Educate

Alive is a network of Catholic Early Learning Centres, committed to creating positive early learning and preschool (kindergarten) experiences for children from 6 months to 5 years old.

Whether it’s fighting over the TV remote, or who is using what colour texta, or bigger issues like power dynamics between older and younger siblings, sibling rivalry affects all of us at one point or another in our lives, and as parents it can drive us crazy when all our kids seem to do is fight. We asked Developing Minds to talk us through some ideas on how to encourage our kids to get along and what to do and say when we need to intervene.

Separation anxiety is the most commonly diagnosed anxiety disorder in children with approximately 4-5% of children ‘meeting the criteria’ for a separation anxiety disorder. We asked Developing Minds to talk us through possible causes and how to help children who feel anxious when apart from their parents or care givers.

Understanding kids meltdowns: Developing Minds Psychology gives us some advice on what to do when children are very angry or overwhelmed.

I Can Jump Puddles, a leading NDIS registered provider across metropolitan Adelaide and regional SA, is bringing an award winning program for parents and carers, to South Australian families to deliver positive results for children with disability or developmental delay.

Stressed about too much egg shell in the batter, or just don’t know where to start with teaching the kids how to cook simple, easy recipes? Check out Adelaide’s best kids cooking classes and get the professionals involved! (Pssst… and you won’t have to do the clean up!!)

St Peter’s Woodlands has introduced a new literacy program for its ELC, Reception, Year 1 and 2 classes, Let’s Decode. As the only Independent school in SA running the evidence-based program, after just five months, they are already seeing some remarkable results. Typically, students who attend schools running the Let’s Decode program are reading proficiently by the end of Year 2.

National surveys show that kids are currently eating up to 8 times the recommended daily intake of unhealthy foods. Try these tips for families to see how you can make small changes to reduce unhealthy food in your household!

We’ve put together a list of picture books that might help you start conversations with your kids about honouring the beauty of people’s differences.

BTN is creating even more education focused content this term… Still national and still all made in SA! Our favourite news source BTN now has a Teachers tab and a Subjects tab on their homepage and YouTube Explainers on all sorts of different topics as well as their weekly show and BTN Newsbreak every weeknight. Check out one of their latest episodes on how Covid-19 is effecting kids below! There’s also content on how to deal with upsetting news, BTN Investigations and how to get your voice heard on the news: abc.net.au/btn/ They’ve also got a page all about COVID-19 for kids: abc.net.au/btn/newsbreak/coronavirus-covid-19/12137268

SOUTH AUSTRALIA‘S YOUNG POETS TAKE OVER
 – History Festival Poetry Takeover Challenge open for entries Throughout May 2020, the History Trust of South Australia is inviting budding poets in years 4 to 11 to participate in the History Trust’s first ever online poetry challenge. Asking young South Australian poets to answer questions such as:What does local history mean to you?Why are objects important and why should we care?Why would a museum have that particular object on display?What’s the story? Originally part of South Australia’s History Festival 2020, which was this year postponed, the Poetry Takeover Challenge aims to engage young people with history and museum collections in a new and creative way – even if they can’t visit in person. Poetry Takeover Challenge participants will create a poem taking inspiration from the collections of the History Trust and other museums and galleries across South Australia. South Australia’s History Festival Manager Karen Blackwood said the theme of the Poetry Takeover Challenge is change which is now more relevant than ever. “In times of change and uncertainty, poetry offers a unique outlet to express complex emotions, to connect, to sooth the soul or simply have fun playing with words.” “The Poetry Takeover challenge provides a platform for young people to take some of the fascinating items held in the collections of South Australia’s cultural institutions and to interpret them through fresh eyes. We’re excited to see how our state’s young poets respond to the challenge,” Karen continued. The History Trust will publish Poetry Takeover Challenge poems in an online gallery and share across the History Trust’s social media. Every young poet who submits an original poem will be in the running to win one of six $50 Dymocks vouchers, chosen by a panel of peers. Community Choice prizes will also be decided online by popular vote. Entries close on Sunday 31 May at 5pm. The Poetry Takeover Challenge was originally planned as part of the South Australia’s History Festival education program. The History Festival, which usually takes place from 1-31 May each year, is one of the state’s largest community festivals. The 2020 festival program included almost 700 events, presented by over 400 organising groups. Entry is FREE, to access forms, resources, links to online collections and further details https://poetrytakeover.com.au/ History Festival Poetry Takeover ChallengeWhen: 1 – 31 May, 2020For: SA students in years 4 – 11.Where: https://poetrytakeover.com.au/#HFPoetryTakeover@HIstoryFestival

Troubling behaviour by loving parents ‘Sharenting’ is a word now so overused and ‘punny’ that it actually undermines the important cause the term was originally coined to highlight. Sharenting – for those who don’t know – is when a parent regularly shares photos and/or stories about their child without any consideration of the impact this might have on the child’s privacy and agency, either at the time, or when they’re old enough to be on social media themselves. The ironic thing about sharenting is that many of the most engaged, conscientious, and caring mums and dads around, have been shown to be the main culprits. A 2018 study by the London School of Economics titled ‘What do parents think, and do, about their children’s online privacy?’ revealed that three in four parents who regularly use social media, posted pictures and videos of their kids. In fact, the study went on to say that “parents who say they are concerned about privacy are more likely to share images of their children online – both with close family or friends, and with wider contacts”. I’ve been hearing that when it comes time for kids to establish their own social media accounts (around the age of 13), they are frequently unsettled and very embarrassed to discover that they already have a significant historical digital footprint they knew nothing about. Discovery of this unknown footprint, created by the people in their lives who are supposed to have their best interests at heart, can leave many children feeling upset, humiliated, or betrayed. Posting the obligatory first day of school snapshot quickly becomes less appealing when we consider how many strangers will view that photo with the name of the school, possibly the full name of our child, and quite likely, the geo-location of where the picture was taken. What about a photo of our child in their bathers at the beach? If we wouldn’t hand out images or information to a stranger in the checkout line at the supermarket, should we be posting it online? Even without our social media settings switched to public, if any friend comments on or likes our post, their friends may receive access to it too, and once online, it can end up anywhere. So before any of us posts another pic or video of our child or grandchild online, we need to stop and consider the impact it may have on that child down the line. If we can hear them objecting, we should consider that not posting it might just end up strengthening the trust that exists between us. That way, when it does come time for them to be making decisions about what they do post about themselves online, they will be able to turn to us for guidance and reassurance – and surely no number of ‘likes’, ‘shares’ or ‘comments’ could be more important than that! Try out my practical tips for being a ‘Smartparent’ when using social media at ccyp.com.au/guides-and-fact-sheets/ If you’re a child, young person or parent who would like to get in touch with me send an email to CommissionerCYP@sa.gov.auor visit ccyp.com.au