Collett Smart | Author
Collett Smart
Phone: +61 416 332 181
Reviews
to load big map
25.01.2022 R U Ok? There is more to say #ruokday2020 #theresmoretosay
25.01.2022 Excellent read on the effects of physical distancing, loneliness, connection/digital connection on youth mental health. Thank you @Paul Dillon for the link
24.01.2022 I need your help please! Are you a teacher or a parent of a Year 12 student in NSW or Victoria? Have graduations , formals or end of school celebrations been cancelled/postponed?... I am writing an article and doing a media interview or two, on alternative Year 12 events being organised by schools. My questions - 1. How is your year 12 child (or student/s) handling the announcement about changes at their school? 2. What has been cancelled completely? 3. What is your school doing, to still help Year 12s celebrate and experience the end of school Rite of Passage? i.e. How have they been creative in coming up with different but great alternatives? Please answer any or all questions if you are comfortable. DM is also ok. Thanks for your help (feel free to tag a year 12 parent or teacher if you think they might contribute here.) Ps. Im a parent of a Year 12 child too. My email is: [email protected]
24.01.2022 Over 19 million views so far! Please share. Even teens are talking about this video. Powerful message.
23.01.2022 This is magnificent! Much of South Africa is still in lockdown. Kids wear face masks to school every day. (In South Africa the Matric Dance is the Year 12 formal) Look at these boys!!... #boysareamazing #ritesofpassage
23.01.2022 Some good news. ‘Despite the considerable challenges many families are facing right now, one silver lining appears to be the strengthened relationships between fathers and children. Large numbers of fathers report: Having more meaningful conversations with their children... Getting to know their children better Sharing more with their children about their own lives Appreciating their children more Discovering new, shared interests with their children.’ (Easy to read report with some beautiful quotes.) Thanks John Dickson for the link.
23.01.2022 So incredibly proud of the Year 12s graduating this week. You did it!So incredibly proud of the Year 12s graduating this week. You did it!
22.01.2022 When and how do you decide on the right time and age to buy your child a phone? Here are my thoughts.
20.01.2022 I LOVE Hedger Humor! Ive shared some of her cartoons on my blog before. (I might add a few black boxes for those who never put their cameras on )
19.01.2022 Its Mens Health Week. Two of my three children are sons. I am acutely aware of the body image issues in boys too. Here is my article on this issue. #menshealthweek #boyshealth #ED #bodyimage
17.01.2022 Always Was Always Will Be Happy NAIDOC
17.01.2022 Have you wondered what goes into publishing a book? Here is a fantastic breakdown of all the stages, by my own publisher. Look out for Sophie Hamley - she took me from manuscript all the way through to publication day and beyond. I could not have done it without her.
16.01.2022 ‘Autism is mostly an inherited condition. The largest study of its kind, which involved 2 million people across five countries, suggests that autism is 80% determined by inherited genes. It’s not caused by bad parenting or by childhood vaccinations. It’s not a mental illness. Autistic children are not unruly kids who choose not to behave.’
16.01.2022 Some great tips here. As I’ve mentioned before, my daughter is currently writing her final exams. Things I’m doing to support her (which will be different to you, depending on your child’s needs/personality.):... - deliver copious cups of tea. - give her a break from chores during exams. - encourage her to walk/run with me around the neighbourhood to get those endorphins happening. - try to stop myself asking too many questions about studying or the exam!!! - encourage her to keep in contact with friends for support. - encourage down time and chill time between study periods. - encourage good sleep the night before an exam and having a protein rich breakfast on the morning of the exam (made by dad because I’m not a great morning person). (What works for you?)
16.01.2022 We've already received an email from our school, and the school counsellors network I am in has also issued an alert. (School leadership are asking teachers not to address this directly with students, but to rather alert parents to be aware.) Distressing for any teen - but another reason why young ones don't need social media!
14.01.2022 Chatted about these NZ ads on radio this morning (bullying, grooming, inappropriate content and pornography). Theyre great conversation starters, use humour and aim to get parents to think about what is literally on their doorsteps. My article on How to talk to your children about porn can be found here - https://www.raisingteenagers.com.au//blog/technology-teens/
14.01.2022 Tonight! For school leaders and teachers.
14.01.2022 What are some of your favourite family traditions and rituals? Are there any you want to keep from your lockdown period? #wellbeingwednesday #familytraditions... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owrWCZM9z7c
14.01.2022 To all my NZ community, I will be on Real Life with John Cowan this evening at 7:30pm. Ill be talking all things books, psychology and life. (Frequencies listed one the comments below)
14.01.2022 We all have good days and bad days. So how can we restore our relationship with our children, after arguments or meltdowns? #wellbeingwednesday #wellbeingwithcollett
13.01.2022 Thank you everyone, for the flood of responses about how your Year 12 child is coping with the changes, and the ideas that schools have come up with. I am so grateful! Ive already done a radio interview this week (will post when its up). ... Im finishing off an article based on all your responses! Sending love to all year 12 families!
13.01.2022 Yes, I've been quiet on here. I might be quiet for a little while - Thanks to those who checked in. I am just working on a few projects; writing programs, uni online curriculum, recordings etc. Talk soon!... x See more
13.01.2022 Oh my heart! I love teenagers. #heartstories
11.01.2022 Wishing the Year 12s in NSW all the very best for their finals tomorrow! You’ve got this.Wishing the Year 12s in NSW all the very best for their finals tomorrow! You’ve got this.
