, the key drivers of social communities, is the continuation of the human race.
Over millions of years, humans have evolved to live in very different communities and men and women’s roles in those communities have changed too. However, the fundamental threats still exist and our amygdala is still scanning the environment to ensure that the human race survives.
Ultimately, unless survival is ensured, the capacity for humans to be clever, happy and calm takes a backseat!
Thanks to the incredible research of psychologist and neuroscientist Dr Lisa Feldman Barrett, we now know that from birth our babies and toddlers’ brains are constantly scanning their environment. They are also scanning the humans in their environment so that they can learn to predict how to do this crazy dance called life. There is very strong research on the impact of trauma in childhood, and how that compromises the future growth and development of that child. It can make the brain’s ability to predict and adapt less efficient.
How can we help the brain build healthy, predictability pathways?
Given that the most important thing to a child in a social species is healthy secure, attachment, that is the best place to start.
Every parent is biologically wired to prevent their child from experiencing anything potentially harmful and, yet, children who have a safe base and are given opportunities to stretch and grow, in their own time, in their own way, get better at risk assessment, resilience and courage. I wrote about this concept of ‘safetyism’ recently, as mentioned by Jonathan Haidt in his book The Anxious Generation. Allowing children authentic autonomy and choice, especially in their play opportunities, supports them to gradually stretch and to embed the predictable potential that lies within them.
Let’s be honest one of the most frustrating things
about raising toddlers who are biologically wired to demand autonomy, is that they challenge so many of the predictable habits their loving parents have given them since birth.
It seems that out of nowhere they will resist the afternoon nap, getting in the car seat, eating broccoli or they suddenly develop the need to climb everywhere! Let me reassure you, all of this is developmentally wonderful despite being frustrating because they are developing new competencies and capacities, while discarding old ones! This is a sign that your toddler is growing into being more independent and more capable, and that’s a good thing.
Holding boundaries – because they absolutely have to get in the car seat – can cause so much parental frustration and angst. So when faced with this dilemma, one of the things that needs to happen is to create a new predictable pathway to get them in their seat.
For some toddlers, you might race them to the car seat to see if you can beat them. For others, they may choose a special toy to take with them or they may be given a small container of their favourite food once they’re safely buckled in.
Essentially, incentivising them can be helpful, however we need to be mindful that it doesn’t become a reward. Your toddlers will see through that pretty quickly and demand it even when they can get in the car seat by themself.
Helpful habits of predictability
Creating helpful habits of predictability from a young age is a good thing. The best news is that modelling on the safest grown-ups in their lives is by far the most effective way to create healthy habits. If you remove your shoes in a certain place every time you come into your home and you wait for children to do it too, it can become a habit.
The next thing that can be really helpful is preparing children for what may be going to happen in a new situation or if they are meeting new people. Our orchid children are often our most anxious kids because they are hypersensitive to unpredictability.
If you’re heading to a social event, it can be really helpful to let them know what it will be like, roughly how long you will be there and who they may see when they are there.
Thankfully our dandelion children seem to be more resilient and adaptable all the way through life, adjusting to change relatively easily.
Even our older kids need support in building predictability. That is why there are orientation days for students heading from early childhood right through to university.
The fear of not knowing where the toilets are, just in case, can cause many children unnecessary stress and anxiety so it’s a good idea to make sure they do know things like that or encourage them to ask.
Family rituals are another really wonderful way of building healthy predictability for children. Having dinner at a similar time, (remember some flexibility is acceptable as it avoids rigidity) in a similar place often with kids sitting in similar spots, can give the brain a break from scanning for possible threats. Bedtime rituals, movie nights and special cooking events like pancakes on Sunday are all fabulous ways of building predictability and a sense of security and safety in children’s lives.
Sadly, children who have unpredictable homes with chaotic or dysfunctional patterns of behaviour especially from the grown-ups, will learn that their world is unsafe. They may struggle to feel safe in our schools and they also can struggle to regulate. This is why relational safety in our schools needs to be a much bigger priority because it can calm down the overactive amygdala and bring some rest to heightened nervous systems.
Unexpected change of any kind can trigger anxiety in all of us because that is exactly what the amygdala is meant to be doing.
We can stay calm when the world turns up predictably because we know what to expect.
I recently spent a wonderful lunch with the very likeable journalist and TV presenter Melissa Doyle and she shared something her dad told her when she was little that is pertinent to this article. He urged her to “control the controllables”. In other words, focus on the things that you can control rather than the things you cannot control and, through the lens of neuroscience, that makes perfect sense.
Appeasing the amygdala
Creating effective bedtime routines and habits are good for everyone in the home. When our children need to crawl into our beds because
they feel unsafe, rather than see this as attention-seeking behaviour or bad behaviour, we can see they are coming to us because they feel safe, if we view it through the lens of the amygdala.
They are responding to a message from their brain, exactly as we are all biologically wired to do.
Sometimes this fear response can happen when the nervous system has become overloaded maybe due to the end-of-term exhaustion, friendship dramas, changes to educators or teachers, assessment overload or even a growth spurt, especially for our boys. When the nervous system becomes depleted, or as Dr Feldman Barrett explains, when the body budget is low, it is perceived as a threat and we know that we automatically respond to significant threat in one of four ways.
1. Fight
2. Flight
3. Freeze
4. Fawn
As parents, our main job is to help our kids identify what may be driving the underlying depletion of the nervous system. Often it is an unmet need and that can be tricky to figure out with kids of any age. When we can work with our children to identify what is causing their amygdala to activate, we can then help them to create a new, safer predictable way of managing the threat.
