Ellenbrook Children & Families Connect

Ellenbrook Children & Families Connect is a network of local parents, community members, schools, playgroups and service providers focused on SUPPORTING children’s development and wellbeing, CONNECTING families to programs and services, and BUILDING a stronger community in the Ellenbrook Place area. The group works together on local initiatives such as:

• Paint the Swan Read early literacy campaign
• Community events and engagement
• Parenting workshops
• Promotion of local programs and services

“Like” the facebook page- www.facebook.com/EllenbrookCFC to keep up to date on all the great stuff happening in the area. Parents and community members are invited to get involved in the group, so if you are able to attend monthly meetings and/ or help out with our projects, please contact EllenbrookCFC@gmail.com

Christmas Events

Ellenbrook Christmas Market and Pageant
Hosted by the Ellenbrook Community Collective. Entertainment, fun and shopping for BIG kids and LITTLE kids, young and old. All welcome! Pet friendly! Rides, animal farm, face painting and picnic area around the Park. A celebration of all things Ellenbrook (and surrounds) with street market made up of small, home based and local businesses. For the Community, By the Community!
Date:                Saturday 3 December 2016
Time:               Markets 12- 6pm, Pageant 4pm
Location:         Main Street & Town Square, Ellenbrook
For more info visit https://www.facebook.com/ellenbrookcommunitycollective/

Aveley Christmas Carols
Hosted by the Lions Club of Ellenbrook, with support from the City of Swan and Stockland. Christmas fun and festivities for the whole family, plus a special visit from Santa!
Featuring performances from local choirs, schools and performers, and a chance to sing along to some of your favorite Christmas Carols. Pre-entertainment includes the Lions train, facepainting and Christmas craft. A variety of food and drink options will be on offer, and song books, candles and raffle tickets will also be available to support local community groups. See attached poster for full details.
Date:                Saturday 10 December 2016
Time:               Pre-entertainment from 5:30pm, Carols commencing at 7pm
Location:         Aveley Playing Fields, between Bolero Rd & Turkich Pde Aveley

PND Awareness Week - Ellenbrook Pram Walk 2016

The perfect way to show your support for families affected by antenatal and postnatal depression and anxiety. This fantastic community event will include free coffee, free ice cream, free face painting, and other giveaways for adults and children!

Date:                Wednesday 16 November

Time:                9.30 am

Location:          starting at Ellenbrook Community Library, 90 Main Street

Bring:               Shade for your pram, sunscreen, hat & water

Wear:               PURPLE & good walking shoes

RSVP to 9250 2221 – info@mwhcp.org.au   

"Dadvice" - new web series and resources for Dads

beyondblue has released "Dadvice", a new web series and resource website to support the mental health of Dads. The campaign aims to help men realise they’re not alone if they’re finding fatherhood tougher than they expected.

Dadvice features a series of online videos that follow men through the joys and challenges of becoming a dad, and encourages new dads to take action and look after their mental health. The series also includes dad-themed stand-up comedy from Australian comedians and fathers, Ben Lomas, Sammy J, Dave O’Neil and Lawrence Mooney.

Visit the Dadvice website for information, tools and support to help new dads take care of themselves and their families, or visit www.beyondblue.org.au for more information

Must-know strategies to shift kids' moods

Taken from the Michael Grose "Parentingideas"newsletter:

Ever had a child in a grumpy mood and she just don’t know how to make herself feel better? Alternatively, you may have experienced a child who comes home from school so angry that there’s steam coming from his ears.

Feeling emotional extremes is part of life, but that doesn’t mean we need to stay in those states. Children and young people aren’t necessarily hostages to their moods – with a little knowledge and effort they can shift their mood to a more pleasant and productive place. Generally, kids can modify their moods by changing their thinking or changing their physiology. That can be hard for a child to get his or her head around. Kids learn better through concrete strategies (rather than abstract concepts) as they are easier to learn and remember.

Here are 3 practical strategies kids can use to shift their moods:

1. “Take a breathe…take a few actually”
Perhaps the simplest way for child to feel better, whether it’s too settle some nerves before a talk or reduce anxiousness before meeting new friends, is to take three or four deep breaths. Deep breathing releases dopamine into their system, moving kids toward the yellow or green zones on the Mood Meter.

2. “Picture yourself…”
Encourage your kids to carry a picture of a favourite thing – person, pet or holiday – to help them move them to a happier place when needed. Pictures and photos can impact at a deep emotional level. Anyone who carries a picture of a loved one with them will know how powerful a visual reminder can be.

3. “DO something…”
Boys are action-oriented and tend to act out their feelings more than girls. When they are happy they dance and gig around and when they are mad many become aggressive or just more active. Boys also can use action to dissipate emotion or shift their mood to a better place. If they are angry then insist they play an active game or sport to get the energy out. Lethargy, boredom and other passive emotional states too can be shifted through physical activity.

If your child or young person uses ineffective strategies such as rumination and worry, acting out, or self-blame then help them choose more effective strategies to regulate their emotions.

How to turn requests into problems for kids to solve

When parents solve all children’s problems we not only increase their dependency on adults but we teach them to be afraid of making mistakes. That’s fertile ground for anxiousness and perfectionism, which often go hand in hand. Kids get used to bringing their problems to parents to solve. Of course, if you keeping solving them, they’ll keep bringing them. “Mum, my sister is annoying me?” “Dad, can you ask my teacher to pick me for the team?” “Hey, I can’t find my socks!” It’s tempting if you are in a time-poor family to simply jump in and help kids out. Alternatively, you can take a problem-solving approach, cueing them to resolve their own problems and take responsibility for their concerns. “What can you do to make her stop annoying you?” “What’s the best approach to take with your teacher?” “Socks, smocks! Where might they be?”  Here are 5 questions you can ask kids to encourage them to resolve their own problems:  1. “Can you solve this yourself?” Get kids thinking they can do it.  2. “What do you think needs to happen?” Start kids thinking about solving problems.  3. “What’s the first step?” Sometimes just getting kids started is enough to get them working out issues themselves.  4. “How would you like me to help?” Get kids considering the type of assistance they need.  5. “What’s the best way to do this?” Get kids assessing and prioritising. Problem-solving is one of the four major skills (optimism, social skills & independence being the others) that resilient kids share, yet it’s the one that many of us aren’t equipped to develop. Start by stepping back and asking good questions when kids bring you their problems to solve. (Ref: "Parenting Ideas" newsletter by Michael Grose)

Tips for Managing Technology in the Home

The following Australian Government "Office of Children's e-safety Commissioner" website has some great resources and information for parents regarding managing technology in the home.

https://www.esafety.gov.au/education-resources/iparent

You'll find links to facts and stats about Aussie kids online, ideas on how to manage your devices, and also some strategies for keeping your children safe online.