Aoife McCann - Child Psychologist

Unfortunately my books are full and I am not taking on any new clients at the moment.

One of the strategies I often recommend. This is a great summary of the reasoning behind it.

Have you ever wondered why cold water seems to make you feel better? When I was a kid in primary school, I remember that whenever a child approached a teacher feeling unwell or upset, the teacher would say "Do you want to go and splash your face with cold water?" I used to think "How is that going to help? Surely the teacher is just trying to get rid of this kid..."⠀
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Well, research actually shows that cold-water face immersion produces physiological changes that help us to relax. It does this by switching off the sympathetic nervous system (responsible for the fight or flight response) and stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system (the part which controls bodily functions). It instantaneously brings down your heart rate to make you feel more calm.⠀
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The specific part of the parasympathetic nervous system that's stimulated is the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve is a branching nerve that connects most of the major organs between the brain and colon. It has been described as a mediator between thinking and feeling, so it is frequently referred to when discussing relaxation techniques, in particular, for anxiety.⠀
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Next time you (or your child) are feeling anxious or stressed, try a splash of cold water on your face, a cool shower or bath, or a dip in the ocean. For kids at school, I recommend splashing their face, a cold drink, sucking on ice, or placing an icepack/cold flannel on the back of their neck.⠀
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I love this - maybe what we can model with our children...

I'd just be a more positive voice
❤

Join our IG community for more encouragement! www.Instagram.com/thethinkingbranch

Interesting article about the impact of banning mobile phones in schools

Banning mobile phones in schools can improve students' academic performance. This is how we know A study compared students' performance in schools that had banned mobiles and schools that hadn't. They found students who weren't allowed to use mobile phones in class had higher test scores.

This really resonated with me. Credit to LR Knost

Instead of...
I’m the adult, so you should listen.
🌻
Think...
I’m the adult so I should listen.
🌻
Remember...
You’re the one with the maturity
to exercise and model
🌻
patience while you wait to be heard,
🌻
wisdom in how you express yourself,
🌻
self-control in response to challenges,
🌻
understanding when conflicts arise,
🌻
and calm when big emotions threaten to overwhelm.
🌻
It is how we behave,
not how we demand our children behave,
that has the most impact on who they will become.
🌻
You’re the only adult in the relationship.
Act like the adult you want them to become.
L.R.Knost
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🌻Peaceful parenting resources: http://t.co/T8goym3P6Z 🌻
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Please respect the work of authors, photographers, and artists. You are welcome to share provided you include appropriate credit and do not crop out author’s names from quote memes. Thank you. 🙂
www.LRKnost.com
Fighting a rare, incurable cancer, but I'm still here!💞 L.R.

Well this is reassuring
https://www.smh.com.au/national/ask-the-kids-about-2020-and-you-ll-hear-three-unexpected-words-fun-good-and-happy-20210215-p572o2.html?fbclid=IwAR27RPZdPsHwF3QZUYkaLmpQRXrWomha9Kf1fpBNubZCthHfnLR9OYUfxyo

Ask the kids about 2020 and you’ll hear three unexpected words: fun, good and happy This generation of kids maybe much more resilient that we give them credit for.

https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=27408&fbclid=IwAR1xBj6QFeXIlexB3_iAXogRnIl0cQxxG5ty7aM9PEOPXM31ihtOHebMB7o

Girls' Confidence Plummets Starting at Age 8: Here's How to Keep Her Confidence Strong The authors of the bestselling confidence guide for girls share advice for parents on how to stop the steep drop in confidence common among tween girls.

Wishing you all a safe and healthy Christmas. What a year it’s been. Thinking of my family and friends around the world that cannot celebrate with the people they love.

https://www.facebook.com/APSCollegeEdDevPsychology/photos/a.1004451772976864/3392282760860408/?type=3

It’s so sad that this has happened to our kids but worth keeping in mind how their worlds have been turned upside down too.

“I want other kids who may be struggling to realise that while school might feel like the hardest thing in the world, there’s other options out there. Not everyone needs to go to university and get a degree to have a successful career. And there’s absolutely no point spending all that money on a degree if it’s not something you’re interested in.
Find your passion and follow it, even if it’s a different path to your peers.”

https://www.sbs.com.au/news/insight/dyslexia-i-left-school-at-16-now-i-ve-travelled-the-world-with-my-career?cid=news:socialshare:facebook

Dyslexia: ‘I left school at 16. Now I’ve travelled the world with my career’ Antonia’s forged a successful career as a chef, working for the likes of Jamie Oliver and Donna Hay. But as a child struggling with dyslexia her future seemed uncertain.

Are you building Love Maps with your kids?

By asking Love Maps Questions you're getting to know your child's inner psychological world. The responses that they give not only help you to stay connected as a family, but they strengthen your parent-child emotional connection as well.

For this exercise, you will want to put devices down, and limit distractions. Ask your children these questions and give them the opportunity to share how they'd respond to the question. Or you can guess at their answer first and allow them to correct or "update" you.

Don’t just be a good listener. Really pay attention. Remember what your child told you and update your Love Maps accordingly. As your child grows older, revisit these questions to add more landmarks, texture, color over time.

