First Play Then Grow in Eltham, Victoria, Australia | Medical and health

First Play Then Grow

Locality: Eltham, Victoria, Australia

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• Medical and health
• Occupational therapist

25.01.2022 Good luck with back to school/kinder everyone! I am here for you if needed cannot tell you how excited I am to return to face to face soon, Ive missed everyone so much it will take all of my power not to dish out hugs. First day Ive worn jeans in a few months small price to pay to see some of my little mates to all the teachers and learning support staff, thanks for your hard work and dedication, and to all the parents who became teachers - there are no words. Absolute legends

24.01.2022 This movie everyone must see. Zac, a young man with Down syndrome, runs away from his care home to follow his dream of becoming a pro-wrestler. SO MANY GOOD FEELS.

24.01.2022 I love when families share amazing ideas with me here are some things to keep the kids amused for a short period of time thanks to one of the lovely mums I work with. Please share any other amazing isolation activities if you have any

23.01.2022 Absolutely loved this by Dr. Laura Markham Happy Valentines Day

22.01.2022 FREE parent talk by the amazing OT Tina Bruce - this Tuesday. I went to the last one and loved it so I know other parents will too https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/the-spark-parent-talk-suppo

21.01.2022 A must read for any parent

21.01.2022 Love this! If anyone has any other ideas please share in the comments :)

20.01.2022 We put a lot of time into teaching our kids personal space - so lets also respect theirs. Imagine as an adult being forced to give someone a kiss/hug, or to sit on someones lap if we didnt want to. This holiday season, let kids choose their boundaries - that includes with Santa or relatives we dont often connect/catch up with

19.01.2022 So many people ask me is this school good? The only answer is : it all depends on what teacher you get.

18.01.2022 To all my extended family (aka my clients past and present) : What surreal times we are living in. My thoughts go out to each and every one of you, as we are all impacted by COVID-19. Hopefully this can be our anchor, the fact that we are all in this together. It is now obvious that social distancing becomes a moral obligation for the benefit of our entire community, and my main priority is making sure we all stay as healthy and happy as possible. I encourage you to develop s...ome sort of lockdown routine since we know our kids thrive on structure. Thus, I hope to still be able to support you and your family via Telehealth, be that video, phone or online chat/email support. What is Telehealth? Its a lot easier than you think, and for many rural families, this is their main mode of receiving service - so Im sure us city kids can get used to it. There has even been research that demonstrated that parents who participated in OT Telehealth significantly increased their self-efficacy and reported improved child engagement (link in comments). Telehealth may not be for everyone though, and during times of stress its important to do what is most comfortable for you. Please have a read of this fantastic article to see how Telehealth can support you and your childs development during this unsettling time. Weve got this guys, we can pretend we are YouTube stars!! I look forward to personally getting in touch with all of you over the coming days. Much love to you and yours https://www.moveplaypaedtherapy.com.au/what-is-telehealth-/ See more

18.01.2022 Got a kiddo participating in virtual therapy or getting ready to return to virtual learning in the fall? LOVE these seating tips from @alinclusivetherapy !! Pos...itioning is SO important for optimal focus and learning! Check out their profile for even more. . . For more home speech and language tips, please check out our app! https://speakeasycommunity.com/ . . UPDATE: a PDF of this content is now available from AL-inclusive Therapy Services !! Check it out here: https://alitservices.com/product/distant/ and use discount code: teach2020. Hope it continues to be helpful info for the start of the school year. . . #stayhome #virtuallearning #distancelearning #teletherapy #speechtherapy #languageactivity #speechlanguagetherapy #slpeeps #momtips #milestones #parenting #parentingtips #positiveparenting #slp2b #slpsofinstagram #dadlife #momlife #speakeasycommunity #homespeechtherapy #speechapp #languageap See more

18.01.2022 Today is World Autism Awareness day - my wish is that autism/disability education programs would be part of every kinder and every school, regardless of whether there is someone on the spectrum in the class or not. Think the ad theyve been showing on tv, but on a larger scale. I wish everyone understood whats written in this post below that Im sharing by a brilliant local psychologist. Whats your wish?

