Ready Set Go

A great day connecting with community.

We look forward to meeting with the community at the NATSIC celebrations ❤️🖤💛

We look forward to meeting with the community at the NATSIC celebrations.

Being a voice for generations is a powerful message. RSG is committed to this in principle and in actions.

Come on down to the healing hub today for care and nurture. Sam from Ready Set Go will be there each Wednesday 10:30 - 11:30 during school terms with connect time for parents/ carers and young children Call in, enjoy the gentle support and care and connect with community.

Thinking about this amazing community and all it has been through and continues to go through 1 year on. Contemplating the enormous heart of the Lismore community. The trees are adorned with glittering hearts, a tinny in a roundabout pays tributes to the tinny heroes. Healing events are happening in the QUAD. Today is a day to reach out, connect with loved ones and, support each other. Connection is key ❤

Important information for teachers....
https://www.facebook.com/100050844062615/posts/735553921482737/?mibextid=Nif5oz

Make Better Choices (with Missing The Mark)

It’s a common feature of the primary school classroom. The behaviour chart on the wall, with children’s names on pegs. Children are moved from the sun to the clouds, or from green to red if their behaviour isn’t what is required by their teacher. The language usually goes from celebratory ‘Star Student!’ to condemnatory ‘Poor Choices’ or ‘No Playtime’.

It's in public. The whole class can see who is doing well and who is struggling. The internet is full of versions of these charts to buy, and the advertising copy is all perky positivity. ‘Keep Your Students on Track!’ or ‘Help Your Class Make Good Choices!’. They look so cheerful in their bright colours, so harmless. Who could object? And they work! Children want to stay on the green zone because it feels so bad when they are moved.

Until you talk to the parent of a child who struggles. They’ll tell you about the way in which everyone in their class knows who is on the raincloud, and that no matter how hard their child tries, they just can’t keep still all day. They’ll tell you how their child is known as the ‘bad’ one, and the other children don’t want to play with them. They’ll tell you of developmentally inappropriate expectations, and of the way in which these charts put all the blame on the children.

They’ll tell you of the way in which the chart takes no account of the way that their child is dealing with friendship difficulties and family illness, and instead frame their actions as a ‘poor choice’. The behaviour charts stop us asking whether perhaps the way in which we require children to sit and listen at school isn’t a natural way for young humans to learn. They stop us seeing their behaviour as communication or feedback. It’s reduced to something to control.

These charts use public shaming to foster compliance. They use fear and anxiety – even the children who are always on the Sun lie awake at night, scared that one day they will fall from grace, and everyone will know. That’s how they work. Children ‘behave’ because they are scared of the consequences if they don’t.

It’s Children’s Mental Health week. Perhaps as a psychologist you might expect me to be using it to call for better funding for CAMHS, for a counsellor in every school. Perhaps you think I might be calling for more therapists to be trained and more wellbeing hubs. Instead, I’m calling for a mass take down of behaviour charts.

Psychologists will never have the same impact on mental health as changing the way we treat our children. We could have a psychologist on every street corner, but their job is to intervene when things have gone wrong. Far more efficient is to change the environment which is making children distressed. Think of it like lung cancer. We could have the best oncologists in the world, but all they can do is treat people who are already ill. To reduce levels of lung cancer, we needed a smoking ban.

We’re using shame and anxiety to control children’s behaviour, thinly disguised in bright colours and ‘Ready to Learn!’. It should be no surprise that many of them are unhappy and anxious. In fact, perhaps we should be more surprised if they weren’t. It’s in the very air that they breathe and we, the adults, are putting it there.

They’re breathing it in like smoke.

Child Led Play - Wonder
Delight in what your child delights in and discovers. See the world through their eyes and wonder about what they show you through their play.
Made in 2021 by Ready Set Go on Widjabul Country of the Bundjalung Nation (Lismore NSW, Australia)
References:
Raising Children; The Australian Parenting Website
https://raisingchildren.net.au/guides/activity-guides/letting-your-child-lead-play
Nature Play
http://www.nature-play.co.uk/child-led-play.html
Seattle Children’s Hospital Research Foundation
https://www.seattlechildrens.org/health-safety/keeping-kids-healthy/development/child-directed-play/
Image:
Pexels
https://pexels.com

Picnic play!
You don’t need a toy tea set to play picnics. You can collect cups, plates, and spoons from your cupboard and put them in a bag or basket. You can play picnics in your backyard, on a veranda or inside. Add dolls or teddies to the toy selection. Provide the “picnic” play materials alongside other toy options e.g. cars and a construction set. Watch what your child does. Wait and see what happens and if they invite you to join in their play e.g. Your child pretends to drink tea, you watch and wait. They offer you a cup, so you drink tea. Have fun and enjoy play time together. Remember -your child may use the toys in ways you never thought of e.g. stacking and building with the plates and cups or making an obstacle course for cars. The possibilities are endless!
Made in 2021 by Ready Set Go on Widjabul Country of the Bundjalung Nation (Lismore NSW, Australia)
References:
Raising Children; The Australian Parenting Website
https://raisingchildren.net.au/guides/activity-guides/letting-your-child-lead-play
Nature Play
http://www.nature-play.co.uk/child-led-play.html
Seattle Children’s Hospital Research Foundation
https://www.seattlechildrens.org/health-safety/keeping-kids-healthy/development/child-directed-play/
Image:
Pexels
https://pexels.com

Child Led Play - Wait
Wait, before commenting or joining in. When we wait, we give our child the gift of time to explore and to show us their ideas.