11.01.2022 This looks fabulous!!
11.01.2022 Really looking forward to my first 'in person' event for a while! Places are limited, due to COVID restrictions, but I can't wait to see some parents face-to-face. Please share if you know parents who live on or near the Northern Beaches
09.01.2022 Thank you to everyone for all YOUR incredible responses, calls, emails and inbox messages, with thoughts on Year 12 Rites of Passage, cancelled events and new ideas. My radio interview is attached to this article. (TV interview up soon). I am so grateful. Here is what you said:... #ritesofpassage #classof2020 #whatbuildsresilience #2020keepsakeideas
08.01.2022 To interrupt some of the bad news and sad news, I’m adding a cute puppy picture to your feed this morning. This little guy will be joining our family in about 6+ weeks . (He’s two weeks old). We can’t wait!! We lost our boy Oscar to lymphoma a few months ago. He was only 5. No pet will replace him, but we sure have space for more doggy love in our home. Do you have pets? Feel free to add a photo in the comments.
06.01.2022 Do you have a child starting secondary school in 2021? This line up is brilliant. Online!
06.01.2022 I cant understand why there are no PE type classes in the later years of high school in Sydney. (What is it like in other states/countries these days?) Especially because we know about the benefits of excercise for mental health and well-being. (And look at those effects on academic performance!) Senior students are also expected to sit for longer periods of time (sometimes 3 periods in a row, or lunch periods). This is known to be unhealthy for them. Are there things teache...rs/schools are doing on this page, or in your school, to encourage more movement? By the time kids leave primary school, their levels of physical activity have already started to decline. By the end of secondary school, only 10% of Australian senior school students (Years 11 and 12) meet the Australian guidelines of at least 60 minutes per day of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. ... Participating in physical activity can improve young peoples mental health. It may also buffer the effects of stressful life events experienced by senior school students. #brainbreaks #excerciseforhealth
06.01.2022 This is a beautiful set of books! I highly recommend these for early childhood and primary teachers. (And parents of littlies of course!)
06.01.2022 Thinking of all the Year 12 students and parents I have spoken to in recent weeks and days. Were walking this road in my home too. Appreciate this piece by Daisy Turnbull who is a teacher and the director of wellbeing at St Catherine's School, Sydney.
05.01.2022 Do you have a Year 12 student? Me too! Here are my thoughts. #classof2020 #year12
05.01.2022 Cant recommend books by Sharon highly enough! My own daughter read some of her Girl Wise books when she was a tween and found them again just the other day. We looked over them with such fondness. If you have a tween daughter/niece/granddaughter/family friend - they will love these books!
05.01.2022 Communicating with kids when they (and we) feel stressed or anxious. My video this week.
05.01.2022 Thanks Susan McLean
04.01.2022 I love Andrew Fuller’s work! This looks fabulous.
04.01.2022 #fridayfun (Thanks Pam )
04.01.2022 At a time when the statistics indicate a rise in Domestic Violence, during lockdown - we have this -> On the (horrible) viral Netflix film 365 Days: "Not only does the film sexualise mens violence against women, it paints these acts of aggression as sexy and desirable.... "The takeaway messages from the film are that male aggression against women is hot, that women secretly desire and enjoy violence and abuse, and that even no really means yes. "While some might say 'Its just a film', as though it has no power or influence, the normalisation and eroticisation of violence against women has serious real-world consequences for women." Thank you Caitlin Roper for your sobering words. https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au//d208d726e09578140c095ef
04.01.2022 Have you seen any of these? Thanks for the link Michelle Mitchell - Author, Speaker, Educator and The Rite Journey with Andrew Lines
03.01.2022 For those who have seen (or are yet to see) ‘The Social Dilemma’ on Netflix. This is a brilliant critical analysis of what it gets right and what it really misses. Thanks Susan McLean - Cyber Safety Expert for the link.
02.01.2022 How do you know whats appropriate? What is the balance? Great article, with some experts on video game play. Amidst historic wildfires and a global pandemic, virtual worlds hold an understandable appeal. Yet, many parents fear that videogames pose risks of their own--that these all-too enticing digital ecosystems may interfere with childrens healthy emotional, physical, and cognitive development. Indeed, parents have struggled to manage their kids game time, even before COVID-19 relegated us to our homes. Now, with so much of our work and play time happening online, the challenges are greater than ever. While overuse of videogames can present a host of problems for children, balanced, mindful use of games can also promote positive social-emotional growth and maintain healthy friendships during this otherwise isolated time.
02.01.2022 Sharon is one the most encouraging people I know! This letter is addressed to students in Melbourne, Victoria. However, so much of this is true for Secondary Students and Final Year students anywhere this term. What a year they have come through. We are so proud of them!... Thank you beautiful Sharon Witt- author, educator, speaker #seondaryschool2020 #openletter #hope
01.01.2022 I got to talk about IJMs work on NZ radio on Sunday. Please support them here. #ambassador #stopOSEC #stopmoderndayslavery
01.01.2022 I really like this! Im going to try it at a different level with my uni students.
01.01.2022 Of course this will be fantastic!
