Families
Many families with children are now being tried in a way they never have before—the whole family is at home, all day every day! This can be a tricky thing to navigate, so we’ve put together some resources from great organisations to help you out.
The Victorian Government has provided clear guidelines for return to school.
Ballarat Community Health
Ballarat Community Health – check out the Health Promotion Team’s ‘kids are home’ schedule and colouring pages here. Here are some videos from Ballarat Community Health that show easy creative projects to do at home with the kids: racing caterpillars and make your own monsters. Here are some other videos to help you out while you’re at home with the kids!
Also check out this video on parents’ intro to puberty from Ballarat Community Health.
Ballarat Community Health’s Health Promotion Team introduces parents to chatting puberty with young people – click to find out everything you need to know before having ‘the talk’.
Feedback and questions always welcome: survey.bchc.org.au/index.php/177961?lang=en
BCH appreciates all feedback – contact Tameaka Lakey for more information: [email protected] | 5338 4500
Triple P (the Positive Parenting Program)
The Victorian Government is providing free access to Triple P Online for Victorian parents caring for children aged 2 to 16 years.
Triple P Online includes strategies to help parents raise happy, confident children; set family routines and rules that everyone can follow; and balance work and family life with less stress. The program has been adapted with resources specifically on parenting during coronavirus (COVID-19).
AAFIE learning at home
AAFIE is the home for all educators, researchers, and policy makers with a shared commitment to providing successful educational opportunities and pathways for young people who have experienced barriers to completing school education. AAFIE supports the Flexible and Inclusive Education sector who support young people to learn and succeed! You can see the various learning at home resources on this page.
AAFIE has also put together this document including information those caring for our students.
Fostering connections
This return to school kit is a resource for carers of children and young people in Out of Home Care returning to school following the impacts of COVID-19, but could also be useful for any family.
Pinarc
The Pinarc Therapy Team, which provides disability support, has put together a fact sheet to help families support children in the transition back to school. Please see here for a list of upcoming webinars for families compiled by Pinarc.
The ABC
Some tips and ideas from the ABC—this article is about helping children to transition back to classroom learning, especially if they feel nervous about returning to school.
The Conversation
The Conversation is an independent source of news and views, sourced from the academic and research community and delivered direct to the public. Educators and parents can sign up for a daily newsletter. Here is a fantastic article about how to keep children entertained without resorting to Netflix.
ABC Kids
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation have been broadcasting educational shows and mini lessons on one of its children’s channels from mid-April, with shows for primary students in the morning and high school content in the afternoon.The broadcaster will create the mini-lessons, run by teachers, for the ABC Education portal and on ABC Me. They will be partially financed by the New South Wales and Victorian education departments.
Raising Children
This website includes information on sibling rivalry, behaviour and relationships for toddlers through to adults. It compiles free, reliable, up-to-date and independent information to help families grow and thrive together. It is funded by the Australian Government, reviewed by experts and non-commercial. Raising Children is designed for busy families, and is full of tips and tricks to try. Content is easy to find and easy to digest, and includes answers to hundreds of parenting questions, where and when you need them.
Articles, videos and interactive resources are tailored to different ages and stages, taking you from nurturing a newborn to raising a confident, resilient teen—and helping you to look after yourself as a parent, too. Here is a great article from the website about how to handle sibling fights.
Sesame Street and Autism
Sesame Workshop created Sesame Street and Autism: See Amazing in All Children, an American initiative aimed at communities with children ages two to five. Developed with input from parents, people who serve the autism community and people with autism, ‘See Amazing in All Children’ offers families ways to manage common challenges, simplify everyday activities, and grow connections and support from family, friends and community.
Andrew Fuller
Andrew Fuller has put together some specific resources in response to COVID-19, including this one for parents/carers with tips about home-based learning. Two other handy and informative resources include these pieces on How not to get PTSD and remain relatively sane and How to wean your teen from the screen.
Newy with Kids (education and entertainment)
This site, curated by Australian parents, provides 25 educational websites to educate and entertain students. The majority of these sites are free, but not all are Australian-based.
Fractus Learning (education and entertainment)
American website Fractus Learning brings together a global team of expert educators, leaders, makers and creators working passionately to share the best techniques, tools and toys for meaningful learning. Focused on K-12 students and family learning, you will find techniques, tools and toys to spark a life full of fascination, curiosity and learning.
Victorian Department of Education
The Victorian Department of Education has compiled advice, tips and resources to help parents and carers support their child’s continuity of learning from home.
Emerging Minds
Emerging Minds, an Australian organisation, develops mental health policy, services, interventions, training, programs and resources in response to the needs of professionals, children and their families. On this site you will find short videos with tips to support parents/families to talk about COVID-19, as well as podcasts, fact sheets and articles.
Here is a lovely children’s book, Matilda & Theo’s Lost and Found Things, which is about living in the time of coronavirus—a really lovely, uplifting little story! Check it out.
