Childhood in a Human Fishbowl

“Observation and documentation of children destroys play and a child’s ability to be authentic. It destroys a child’s ability to be in the moment...”

I had a great childhood. The re are no photos of my elaborate cubbies, my tree climbing, the ABBA concerts in my garage nor of the wild adventures I had in the canoe in my backyard pool, but that is what makes it great. There were no adults in my childhood charged with responsibility to observe and document me. I had no expectations or self-consciousness in my play, it was just me, my friends and being present in the moment.

I did not need an adult to unpack those experiences for me or to analyse them... in fact if you were there, waiting to observe me, you would NEVER have seen me do the things I did. Why? I would have modified my behaviour as I was ‘a good, cautious girl’ to adults. However, I was ‘ruthless crazy fun’ to my playmates... and to this day, I am frequently told by my mother “Oh, you never behaved like that”, when in fact, I did.

Documentation of ou r children’s free time is at dangerous levels. Our children are growing up in human fishbowls. Their every move documented, photographed, or analysed for social media by enthusiastic parents or for reporting back to families when children participate in activities outside the home.

Our behaviour cha nges or is modified when we are being observed. Photographing and commenting on children as they play and go about their daily activities destroys a child’s ability to be in the moment and to test or respond to their surroundings as they wish to. It destroys a child’s ability to be authentic.

Our documentation of child ren has the potential for long term detrimental impacts on the value and respect our society places on privacy. How can we justify concerns about the danger of social media for children, when adults have created an environmental bubble around their own children that conditions them to living life in a proverbial fishbowl, exposed to adult scrutiny, ridicule and comment on a regular basis?

How can we judge a dolescents oversharing on social media when we have created environments, where from a young age, our children are used to being “exposed” for public scrutiny? How do we criticise paparazzi and invasion of privacy when we are condoning this across Australia daily in our own social media postings and in the documentation often required in the Children’s Services sector from a very young age?

My plea to you – if you reall y believe in ensuring the best for our children if you really care about their healthy development - put away your phones and your iPad’s and look away. Limit the time you spend documenting your child and increase the time you spend allowing them the freedom to play and explore.

The best indicator of a happy childhood is the happiness of the children. The ability to play, learn, make mistakes and grow without the passive judgement of others is critical to this happiness.

Let your focus be on the needs of your children and the development of healthy relationships with them, rather than ensuring it is shared and documented with others. Because, in rea lity, our kids mean more to us than a social media post.

Robyn Monro Miller AM. ceo@playaustralia.org.au

Robyn is the CEO of Play Australia and President of the International Play Association

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Join us for Seniors Festival

NSW Seniors Festival provides an opportunity for over 60s to try something new, meet new people and have a great time while taking part in a wide range of events and activities.

Woollahra Council’s Seniors Festival program runs until Feb 23 and includes an opening night Sunset Concert at Redleaf on Feb 1 performed by Woollahra Philharmonic Orchestra members and SCEGGS Darlinghurst students with beautiful Sydney harbour as a backdrop.

Sydney WorldPride 2023

Waverley Council is excited to be an official Festival and Venue Partner of Sydney WorldPride, Feb 17 to Mar 5. We look forward to welcoming thousands of festival visitors from around the world who will also dine, shop and stay in the Bondi region. Council will be making staff available across the festival period including the Bondi Beach Party, presented by Optus, on Mar 4. Sydney WorldPride will include 19 official major events (such as the beach party), 320 Pride Amplified community events (including those at Bondi Pavilion), a Human Rights Conference and so much more! For more information about this state-significant event sponsored by the NSW Government, visit sydneyworldpride.com

Waverley Local Hero Awards

Events and activ ities also include a Chair Yoga Dance session at Woollahra Gallery at Redleaf on Feb 6 and Tai Chi, Kokedama, Brain Fit and Wellbeing for Dementia workshops. Visit woollahra.nsw.gov.au/ seniorsfestival for details on all events and to book.

EV charging expansion

Woollahra Council’s fifth public electric vehicle charging station has been installed on Birriga Road, Bellevue Hill. It follows the December installation of an EV charger in Vaucluse, at the corner of New South Head and Old South Head roads.

Council’s public EV charger s are all powered by 100% renewable energy and provide options for locals who want to drive an EV, but are unable install charging infrastructure at home.

Installation of multiple chargers in the Woollahra LGA will take place every year, in addition to a commitment to make Council’s fleet of vehicles 100% electric by 2025. Public EV charging locations can be found at: woollahra.nsw.gov.au/environment/sustainable_transport.

Have your say on the Strickland Estate Nielsen Park Master Plan

The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service is seeking feedback on its draft Strickland Estate Nielsen Park Master Plan, which is intended to provide a 20-year vision for these local landmarks and also the Hermitage Foreshore Walk. The draft proposes a new approach for future visitor use involving a single integrated estate.