Made in 2021 by Ready Set Go on Widjabul Country of the Bundjalung Nation (Lismore NSW, Australia)
References:
Raising Children; The Australian Parenting Website
https://raisingchildren.net.au/guides/activity-guides/letting-your-child-lead-play
Nature Play
http://www.nature-play.co.uk/child-led-play.html
Seattle Children’s Hospital Research Foundation
https://www.seattlechildrens.org/health-safety/keeping-kids-healthy/development/child-directed-play/
Image:
Pexels
https://pexels.com

Child - led play idea -Natural materials
Natural materials can be used in a wide range of ways to promote wonder, curiosity and enthusiasm for learning. As children make and explore collections of natural materials such as leaves, seeds, bark and rocks, they are able to actively investigate scientific concepts, be imaginative and creative. Collect natural materials with your child. Store these treasures in a small basket or box to display them so they can be used in play.
Made in 2021 by Ready Set Go on Widjabul Country of the Bundjalung Nation (Lismore NSW, Australia)
References:
Raising Children; The Australian Parenting Website
https://raisingchildren.net.au/guides/activity-guides/letting-your-child-lead-play
Nature Play
http://www.nature-play.co.uk/child-led-play.html
Seattle Children’s Hospital Research Foundation
https://www.seattlechildrens.org/health-safety/keeping-kids-healthy/development/child-directed-play/
Image:
Pexels
https://pexels.com

Child Led Play - Watch
Notice what your child is interested in, be fully present and watch what captures their attention and what they do. Be open to what they are interested in, such as things in their environment, their ideas and how they explore their world and use toys. Children have innate curiosity and unlimited imaginations. They often notice things we don’t and use toys in creative and different ways we might not have thought of.
Made in 2021 by Ready Set Go on Widjabul Country of the Bundjalung Nation (Lismore NSW, Australia)
References:
Raising Children; The Australian Parenting Website
https://raisingchildren.net.au/guides/activity-guides/letting-your-child-lead-play
Nature Play
http://www.nature-play.co.uk/child-led-play.html
Seattle Children’s Hospital Research Foundation
https://www.seattlechildrens.org/health-safety/keeping-kids-healthy/development/child-directed-play/
Image:
Pexels
https://pexels.com

Child Led Play Time – setting up
Tell your child that you are going to have special play time. Pre organise some toys for the play so your child can choose what they want to play with. Less is more, so 3 toy/set options is usually plenty. Turn off all distractions such as phones, TV and music. It is your child’s time to choose and lead the play and have your full attention. Allow for between 20 – 45 minutes for the play.
Made in 2021 by Ready Set Go on Widjabul Country of the Bundjalung Nation (Lismore NSW, Australia)
References:
Raising Children; The Australian Parenting Website
https://raisingchildren.net.au/guides/activity-guides/letting-your-child-lead-play
Nature Play
http://www.nature-play.co.uk/child-led-play.html
Seattle Children’s Hospital Research Foundation
https://www.seattlechildrens.org/health-safety/keeping-kids-healthy/development/child-directed-play/

Images:
Pexels
https://pexels.com

Introduction to Child Led Play
Child – led play is an incredible means to connect with your child, support their learning and development and strengthen your parent - child bond. When you engage in this play, your child is supported to feel safe and secure. Over time, with regular experience of this play your child will become more settled. Research has shown that one hour of therapeutically supported child-led parent play can equal many more hours of isolated therapist-child work.
Made in 2021 by Ready Set Go on Widjabul Country of the Bundjalung Nation (Lismore NSW, Australia)
References:
Barfoot, J. (2018) ‘PlayConnect: Relationship-focus Early Childhood Intervention for Young Children with Developmental Delays’. Workshop delivered in Brisbane, Qld, March 26, 2018.
Raising Children; The Australian Parenting Website
https://raisingchildren.net.au/guides/activity-guides/letting-your-child-lead-play
Nature Play
http://www.nature-play.co.uk/child-led-play.html
Seattle Children’s Hospital Research Foundation
https://www.seattlechildrens.org/health-safety/keeping-kids-healthy/development/child-directed-play/
Image credit:
Pexels
https://pexels.com

Ready Set Go - Play at Home
We have created a series of slides to support parents to engage with their child in play. Stay tuned to our posts to learn how to engage in this special play, be inspired and connect with your child in meaningful ways.
Images from Pexels
https://pexels.com

OT TIME: playdough
.
We love playdough! Most people have it at home. If not it’s easy to make.
Playdough is great for hand strengthening, bilateral coordination (using both sides of the body), hand-eye coordination and of course play skills! Try the following ideas:
Roll playdough into a round ball, then roll with hands on table to make a long snake. Decorate the snake with beads or something from the garden.
Curl the long snake up to make a snail
Hide treasures (eg small beads) in the playdough and then dig out with thumb and index finger
Make a birds nest (flatten out a large ball, then pinch around edge with thumb and fingers) with tiny eggs inside (use thumb and index and middle fingers to roll playdough into little balls)
Cut a long log with scissors to make food for a doll or teddy
Use biscuit cutters to make different shapes
Have fun!
Note: there are many recipes online for playdough.
Image: pexels.com

OT TIME: Puzzles
Puzzles are great way to help your child develop the following skills:
Fine motor

Hand-eye coordination

Visual processing

Midline crossing
Run out of puzzles at home? No problem! Cut up old cereal boxes to make simple puzzles. Aim for 3 pieces for toddlers and 6-9 pieces for pre-schoolers. For older children they can try making their own puzzles which also develops scissor skills. Try putting the puzzle pieces on the opposite side of the child’s dominant hand so they have to reach across their body (which encourages midline crossing).

Wise words.

More than words..... Reconciliation takes action. The Ready Set Go team are passionate and committed to ongoing action.