 It is back to school time in Australia. For some children, the commencement of school is exciting and they don't look back. For others it can bring on fear and anxiety. There are a number of reasons for this fear including separation anxiety, the unknown environment, a transition to new expectations, not knowing anyone at school, new routines and more. Help your anxious child with school! 1) Preparation - Help your child to be familiar with what is expected of them. Do they have to wear a uniform? Do they know where the bathroom is? Can you help them open and close their lunch box? For older children, can you go through a schedule together? Can you highlight subjects on the time table or locate classrooms on a map? Can you help with organization for their locker by providing book ends, hooks or magazine files? Do they know how to use their phones to work out travel routes? 2) Organization - Help your child to organize their belongings before and after school. Help them to organization their belongs for school. Can you provide a designated area for school bags, hats, homework? Can they see their belongings within their bag? Would a lighter interior or containers help with organization? Does your child know what to put into their school bag in the morning and where to unload things when they get home? Does your child know what needs to be done before they can leave for school? Try a visual aid such as LIFT THE FLAP SCHEDULE , ROUTINE BOY or ROUTINE GIRL For older children, can you provide an area for filing information (soft or hard copies) they receive from school? Do they have a designated place to do homework? Can you help with a system to review work and prepare for exams? Do they know how to use their diary or calendar to indicate deadlines? Do they know how to juggle the demands of extra curricular activities, homework, relaxation time and helping out around the house? 3) Let them worry! - Help your child to express their concerns. Empathize with their worries. School can be a stressful place! Don't be too quick to dismiss worries that your child raises with you. Listen. Brainstorm solutions together. Brainstorm with someone from the school (ie. a teacher, school counsellor or the principal). Help your child to name things they can do when struggling with things that they can't. 4) Build a Sensory Coping Tool Kit - together! Make sure your child is getting adequate nutrition, hydration and sleep. Is your child getting enough exercise and movement during the day and at home? Would your child benefit from a sensory diet of activities? Read more about sensory diets HERE. Help your child to work out activities to calm them when they are over-excited or anxious. These tend to be activities that apply deep pressure to the body such as jumping on the trampoline or swinging on monkey bars. They may also be comforted with a big hug of a soft toy or a warm blanket. Does your child need food to stave off the HANGRY part of the afternoon when school has finished? Does your child need some ice cubes to crunch on or suck to help ease some tension. Does your child need a "circuit breaker" with a quiet place, some television time, something to squeeze or some deep breathing? Here are some tools that can help with "circuit breaking" -
5) BREATHE ! The benefits of breathing - taking deep breaths in and deep breaths out - can not be overlooked. Deep breathing can help with stress and anxiety, lower heart rates and reduce tension. Try different breathing techniques. Here are 10 breathing techniques from Mindful Mazing and Deep Breathing Exercises for Kids from Coping Skills for Kids.  Every child is unique. What works for one child may not necessarily work for another. You don't have to do this alone. It is not a reflection of your parenting. Anxiety is a real problem and whilst some children will become less anxious with age, others need help. Does your child need more help? Seek help from your general practitioner, paediatrician, community nurse, psychologist, school principal or counsellor. Contact your local occupational therapist. They may assist with skills such as executive functioning, organization and planning. Your child may benefit from a sensory based assessment to determine what activities can help your child with modulation. Your child may benefit from assistance with regulation working through a program such as the Zones of Regulation or the ALERT program.  You may also like to read "Teaching Kids How to Manage Anxiety: Superstar Practical Strategies" by Deb Hopper, Life Skills 4 Kids. Deb is an Australian occupational Therapist with over 21 years of experience. She brings you a thorough look at different forms of anxiety and seeks to supercharge your parenting toolbox through empowering you... and make you both SMILERS. S - Speak positively M - Move dynamically I - Immerse in a physically uplifting environment L - Look to the positive E - Eat nutritiously R - Rest to Destress S - Serve Do you have an anxious child? What helps them to regulate? What new tools can you help them to put into their coping toolbox? 
