REVOLUTION SPORTS PARK was so much FUN!
Kids, carers and staff had a ‘FUN’ day at the Fun day! There was lots of jumping, climbing, rolling, laughing and eating- with pizza for lunch! Thanks to all who attended and enjoyed the day- the photos say it all.
ONGOING TRAINING- August 29th 2024
Save the date for Ongoing Training on 29th August in the Mezzanine room at Allambi. Please come along and spend time with like-minded people while listening to training that will help you support the child or young person you care for. As usual, morning tea and lunch will be provided, so please let your Case worker know if you are attending and have any dietary requirements. RSVP date will be given closer to the event.
THE WHOLE-BRAIN CHILD
Here is the 11th article based on the book the ‘Whole Brain Child’ by Dr Dan Sigel. Our amazing Play Therapist, Grahame Williams, suggested the topic so we know it will be good. The article is an easy read and presents strategies that you can use with your child or young person.
Whole-Brain Strategy #11
Increase the Family Fun Factor: Making a Point to Enjoy Each Other
You would think this strategy goes without saying, but let’s be honest: sometimes your child’s idea of fun isn’t fun for you at all. Especially when your child wants you to act out the same scene over and over again (a frequent occurrence at our house). But the reality is how you relate to your kids has a big impact on how they learn to relate to others.
Before we can talk about strategy 11, we need to know some more about the brain. Our brains do not function best alone as a “me”; “the brain is a social organ, made to be in relationship.” The brain has mirror neurons which enable us to mirror what we see others doing, feeling, etc. So, it’s our job to model the kinds of relationships we want our kids to have, and to model the skills you need to make relationships work like empathy. If we are modeling the kind of behaviors we desire, our children will be able to mirror our behavior and emotions.
In regard to emotions, we need to set the right emotional temperature for our child. The authors explain the concept of emotional contagion: “The internal states of others—from joy and playfulness to sadness and fear—directly affect our own state of mind.” If we are stressed, our child will feel stressed. If we are anxious, our child will feel anxious. If we are excited and playful, our child will be excited and playful.
We also need to create an open, receptive state of mind, or as the authors say, a “yes” state of mind. We don’t want a closed, reactive or “no” state of mind. The reactive state of mind is the “fight-flight-freeze response state.” We do not want to encourage those responses; they originate in the amygdala, which we have been trying to learn to integrate. Remember, we don’t want to exclusively engage with what The Whole-Brain Child calls the “downstairs brain.”
So if you’re trying to model behavior, keep an appropriate emotional temperature, and cultivate a “yes” state of mind, what are you doing with your children? You should be having fun. Here’s Siegel and Bryson:
“Playful parenting is one of the best ways to prepare your children for relationships and encourage them to connect with others. That’s because it gives them positive experiences being with people they spend the most time with- their parents. With every fun, enjoyable experience you give your children while they are with family, you provide them with positive reinforcement about what it means to be in a loving relationship with others. The experiences strengthen the bonds between you and teaches your kids that relationships are affirming, rewarding, and fulfilling.”
We need to be intentional about playing games and having fun between parents and children, as well as among siblings. Our intentionality can positively affect long-term relationships. I desire to have a close long-term relationship with my girls, so I found the following words from the authors encouraging:
“If you want to develop close long-term relationships between your kids, think of it as a math equation, where the amount of enjoyment they share together should be greater than the conflict they experience. You’re never going to get the conflict side of the equation to zero. Siblings argue; they just do. But if you can increase the other side of the equation, giving them activities that produce positive emotions and memories, you’ll create strong bonds between them and set up a relationship that has a good chance of remaining solid for life.”
So, what does this look like in my house? It’s blowing kazoos for way longer than I wanted to because the girls are making each other laugh uncontrollably. It’s drawing and painting together. It’s teaching games like “Ring Around the Rosie” or marching around the house with instruments. As long as I stay interested, my girls will stay interested.
We enjoy attending the Tapestry Adoption and Foster Care Family Camp because we get the opportunity to do so many activities together as a family: bowling, nature walks, swinging and more swinging. I think what I like most about family camp is seeing my girls enjoy each other. Now, they have their moments of conflict, but I forget about that when I see them playing and laughing and smiling together. It’s contagious and makes my husband and I smile and laugh, too.
Having fun and positive experiences are good for our children’s brains because they release the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is like the chemical of “reward.” Basically, our brains reward us for having fun. So go out and have some fun. I have a package of water balloons that I am debating on whether to have a water balloon fight with the girls or have the girls ambush dad with water balloons when he gets home from work. Either way should make for some good fun and lots of dopamine.