17.01.2022 In addition to currently doing an 8 week Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction course, Im pretty excited to be starting this course and deepening my knowledge of mindfulness and anxiety reduction for kids. The Peaceful Kids program is a Mindfulness and Positive Psychology based program to lessen anxiety and stress and increase resilience in children from Prep through to Year 12. This program helps children to build their emotional resilience so they are better equipped to deal with the day to day stresses that life brings. Peaceful Kids is now in over 600 schools and organisations across 6 states in Australia and soon to be in New York.

17.01.2022 This will be my second time hearing this workshop - its akin to Tim Tams where Ill probably never stop going to it, cannot recommend it enough and helpful for challenging days! I hope to see you there

16.01.2022 Im obsessed with any activity that has both physical and mental benefits, and origami is just that. Fine motor skills Hand-eye coordination Visual perception and 3D comprehension Attention and concentration ... Activating both hemispheres of the brain, including tactile, motor and visual areas Memory and problem solving Imagination Mindfulness and relaxation Pride and enjoyment from watching a simple piece of paper transform into art There are plenty of instructions online, but my favourite are from #fumiakishingu if you google his name and easy origami. Took up 1 hour of an iso-day only another 10 hours to fill until bed time See more

15.01.2022 The human brain is not fully developed until youre in your 20s. I repeat......

15.01.2022 3 minute read on the benefits of not giving kids everything they want https://herviewfromhome.com/i-love-you-enough-to-not-give-/

14.01.2022 https://www.huffpost.com//8-unrealistic-expectations-paren

13.01.2022 If you need a therapy assistant or respite care in 2020, Sarah is the bees knees

12.01.2022 Today is my last day of annual leave, and whilst Ive had the most relaxing time with my family, I cant wait to see everyone, whether that be in person or on zoom. This week we visited the biggest tree in Victoria, The Ada Tree - it was an easy, beautiful and fun walk for my daughter (about 3-4km) or any child who would love a rainforest adventure. Just dont wear white shoes like we did I would love to hear recommendations of any other fun places to explore outdoors

12.01.2022 Sends a similar message to my last post - does your face light up? https://youtu.be/VxyxywShewI

12.01.2022 I have had some interesting experiences over the last few weeks, whilst also attending Social Thinking training for my second year in a row. They had a brilliant slide during the presentation that I want to share as it reflects my brain the last couple of weeks. This is not to say that I dont lose it at my own daughter, make unrealistic threats such as if you dont get dressed you will never eat m and ms again etc etc Im human. I red zone and then I repair. But this is a question I find myself asking over and over again. To top off a few weeks of pulling my hair out, I witnessed a male teacher towering over 2 small girls being made to sit on a bench outside in an empty school yard, crying - while he was supposedly....teaching them?? Theres only one person in this scenario who needs teaching.

11.01.2022 Written by Raising an Extraordinary Person: I am usually not keen on sharing videos of kids having meltdowns but I think this video is an exception and I find it kind of inspiring. It can be so hard to stay calm when your child is in distress. Whether you feel helpless and want to cry too, or it makes you angry , or perhaps both.... The way this father stayed calm, made sure his child was safe without ever leaving him alone and then comforted him is a beautiful thing. When kids are upset they need to feel safe and connected with their parents. Your calmness helps them feel secure. It also teaches by example. Model the behavior you want to teach your children. You cant teach a child to calm down by losing your own composure and yelling at them to calm down. You might scare them into stopping at the moment but you arent teaching a skill by doing this ... youre teaching them that you can control others with anger and intimidation . I could go on forever. Although Im not perfect by any means I feel like I can be better after watching this video. I do have some tips for keeping yourself calm: https://hes-extraordinary.com/how-to-stay-calm-when-your-ch

11.01.2022 Instead of asking: How do I deal with tantrums or How do I deal with aggression or How do I deal with this sleep problem ... Ask How to help this little person whom I love Thats the best starting point for knowing how to help your unique child - Rebecca Eanes See more

09.01.2022 Good luck to all my little mates starting school, high school, kinder, returning to school, changing schools this week and next week. Please send me school uniform pics so I can cry...and to the kids Ive seen for a couple of years: STOP GROWING but beyond grateful I get to watch you grow

