Emotionally Intelligent Book Club

The EI Book Club is currently delivering a 14-week unit on feelings with Foundation to Year 2 students in Andamooka. The club will coming to the Roxby Downs Area School soon. Our Early Years Program Coordinator reads to students, and support children to discuss, reflect and practice skills including:

• taking perspective

• recognising feelings in their body and in the expressions of others

• calm breathing and mindfulness strategies

There are more than 120 children’s books on a variety of topics including anxiety, growth mindset, resilience and kindness. The EI Book Club also has more than 100 resources for parents and educators on the themes of child development, emotional intelligence and social learning.

All books can be borrowed from the Roxby Downs Community Hub at drop-in times or by appointment.

For information on any of our early years programs in Roxby Downs or Andamooka, please contact hayley@healthyenvirons.com.au

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A Growing Focus On Early Years

In 2020 Time For Wellbeing has extended its early years focus to include a range of programs that support both parents’ and children’s social and emotional learning.

So far this year, 76 Roxby Downs parents have engaged with our training programs, including the internationally renowned Circle of Security Parenting eight week course, Melbourne University-designed program Tuning In To Kids (6-8 week course) and the locally-designed parent discussion groups Emotionally Intelligent Parenting.

These programs are delivered weekly in the Roxby Downs Children’s Centre Family Room or the Community Hub and run during school terms with “just for Dads” groups also offered.

With a population estimated at more 4,000 people, an average age of 30, and family sizes higher than the national average, Roxby Downs has a high percentage of young, working families. Many local parents are raising children separated from their extended family. Friendship networks and the isolation of living remotely – combined with the challenges of balancing family life with long and rotating shifts – can bring additional stress to families.

Our Early Years Program Coordinator Hayley Scrivens has co-created many tools and resources with the Emotionally Intelligent (EI) Parenting groups which are available and on display in the Roxby Downs Community Hub. Parents and educators can make an appointment with Hayley for coaching and creating wellbeing plans to support children’s emotional and social learning. Please contact hayley@healthyenvirons.com.au

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Support your mental wellbeing while home tutoring

With a regular decline in the number of Coronavirus cases in South Australia, many parents have chosen to send their kids back to school this term. But if you have decided to keep your children home from school until the crisis is completely averted, or if you are regularly assisting your kids with homework, be prepared to face multiple challenges as a home tutor! Here are five tips from us to support your and your children’s mental health while keeping homeschooling and homework engaging and interesting for all involved.

1. Manage your expectations

Set some realistic goals for both-teaching and learning. Bear in mind that you cannot conquer the entire curriculum. Do not feel challenged by what you do not know and use online resources to help yourself.

2. Designate a few learning spaces around your home

Designate a few well lit, distraction free spots around your house as your learning spaces. If clutter stresses you out, have baskets and trays handy for easy clean up at the end of a school day.

3. Establish a “flexible routine” to keep kids motivated

If home schooling, a set start and end time with a lunch break in between, is all the structure your kids need while studying from home. Alternating an academic hour with a creative or active hour is also proven to keep children interested in school.

4. Look for everyday opportunities to teach and learn

It is important that you think outside the box and create learning opportunities for your kids in everyday situations such as cooking, cleaning, playing, reading, watching documentaries and resolving conflicts.

5. You cannot pour from an empty cup

Take on only as much as you can handle and keep in mind that if you are stressed, you cannot help your kids deal with their feelings when required. Make out time for yourself, doing things that ground you and do not feel pressured to spend every minute of everyday teaching and learning. Whether you are waiting for this pandemic to end or trying to get through an evening of homework, remember to place value in the aspects that are most important –your relationship with your children and the memories you make.

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Staying in but still working out...

Right now, we’re all focused on our health.

Above all, that focus is on following SA and Federal Government COVID-19 guidelines. At the time of writing, that includes staying home as much as possible, which may restrict your usual exercise routines.

If you can, maintain physical exercise as part of your daily routine. This can be of enormous benefit not only to your physical health, but your mental health too. If undertaken with members of your household, it can also be a fun bonding experience – and a great way to pass some time.