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 Australia has been devastated by bushfires. The impact has been widespread with over 1687 homes destroyed this fire season. There has been tragic loss of lives and families changed forever. Ash, air pollution and the affects of the fire continue to impact people and animals all over the country. Over 480 million animals have been killed. Country Australia have already been battling with unyielding drought conditions in 2019. The bush fires were exacerbated by the windy dry conditions. There are many suffering right now. For those of us who do not live in the direct path of the fires, we have been affected by air pollution and ash. We have taken for granted the ability to open the windows of our house for fresh air, to hang out the laundry to air dry and to send our kids out to play. We have taken for granted the clear blue skies that we normally enjoy whilst frolicking on the beach or lazing by the pool at this time of the year. We collect buckets of water in our showers whilst willingly keep to level 2 water restrictions. We have conversations about how it feels "apocalyptic" as we see the eerie red sun glow over us and try to avoid inhaling the thick smoke. Activities are scheduled indoors and we ache for those who have lost so much more than us. We watch the NSW "fires near app" and pray for rain. Australian fire fighters and volunteers have worked tirelessly throughout December 2019 and January 2020 to manage the fires. They have been joined by volunteers from around the world. In despair, we have seen Australian communities and individuals doing their part to help others in need. There has been money raised, people donating food/clothing/other items, some people offering accommodation to strangers, others sewing/crafting to help save wildlife (see HERE for details). It is really wonderful to see how kind and generous people are. Pictures books produced by the QLD Government are excellent resources to help your children to talk about their feelings when natural disasters occur. Use this link ---> BIRDIE STORIES  Image Credit: NSW RURAL FIRE SERVICE Your Kids OT is partnering with The Craft Train and Teach Me Mommy to bring you The Australian Bushfire Appeal Activity Pack. All proceeds from the sales of this pack will be donated to the RED CROSS. The Your Kids OT Australian activity pack includes a find-a-word, crossword, jokes, animal walks, recipe, box-letter writing, hidden pictures and animal drawing.  The Craft Train possum craft activity includes step by step instructions using a paper plate to make a ringtail possum. Kate from The Craft Train creates amazing crafts that are easy to make and look fantastic. You and your kids will love them. Make sure you check out The Craft Train for all of Kate's craft ideas.  Teach Me Mommy's Australian Quiz Cards includes a set of fun cards to test your knowledge about Australia. Nadia from Teach Me Mommy is a teacher turned mom. She shares educational activities that are plainly explained, educationally stiumulating and fun to do! Make sure you check out Teach Me Mommy for Nadia's activities.  The Australian Bushfire Appeal Activity Pack contains the YKOT's Australian Activity Pack, The Craft Train's Paper Plate Possum and Teach Me Mommy's Australian Quiz Cards. Once purchased, you will have unlimited access to these printables. You may consider purchasing more than one copy of this printable for your class, colleagues or family members. All proceeds from the sales of these pack will be donated to the Red Cross. If you prefer to make a direct donation, please use this link to the RED CROSS. Thank you for your support! 
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AuthorHi, I'm Cindy and I am an Occupational Therapist. I enjoy working creatively with children to see them reach their potential. Read more about me here. 
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Disclaimer: The information on this site is general in nature and should be used for educational and entertainment purposes. The activities are safe for most children, however, you should consult an Occupational Therapist or health professional to address specific movement, sensory or other medical conditions. This blog does not replace formal therapeutic professional advice given by a health professional or medical practitioner. Reviews and endorsements of products will only be made based on my expertise and personal opinion; and deemed worthy of such endorsement. The opinions shared in sponsored content will always be my own and not that of the advertising company or brand. Content, advertising space or posts will be clearly identified if paid, affiliated or sponsored. Affiliate links may be found throughout this website in advertising. This means that if you follow through with a purchase from these links, Your Kids OT will receive a percentage of the sale. Your Kids OT undertakes to meet the requirements of the "Social Media Policy" as published by Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). Further information about this policy can be found here.
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AuthorHi, I'm Cindy and I am an Occupational Therapist. I enjoy working creatively with children to see them reach their potential. Read more about me here. 
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