Supporting your child’s wellbeing at school

happy, included and safe when they’re at school, is a great conversation starter. It’s also a good way of assessing whether there may be larger issues at play that they may need your help with.

With Term 1 of the school year behind us, it’s a good time to check in with kids to see what they’re saying about their wellbeing at school.

When I’ve asked primary school-aged children about what wellbeing at school means to them, they’ve told me they would like their parents to be more interested in finding out what happens to them while they’re at school. This can range from celebrating their small achievements to giving them strategies that can help address some of the bigger challenges they may be facing, such as being bullied (or acknowledging that they may have been a bully), their relationships with teachers and peers, and their confidence about learning and studying more broadly. Asking your child about their friends, and whether they feel

Overall primary school-aged children want everyone to be kinder and more caring toward each other, to create a fairer and more inclusive world where everyone belongs, and where everyone has a say. Their ‘big’ ideas include eliminating racism, sexism, homophobia, and transphobia and creating communities where ‘we are all equal’, particularly ‘men and women’ and ‘adults and kids’.

Children also want their parents and carers to understand that they know the decisions adults make affect younger generations and that consequently they want to be provided with the information and the opportunities to influence decision-making wherever possible, particularly decisions that are being made about and at school. Some of the specific suggestions children made for improving their wellbeing included providing more opportunities to be active and creative while at school, upgrading the physical environment by putting plants in classrooms and fixing toilets and air conditioning, creating more spaces for them to relax, and supporting kids who are struggling.

Some kids suggested taking learning outside the classroom would be good and that ensuring every school has a ‘proper canteen’ and an oval should be prioritised. Children also want to have more choices over what they learn at school, more opportunities to learn skills that would help them to be better friends, and for school to be more affordable for everyone. According to SA kids, sorting these things out would have a big impact on their wellbeing.

To find out more about the work of the Commissioner including access to free resources designed specifically for parents and carers: ccyp.com.au | @ccyp_sa