Welcome to Term 3

Welcome back to Term 3!

Two upcoming workshops presented by Relationships Australia in August:

Making Stepfamilies Work – Tuesday 5^th August 

6 weeks @ $75 per person or $120 per couple.

Couples with children from previous relationships may need strategies. Strategies on communication, agreement on discipline – who spells out the rules and what the rules are – and on handling competing demands. It is just as important for couples to ensure that in a busy week there is time just for each other.

For further information Click here and to enrol please ring 9489 6322.

Virtues Parenting Programme – Wednesday 6^th August 

6 weeks @ $110 per person.

This six-week course is for parents, teachers and anyone else with responsibility for children. The five strategies highlighted in this course are designed to enhance moral growth. Part of the Living Values Program, it has already been introduced in schools in Australia and overseas.

For further information click here and to enrol please ring 9489 6322.

I will post information regarding other valuable workshops run by Relationships Australia throughout Term 3 for your consideration.    

School Holiday Fun

A small selection of school holiday activities for you to consider in and around Perth these school holidays. 

The Shops @ Ellenbrook will have free arcade games these school holidays ... "The Zone" is back!

The Kids Big Carnival is to be held this coming weekend at Woodlake Oval Ellenbrook on 5th/6th July.

Visit http://www.kidsbigcarnival.com.au/where#/home/ for tickets and all the info.

Winterland Iceskating in the City - transforming the urban surrounds into a magical winter wonderland.

For tickets and info: http://www.starsonice.com.au/winterland.html

Fitness First initiative for teenagers - a holiday program where teens aged 14 - 18 can have free access to Fitness First clubs everyday of the school holidays to use gym equipment and participate in group classes.

For further info:

http://www.fitnessfirst.com.au/experience-fitness-first/FFIT2/FFIT-Holidays/

Fremantle Arts Centre have a HUGE variety of workshops for young and older children, including: Cut, Paste & Animate; Funky Fimo Jewellery; Make Your Own Monster; musical instrument making and much, much more.

For further info and to book: http://www.fac.org.au/

Circus WA is offering activities and workshops in Fremantle for kids aged 5 - 12 to try out diablo, uniclycling, acrobatic tumbling, trapeze.

Further info at: http://www.circuswa.com/

The Stringart Co in Mnt Claremont is running creative school holiday workshops for kids.  Visit: http://www.stringartco.com.au/ for more information and to book.

Perth City Snowland (as part of the Perth Winter Arts Festival) is on in Forrest Chase these school holidays.

If your child is into cartooning, then the Perth Cartoon Camp might be right up their street!  Visit https://www.illustrating-man.com/camp/perth-wa-14-july-18-july-2014/ for more details and to book.

Get your City Playground Pass to join in the fun and free activities around the City of Perth.  Go to www.visitperthcity.com for all the details!

Sibling conflicts

It's almost the school holidays and as parents you are probably all too aware of sibling conflict that can come from your children being at home together for longer periods of time.

I recently came across this advice from Parenting Ideas (published last year) and thought these tricks may be helpful to you as you work towards coaching your children in the art of resolving sibling conflict peacefully, or at least with a minimum of noise and disruption!! 

1. Encourage them to read their siblings so they can avoid negative situations. This is all about avoidance and stopping fights before they start.
2. Teach children how to set boundaries. “You can come into my room but you have to stay out of my toy cupboard. Ok?”
3. Praise problem-solving. Make a fuss when they work things out peacefully whether it’s compromising, taking turns or one child just giving way.
4. Help children identify the triggers for getting upset themselves and also when their sibling is likely to lose their cool. We all have hot buttons that when pressed will trigger and over-reaction. Help kids work out their hot buttons.
5. Reinforce with kids that they need to regulate their responses when a sibling presses their hot buttons. Kids don’t have to fight, argue, yell or whatever when a sibling gets up their nose. Give kids alternatives to their war-like responses. “Go to your room if he continues to annoy you.”
6. Teach respect. Respectful treatment is at the heart of civil relationships. Keep reminding kids to treat each other with respect; stick to dignified behaviours and also to stay within the rules of fair play.
7. Ensure restitution. Perhaps the biggest lesson kids can learn is to restore a relationship after conflict. “How can you fix this?” is question many kids need to hear. 

Parenting should reflect real life as much as possible. In the world outside families, people don’t always like each other but they do need to get on with each other. These lessons about getting on are best learned in your family as a child.

Happy holidays everyone.

Warm regards

Jo Betti, HCC Social Worker