Start by asking the questions listed or come up with your own! Learn more about how to establish rituals of connection as a family on the Gottman Relationship Blog: https://bit.ly/3fFE602

This is very exciting

‘We know the experience of feeling excluded and we are proud to be offering a place where kids and their families will feel accepted and celebrated. We like to think we are changing the world, one swing, zipline or jump at a time.’

https://www.werockthespectrumprestonvic.com.au/childrens-gym-that-serves-kids-with-autism-special-needs-opens-in-southern-metro-region/

https://www.facebook.com/875029802592427/posts/2883589285069792/?d=n

Emm Roy

Great advice about the return to school

https://www.raftpsychology.com/news/gyid0efdmvfmjw4r9xxly04rwrjd0o

Return to school. A trauma informed approach — Raft Psychology Over the past few weeks we have seen endless debate about whether schools should reopen. Facebook has become a hive of home schooling parodies and every man and his dog has posted homeschooling effectiveness tips. We’ve seen everything from the ‘just spend time together that’s more important t...

If you meet any of the criteria below, please do not come to the rooms. We can organise alternative arrangements

The new 13 March 2020 MBS items can now be claimed.
There are new bulk-billed video-conference items for Vulnerabe/Isolated clients who cannot attend your clinic because of COVID-19.Vulnerable/isolated patients are those where at least one of the following apply:
(a) the person has been diagnosed with COVID-19 virus but who is not a patient of a hospital; or
(b) the person has been required to isolate themselves in quarantine in accordance with home isolation guidance issued by Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC); or
(c) the person is considered more susceptible to the COVID-19 virus being a person who is:
(i) at least 70 years old; or
(ii) at least 50 years old and is of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent; or
(iii) is pregnant; or
(iv) is a parent of a child under 12 months; or
(v) is already under treatment for chronic health conditions or is immune compromised; or
(d) the person meets the current national triage protocol criteria for suspected COVID-19 infection.

Psychologists who are in isolation for possible COVID-19 infection will also be able to continue to provide mental health services to their patients during the period of their isolation.

A health professional at risk for COVID-19 means a person that:
(a) has been diagnosed with COVID-19 but who is not a patient of a hospital; or
(b) has been required to isolate themselves in quarantine in accordance with home isolation guidance issued by the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee.

Full details can be found on the Government site - http://www.mbsonline.gov.au/internet/mbsonline/publishing.nsf/Content/news-2020-03-01-latest-news-March

For those of you booked in with appointments in the next few weeks, feel free to stay in your car and I will call you to come in. If you would prefer a FaceTime consultation, that can be facilitated. I will be sending out an email today.

More great advice. Check in with yourself

https://wanderingmindofapsychologist.com/2020/03/06/how-to-talk-to-kids-about-coronavirus/

How to talk to Kids about Coronavirus At this point the entire world will have heard about Coronavirus. Odds are your kids will have too. In an age of increasing anxiety levels in kids a world wide pandemic (not officially yet but to a…

A very nice straight forward way to explain what’s happening

https://www.plan.org.au/learn/who-we-are/blog/2020/01/09/how-to-talk-to-kids-about-out-of-control-bushfires

How to talk to your kids about out-of-control fires How to talk to your kids about out-of-control fires

https://headspace.org.au/friends-and-family/how-to-support-your-child-after-a-natural-disaster/

Supporting your child after a natural disaster | headspace Information for parents/family members/friends of a child, adolescent or young person who has experienced a natural disaster. Visit headspace for more information.

Wishing you and yours a wonderful Christmas.

https://www.facebook.com/NeuroChildHQ/photos/a.284534758671308/840460819745363?type=3&sfns=mo

“I don’t remember what I got for when I was 6 or 10. I do remember the smell of the kitchen on Christmas morning. I remember counting the marshmallows my dad put in my hot cocoa. I remember waking up, giving my parents a hug, and feeling magic before a gift was even opened. Remember, it is the that make the .”

Via www.fb.com/mommywine/

From Katesurfs

Great article about how fathers can strengthen their relationship with their daughters https://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2019-01-19/madonna-king-how-fathers-and-daughters-bond/10675926?pfmredir=sm&fbclid=IwAR1yYKMLVRlBu5r9cmqPEJnJKdPZQJF6IcvG5XOVQ0p19SyF1yAqyLRS1Bc

I asked 1,300 girls how they bond with their fathers. Three things kept coming up I was trying to find the secret to strong relationships between girls and their dads. Three things were raised repeatedly and backed by experts.

Love this.

Well said Greta Thunberg...

I’m guilty of this too sometimes

Childhood should not be one long day of being ordered around. 😢



Via Janice Ancheta

Love this. From Dr. Deborah McNamara

Great advice from a Speech Pathologist about toys to build communication and language in children.
https://www.mamamag.com.au/2019/07/26/five-great-toys-for-language-development/

Five great toys for language development - MamaMag Children learn so much through play. Toys are a great way to get kids talking! New toys and games can spark new vocabulary, longer sentences and more complex ideas.

Parents of teenagers and teenagers to be - this drama starts on SBS this week. Looks like a good one to watch.
https://www.sbs.com.au/learn/the-hunting

SBS Learn | The Hunting Working with the Office of the eSafety Commissioner, SBS Learn have produced educational resources for parents and teachers around cyberbullying, image-based abuse and healthy relationships.