Time for Wellbeing has been a part of the Roxby community for over four years and we’ve run programs including school gardens, nature connection workshops and the Healthy Eating and Lifestyle Program (HEAL).

The breadth of these programs are an important reminder that your physical exercise may not necessarily entail running or jumping. For you, it may mean working in the garden. It may be gentle stretches on the lounge room floor. It may be ball games on the lawn with your children.

Here’s a few tips to remember:

• Warm up for 5 to 10 minutes. The more intense the activity, the longer the warm-up.

• Build in cardio exercises with different levels of intensity and which are suitable for your age/fitness level. You may feel you don’t have much time, but remember even 15-minutes of cardio can boost your mood!

• There are many strength exercises that use your own bodyweight where no equipment is needed.

• Cooling down after a workout is as important as warming up.

• It’s good to stretch when you’re cooling down because your limbs, muscles and joints are still warm. Stretching can help reduce muscles cramping and stiffness.

• As always, take care to adhere to your physical limitations and any advice provided by your medical practitioners.

Please follow our Facebook Page, where we’ll share regular health updates for the Roxby Downs community. We’re pleased to be a part of the enormous support and cooperation already taking place in this closeknit community.

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Mental health and wellbeing without the bull...dust

Time for Wellbeing and BHP are partnering with Rural and Remote Mental Health to host important workshops promoting mental health awareness in our community. Two sessions are being held; one out on site at Olympic Dam for BHP staff and contractors and one in the Roxby Community Hub for local residents and workplaces based in town.

1) Monday 10th February, 1pm - 5pm - SafeTALK Workshop

SafeTALK is a half-day training in suicide alertness, developed, maintained and evaluated by LivingWorks (www.livingworks.com.au ). It helps participants recognise a person with thoughts of suicide and connect them with resources that can help them. Participants don’t need any formal preparation to attend the training and it is suitable for anyone over the age of 15.

This session is being held at the Pat’s Centre Olympic Dam so that it is accessible to BHP and contractor representatives. Places in the Pat’s Centre are limited so please register your interest with Angela Lafferty  – angela@healthyenvirons.com.au.

2) Tuesday the 11th February. 5pm - 9pm. Resourceful Communities Workshop.

Roxby Downs Community Hub (old blockbuster building) Richardson Place, Roxby Downs

Rural Minds for Resourceful Communities is a comprehensive mental health awareness program designed by people living in rural Australia and working in mining and resource industries. This workshop is for anyone, above 18, with an interest in strengthening and giving back to their community! We welcome local residents, teachers and business owners/representatives along to this session.

Please register your interest with Angela Lafferty  – angela@healthyenvirons.com.au

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Connecting with nature for our wellbeing

Erica working with staff at Roxby Downs ELC

Connecting with our natural environment is important for improving the health and wellbeing of children, adults and whole communities. 

With the expertise of the Healthy Environs Project Management Team in the intersection of health and environment, there has been the opportunity to make an impact in the areas of early childhood development, mental wellbeing and physical health at Roxby Downs, through the inclusion of nature contact/connection activities in the Time For Wellbeing program.  

In March 2019, Healthy Environs Consultant Erica Gurner worked with the Roxby Downs Early Learning Centre staff to help them better understand the purpose of nature play, to brainstorm nature play activities and to come up with design features that could be included in their outside space to better facilitate nature play opportunities for children. 

After reflection on their own  experiences in nature, the staff were able to put themselves in the shoes of the children and consider ways that they could create not just activities but experiences. Experiences that involve adventures, fantasy worlds, quiet time, investigation, secret spaces and so on bring about emotions such as empathy with nature, awe, amazement, sadness, frustration, curiosity and its through the sharing of stories and reflection on these experiences and emotions that nature experience moves beyond simple contact to connection with nature. Connection be it with ourselves, other people or with nature is at the heart of wellbeing and wellbeing is what is necessary for a flourishing life.

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