09.01.2022 Hey Australia! The Federal Government is seeking information for a review about autism in Australia. It is vital that the experiences of autistic people and th...eir families are heard. Please complete the survey below to help make this happen. The Australian Autism Alliance, a group of 12 organisations from across Australia, is working on a submission to the Federal Senates Select Committee on Autism. The Select Committee on Autism has been established to look into and report on the services, support and life outcomes for autistic people in Australia. It is also considering the need for a National Autism Strategy, which the Alliance advocated for during the 2019 Federal Election and our Change 4 Autism Manifesto. To inform the submission, the Autism Alliance is conducting a consultation with autistic people (aged 18+) and family members and carers, to ask them about their experiences. This consultation includes a survey that opens for contributions today. The information that is collected will be submitted and will play a crucial role in shaping future policy and services for the autism community. So please grab a cuppa and share your experiences, concerns, what supports and services may be working for you. The survey will take around 30 minutes depending on how many details you provide. Survey LINK: http://www.australianautismalliance.org.au/inquiry-into-au/ The Autism Alliance is made up of these 12 organisations/ AEIOU Foundation for Children with Autism Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) Amaze A4 Autism Aspergers Advocacy Australia Autism Queensland Autism SA Autism Tasmania The I CAN Network Autistic Self Advocacy Network of Australia & New Zealand Autism Association of Western Australia Autism CRC Australasian Society for Autism Research

09.01.2022 If you havent listened to my boss speak before, I highly recommend you do. Every minute is invaluable and you can tune in from the comfort of your couch!

04.01.2022 Happy Mothers Day to all of the super mums I have the privilege of knowing and being inspired by. Thank you for sharing your lives with me, I am better for knowing you. I hope you are all having a love filled day with your little ones that Im lucky to call my little mates. Matching Bluey PJs, KFC and Nintendo Switch on the couch for us

04.01.2022 Felt a bit teary after watching this. Thinking of how many times my daughter walks into my office and Im tired, or when she wakes up and Im already rushing for the day. I remembered how nice it is when you see someone and their face genuinely lights up. And how it feels when you see someone busy, or you tell someone something youre excited to share and their face is dim. This is a hard time for everyone, and a mindful awareness of how we are facing our children in this time could make the day a little bit brighter. Fake it til you make it if you have to. Research has shown that just by smiling we can reduce our bodys response to stress. How often does your face light up? https://youtu.be/CmZSHAD020E

03.01.2022 Something to keep me occupied in lockdown

03.01.2022 Guys if youre tired of singing happy birthday twice when you wash your hands: when sung at their original tempo, the ABC song, the grand old duke of york, twinkle twinkle little star and heads shoulders knees toes with the eyes and ears verse are also approx 20 seconds long. Freshen up your #handwashinghits

02.01.2022 My daughter LOVES frozen (not as much as me though). Carries an Elsa doll everywhere with her. Shes been excited to see Frozen 2 for months. However, my daughter experiences pretty severe anxiety at times, and with that sensory sensitivity to noise and lots of people. Eg. she wont shower because the sound of the water is too loud. So Sunday, when we got to the movies, she wouldnt go in. Her two favourite friends were with her, surely she wont pull out? I tried every stra...tegy I could think of and nothing could stop her crying, shaking, attempting to run - she was in full fight or flight. We couldnt see Frozen 2, the movie I was probably more excited for than most kids. And Im sharing this with you because people are always wondering about strategies to use, but sometimes there isnt one. Sometimes, even if youre a therapist, kids will feel big emotions and theres nothing we can do but sit with them in that emotion rather than try and talk them out of it. This means putting our disappointment/expectations aside and love them for who they are in this moment. Yes, I thought for a second why cant she be like the other kids? Yes, I pouted because I was dying to see it. But then I reminded myself of the most important strategy - letting her know its okay to feel feelings, showing her shes safe and Im on her team. There was no telling her to stop being silly, which would tell her shes silly for something beyond her control. There was no telling her everyone else is looking at her cry, or that her friends will be disappointed in her, which would only exacerbate her stress, not reduce it. When we got in the car to leave, she whispered how are you feeling mama? - indicating our kids biggest fear - letting us down. Kids do well if they can. What message did I want to send to her? You should be ashamed for not being like everyone else, this movie is more important than your fear or hey its ok, we all find things hard, we can always try again. Sometimes the best strategy is acknowledging that today just isnt our day - and as Elsa would say, just let it go. Luckily, Ive roped my best friend into seeing it with me tonight See more

02.01.2022 Dont let a single day go by without telling your kids how you feel...