Melbourne Children's Kinesiology Clinic

Never feels like work for Therapy Dog Ellie 💕🐶💕

An interesting read on Low Demand Parenting as an approach for children with high anxiety

What is low demand parenting or a low demand approach? - Autism Awareness Low demand parenting or the low demand approach is often spoken about in the context of Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA); however, this can be helpful for a person who experiences high levels of stress and anxiety. This is a low arousal approach because it prioritizes the reduction of stress and....

Experiencing our kids feeling anxious can be very triggering sometimes resulting in our own defensive behaviours. Here are some easy to remember responses to connect with your anxious child.. (keep it simple and pick one 😉 xx)

Just a few simple words can fill your child/teen with love and positivity. Here are some (75!) phrases that can encourage your child. You know your child better than anyone, and what they will more authentically connect with.
💜♥️💙

Thank you Biglife Journal

Whether creating these links in the first place or re-establishing them later in life, it all boils down to returning to the root of any disruptions and rebuilding that foundation. This process enables individuals to learn attention, understand the world, foster relationships, and feel secure while navigating life's intricate pathways.

Managing intense feelings of anger particularly when at school (without the support of a parent) can be super challenging for young people as they tend to slip into fight/flight within a matter of seconds. If your child is struggling with this, have them choose one response that resonates with them in the situation they find themselves in and practice it at home with you as a role play. If rehearsed when feeling relaxed and not under stress it will be more easily accessed at a later time when facing these challenging feelings on their own

Research by the Dove Self-Esteem Project found that social media is harming the mental health of 3 in 5 kids.

Trigger Warning - Sensitive content. This film features real stories about body appearance that may be upsetting to some .

Cost of Beauty: A Dove Film | Dove Self-Esteem Project CW/TW: Sensitive content. This film features real stories about body appearance that may be upsetting to some viewers.New research by the Dove Self-Esteem Pr...

😂🍷 not my words but definitely relatable 🤣

Happy New Year to our Beautiful Friends. Enjoy your holidays - play, laugh, sing, and go easy on Mum, OK? 😂
Carey & Ellie # # #
💕🧠💕🧠💕🧠

🧠Transitions & Meltdowns 😱

Does transitioning from one thing to another blow your child's circuits ? (Meltdowns, resistance, negativity).

They may need their Anterior Cingulate Gyrus balanced .
The ACG is known as the gear changer and when functioning well it leads to more flexibility and less fear around change.
In the meantime here are some tips for building predictability to support your child 🌸

I'm hearing from Mums wanting some extra support and a reset for their kids after last years S**t Show. I get it & can't wait to help but are you looking after YOU too? Self care doesn't have to be complicated.. start now xx

A great one for parents of teens 💕

Dear Mom and Dad, Please Stick With Me The things I do that you think are "crazy" are just me being a teen and going through normal stuff. Here are 7 things I want you to know.

Wow, this is so very true..

A great (albeit long) post on ASD & Social struggles..

The vast majority of friendship issues unfolding in schools right now are fuelled by tweens and teens and their misuse of devices. Nothing beats parental boundaries and sticking to them!

"But my child is in grade 5/6/7/8 ... I have to give them an iPhone/Instagram/Snapchat/TikTok."

You really, really don't.

Really.

The vast majority of friendship issues unfolding (exploding?) in schools right now are fuelled by tweens and teens and their misuse of devices. Yes, I know kids are still mean in person! They are! Kids (just like adults) can be total jerks! But I truly believe the damage done between the hours of 3pm and 9am when kids should be in their safe place at home is enormous. Our kids are especially vulnerable in those hours after school and into the night. And some of those apps are breeding grounds for toxic behaviour.

So if you haven't yet handed over an iPhone or social media but you wnat your kids to be able to be connected to family or friends, I just want you to know there are other options.

Of course the best thing you can do as a parent is set boundaries. Even with these dumb phones and watches below, it means CONTROLLING the contact list AND making a rule that everything is charged in a central location at night.

Nothing beats clear boundaries and parents who are engaged and leaning in.

1. The Optus XLite Dumbphone (pre-paid) $49
Make calls and send (clunky) texts the way we did in the 90s! No social media. No open internet. Scrunchies, flannelette shirts and Hootie and the Blowfish CDs optional.

2. The Spacetalk Adventurer Watch $299 plus a phone plan (eg $10 per month)
These watches mean kids can call or text a set contact list (controlled by parents) as well as call an SOS list. There's a 'school mode' so that kids cannot make calls or send texts during school hours. Parents can track their kids' location with the GPS feature. Plus there's steps, heart-rate monitor, weather, a camera and rewards. It's also waterproof. No social media. No open internet.

3. Apple SE Watch $429 (plus $10 month data plan (using Truphone network)
Apple have clearly decided there's a market for parents who want their kids to have a smartwatch but not a smartphone. So kids can have this particular Apple Watch WITHOUT owning a smartphone. These watches can make calls and send texts, you can listen to music, audiobooks, track your fitness, there's an emergency 'fall' detector and an SOS list. There's 'school mode' where parents ensure certain features are disabled during school hours. The Family Sharing app means that parents can control this smartwatch from their own iPhone. It's a way your tween or teen can be connected to their friends and family and send cute emojis whilst have a degree of privacy. Perhaps most importantly they can have access to all that without being glued to an iPhone.

There is much you can do to help your anxious child ✨🧚🦄. (Much of this is how we respond to their anxiety).
One of my favourite teachers in childhood anxiety is Dr Eli Lebowitz. I've studied his clinical work and was rapt to receive his recently released book purely for parents.
Highly recommended to help you understand your child's anxiety (and/or OCD) and make changes at home to help your child break free from anxiety.
🌺You're not the cause of your child's anxiety but you're an important part of the solution 💕

🧚‍♀️PSA - to the well meaning parents trying to give their kindergarten/prep child a " head start" by teaching academics, please STOP ✋as your plan is likely to backfire.
Society has accepted the premise that the earlier we start to teach something the better the kids will learn it. It is in fact the opposite - by grade three those that have not been pushed too early end up outperforming those that have - academically, socially and emotionally.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/freedom-learn/202103/forced-schooling-anxiety-and-learning-disorders?fbclid=IwAR0TGHFT4DviAh3h2F-MkxtuSLMKFb2cvhjzE9nlC8uumo2aE-Pi74X1tvk

Forced Schooling, Anxiety, and 'Learning Disorders' Early academic pressure creates learning blocks, diagnosed as disorders.

I'm treating more children this year with suspected PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance) PDA as a diagnosis is very new to Australia .
PDA describes an anxiety-driven need to be in control and avoid other people’s demands and expectations. Now there is finally a name for it, parents can learn more about it to understand their child better..
https://autismawarenesscentre.com/an-introduction-to-pathological-demand-avoidance-pda/?fbclid=IwAR3Sh7Fs-ZLZxuVjhBzZJURZ2epN_QRPrbUbxe7zSf2juLpEqY4bVVyYQ6k

Oh wow. L & R tattoo. I wonder how she went on her driving test. Such confusion easily fixed with some Brain Integration 👈👉🧠🧚

Your children learn from you.
You’re nice, they are nice.
You’re nasty, they are too.
You’re happy, they are happy.
You’re sad, they are sad.
Your kids copy you, this is not genetic - its learned.
They’re taught by you.
Think about it.
Be a better person to create better people......
It starts with You.

Please think twice before telling your child you're on a diet or how you "can't wear" something because it "makes you look fat". Not OK!

How your diet talk could be harming Australian children Dieticians say well-meaning parents worry too much about food and are discussing dieting in front of children at the same time as an increase in eating disorders.