You can provi de feedback on the draft until Feb 15 at environment.nsw.gov.au

Know someone who works selflessly for the community? Someone who stands out because of their community work, generosity and commitment to others?

Nominations for Wave rley Council’s Local Hero Awards open Feb 13, 2023. The Waverley Local Hero Awards, held over two years, recognise people’s contributions to community services and wellbeing, arts and culture, sports and recreation, the environment and volunteering. This is your chance to nominate someone you know and have their contribution to our community acknowledged. We’d love to hear about our young volunteers, too.

This year Waverley’s Local Hero Awards will include our Best of the Best Award. This Award, bestowed every four years, recognises outstanding community leaders who have given exceptional lifelong service to the community. Nominations close Mar 13, 2023. Forms will be available from Council’s Customer Service Centre, on our website or by emailing connected@waverley.nsw.gov. au from Feb 13, 2023.

Love the Coast

Our Love the Coast exhibition showcasing the works of talented local photographers returns to Waverley Library Gallery until Feb 21. These works capture people’s connection to our local environment and the diversity, drama and the day-to-day life of our beautiful coast. We received 158 submissions from 72 photographers for this year’s competition be sure to check out these amazing photographs for a fresh perspective of our home by the sea!

NSW Seniors Festival

The NSW Seniors Festival is back bigger than ever until Feb 12 with events across Sydney including the 2023 Premier’s Gala Concert, streaming live at Waverley Library on Feb 2 from 2.30pm to 4.30pm. To reserve your spot and view all our Active Seniors classes, held year-round, including table tennis, tai chi and pilates, visit the What’s On section of our website

Urban design excellence to be recognised

The Awards aim to inspire outstanding urban design by recognising design excellence, promoting community awareness, and acknowledging architects and designers who are involved in enhancing Randwick City’s built environment.

The eight categories avail able to enter are:

• Best House

• Best Apartment

• Best Alteration or Renovation

• Best Conservation Project

• Best Urban Project

• Best Sustainable

• People’s Choice Award

• UNSW Student Design Entry is open to Registered Architects, Landscape Architects or similarly qualified Built Environment Professionals, who have an approved project within the City of Randwick that has been completed in the past five years. Entries are open from Jan 30 to Feb 27.

2023 Women’s Art Prize opens for entries

The annual competition is a special opportunity to shine a spotlight on women’s creative talents and to bring like-minded members of the community together to celebrate the unique contribution that women make to our City.

Winning and shortlisted artworks will be showcased in an exhibition at the Randwick Community Centre in honour of International Women's Day, which takes place on Mar 8.

There are three categories open for entry: Youth, Local and Open.

• The Youth category is open to young women aged 12-18 years old, the winner and runner-up will take home $350 and $150 respectively.

• The Local catego ry is open to women over 18 years old who live, study or work in Randwick LGA.

• The Open categ ory is open to anyone with a connection to Randwick LGA. Both of these categories carry a top prize of $1500 and a runner-up prize of $500.

Additionally, there are two Choice Awards: the Councillor’s Choice Award and the People’s Choice Award. The Councillor’s Choice Award is chosen by the women Councillors of Randwick, who nominate both a winner and a runner-up for the prize. The winner receives $300 and the runner-up receives $150. The People’s Choice Award, which goes to the artist whose work receives the most votes, is a single prize of $200. Entries close on Monday Feb 20.

Marjorie O'Neill MP MEMBER FOR COOGEE

Hi Everyone,

I hope ever yone has had an enjoyable holiday break, and I’d like to acknowledge our heroic public healthcare workers who have continued to work hard while others have been relaxing. As another busy year begins, I’d like to highlight some important developments for Coogee and beyond.

At the SCG’s recent Pi nk Test, I was joined by NSW Labor leader Chris Minns to announce a commitment to make NSW the first state in Australia that provides specialist care for everyone diagnosed with breast cancer, through the incredible McGrath Foundation. A $19.5 million investment will ensure that regardless of where you live or what you earn, those diagnosed with breast cancer will have free access to a breast cancer nurse.

As a proud supporter of an Abor iginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament, I am excited to see our community and our country come together to create a better future by voting ‘Yes’ for the Voice in this year’s referendum. The Voice is about improving the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, including in practical ways such as health, education, and housing.

To keep up-to-date with local events, COVID numbers, and charity initiatives, use the QR code below to sign up to my weekly email newsletter.

Stay safe and look after each other.

Office Contact Details

If you have any issues relating to the NSW Government, or you are not sure where to go to for help, please contact my office on (02) 9398 1822; coogee@parliament.nsw.gov.au or visit us at 15/53-55B Frenchmans Rd, Randwick.

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