If your child is struggling because there has been a change in their life like a new teacher, chat with them about how it can take time to develop a healthy sense of safety with someone new.
Talking about change, especially transitions, from as early as you can, can help prepare your child for other big transitions like going to high school, or taking up a new extracurricular activity or moving house.
When we explain things through the lens of how our amygdala works, and that its job is to help us feel safe and be safe, it can help kids understand that it takes time for something to become more predictable.
The amygdala in the tween/ teen years
As our kids go through adolescence, their body changes, their brain changes, their hormones change – and change triggers stress so it’s natural for teens to have a heightened stress response.
Preparing your teens for the impact of these changes with good information can decrease the need for the amygdala to panic.
Explore with them some of the things that can happen on the bridge to adulthood. Maybe even share some of your stories of how you struggled at times. Then, acknowledge that they may have times they’re going to experience heightened levels of stress and that is not a bad thing –it is a sign that their brain is doing its job. Then you can explore some ideas about what might help to ease that stress and make them feel better. You can help them make new habits.
Building predictability, especially during times of expected and unexpected change, helps everyone cope better.
A brain can take time to adjust to a new sense of normal, and some changes, particularly the loss of a loved one, a home or a traumatic experience, can take a very long time for us to adjust to. However, we are wired to survive and only when we feel safe, can we experience the gifts of joy and delight. So please be kind to your amygdala and remember the power of predictability in your daily life.
Science is a process of knowing about the world.
BY ALISON FITZSIMMONS
Founder of Baby Bears Chair
www.babybearschair.com.au
Science is observing, making inferences and testing hypotheses, classifying and integrating and communicating insight.
Children are natural scientists.
Sorting and Classifying.
Thinking deeply.
Science is a basket of flowers while being a basket of colour, shape and texture.
The CHILD AS A SCIENTIST is beautifully portrayed on a nature walk.
“Stand aside for a while and leave room for learning, observe carefully what children do, and then, if you have understood well, perhaps teaching will be different from before.”
Loris Malluguzzi was correct. I watched with fascination as my great niece collected flowers and leaves in her basket, she took her time and seemed to gather each flower and leaf with a certain reverence and respect. Watching her filled my heart with great joy.
Think about something as ordinary and everyday as walking along the footpath to take the letters from the letterbox. Now – take that same walk with a three year old and the trip to the letterbox is like no other! The mundane footpath becomes a sort of festival of wonder. The trip
to the letterbox becomes a hundred times more interesting. Watching children awakens our own capacities for wonder and knowledge.
A tisket, a tasket & into my basket
Walk with your child, at your child’s pace. I live on a steep hill, so it was a slow walk and a climb. My great niece held her mother’s hand so that she didn’t tumble down the hill.
Encourage your child to pay attention to the environment with all their senses.
Take as long as your child wants. Let the walk be about connecting with the environment and enjoying the time together, rather than being a Q&A or about getting to the end.
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MTAS early learners put their best foot forward with new pre-kindy services
aintaining its foothold at the forefront of education in the far north, Trinity Anglican School (TAS) is expanding its Early Learning Centres (ELC) by introducing prekindergarten services at Kewarra Beach and White Rock campuses.
In 2024, TAS will add a pre-kindergarten year to its current ELC, offering children as young as two years old a headstart with the opportunity to complete two years of early learning (pre-kindy and kindy) before transitioning to Primary School.
Construction is underway for two new, state-of-the-art buildings, one for each of TAS’ White Rock and Kewarra Beach campuses. They are scheduled for completion in the coming months to accommodate TAS’ first pre-kindergarten intake.
TAS Principal Paul Sjogren said adding pre-kindergarten to the school’s outstanding resume and range of education services makes perfect sense.
“TAS’ commitment to excellence in education extends to our youngest learners,” Mr Sjogren said.
“We understand the importance early childhood education plays in positively shaping a child’s trajectory, and because of this, TAS is
thrilled to introduce pre-kindy for far northern families,” he said.
According to Mr Sjogren, early education is closely linked to improved language and social skills that benefit the child and provide a smoother passage to school-based learning.
“From the early learner to the high school graduate, TAS prides itself on a holistic approach to education, providing innovative experiences that extend beyond academic achievement to a range of curricular opportunities developing social and emotional wellbeing.”
TAS ELC has launched a recruitment drive to prepare for the first pre-kindergarten intake.
TAS’ Manager of Early Childhood Education and Care, Kelly Hart, said she is excited to invite applications from passionate and skilled Early Childhood Educators to join TAS in its mission to provide exceptional early learning experiences.
“In line with the future growth of our Early Learning Centres, we are committed to expanding our team of dedicated educators whose focus will be to nurture, guide and prepare children for a successful journey through school and beyond,” said Ms Hart.
TAS’ ELC teacher Shihoko Eggett engages with kindy student. Image by Romy Bullerjahn
COutstanding History Teacher Award
ongratulations to Mrs Sarah Coleman of MacKillop Catholic College, for being recognised as one of the 2024 Queensland History Teachers’ Association (QHTA) Outstanding History Teacher Award recipients!
Each year, the QHTA invites nominations for teachers who have made exceptional contributions to the field of History teaching. This award recognises educators who have demonstrated:
Deep knowledge, passion, and pedagogical skill that inspire student interest and learning in History.
Innovation in designing and presenting units of work, courses, assessments, or history texts.
Outstanding contributions to the professional learning of others
within QHTA, its student programs, or publications.
The MCC school community are extremely proud of Sarah’s dedication, passion, and innovative approach to History education. Her contributions have made a significant impact on their students and the broader educational community.