Fostering Lifelong Connections – The Bridge
Strong connections to family, community, culture and Country are foundational to the lifelong wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. This is recognised in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle and the requirement to develop cultural support plans across Australia. Still, one in three Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children do not live with Kin and one in five do not have a cultural support plan.
‘The Bridge’ shares the experiences of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young person in out-of-home care. It explores his yearning to know his family and how reconnecting with them in turn strengthened his sense of identity and belonging.
Who am I?
“As I grew older, I felt like there was something missing in me. Like I didn’t know who I was. I thought that was normal” – Aboriginal young person in care
Being separated from family and culture creates a sense of loneliness and an uncertainty around one’s identity. Knowing who we are and where we come from plays a significant role in shaping our place and purpose in the world. Whilst living with parents is not always possible, sustained connection to culture through other means such as Kinship care or family time is a basic human right, recognised in the United Nations Conventions on the Rights of the Child.
“I love learning culture… because it makes me feel connected and some sort of togetherness… That knowledge, that love gave me strength” – Aboriginal young person in care
If you are caring for an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Island child or young person and need more cultural advice and support, speak with your Case Worker or contact our Cultural Therapeutic Team.
My Forever Family NSW
My Forever Family has training and resources that help Carers with their Fostering journey. July training is not yet listed but for more information or to register for these training sessions go to:
Training opportunities for carers - My Forever Family NSW
Live around the Maitland Area? Here are 12 things to do in and around Maitland
1. Maitland Regional Art Gallery
Arty kids will appreciate the interesting artwork throughout this gallery. Wander upstairs through the Art Factory. Often there are interesting exhibitions that targets kids and families. Visit on a Sunday and you’ll enjoy Free Art Sunday. Every Sunday between 11am and 1pm, families are invited to participate in free art activities inspired by the exhibitions on display. Activities are designed for kids of all ages, and as a family, you can all join in and get creative. Each activity takes around half an hour to complete. The gallery also features a wonderful cafe and there’s outdoor seating available.
2. Maitland Park- Magic Garden
If the kids need to burn off some energy, head to Magic Garden, Maitland Park’s fenced all-abilities playground with equipment suited to a range of ages. The gated playground with soft-fall rubber flooring features fantastic play equipment including three sets of swings, xylophone, flying fox, batwing carousel and toadstools.
3. Harold Gregson Park
A brand new space for the whole family, Harold Gregson Park has recently opened on High Street, Maitland. The recreation area includes a playground, full-sized basketball court and a skate park. This is just stage 1 of the project, with an events lawn and amphitheatre set to open early next year.
The playground is best suited to kids under 8, with the play area consisting of a wooden play structure with a slide, rope net and ladder. Near to this is a baby swing and group nest swing, as well as a roundabout and balancing area.
4. Maitland Pool and East Maitland Pool
In Maitland Park, you’ll find Maitland Aquatic Centre. It features a splash pad complete with a tipping bucket. No matter what the swimming level of your kids, this pool complex caters to everyone. There’s a 50-metre outdoor pool as well as a 25-metre indoor heated pool.
East Maitland Pool also offers family fun! There’s an outdoor swimming pool, shaded baby pool and kids play equipment. Both pools provide swimming lessons and adult fitness programs. Please note: East Maitland Pool is closed during the winter season.
5. Maitland Gaol
If you have any history buffs then this is the place for you! The gaol was built in 1844 and is one of the Maitland’s most iconic tourist sites. It provides locals and visitors with the opportunity to experience life on the inside of this once high-security prison.
Maitland Gaol offers a range of guided and self-guided tours. Of these tours, the Escape guided tour is suitable for kids. The other tours are not recommended, as the information presented may be confronting to those of a younger audience. This includes adult themes and coarse language.
You can also opt to do self-guided tours of Maitland Gaol. Snitch’s Gaol Exploration is ideal for primary school-aged children, as it offers a fun audio experience that is full of facts and stories that will entertain and educate. Using ‘Snitch the Rat’ to tell the secrets of the gaol, stories are told of the many criminals who were brought in from the outside world.
Additionally, there are other fun activities to enjoy onsite. These include laser tag within the walls of the 150-year-old facility. There is also an annual sleepover and a variety of school holiday activities.
6. Maitland Riverfront- The Levee
The mighty Hunter River divides Maitland and Lorn, providing the perfect location for a family walk or bike ride. Be sure to point out the notices that demonstrate how high the river peaked during the famous 1955 Maitland floods.
On the Maitland side of the river, an area called The Levee is located. Here you’ll find shopping, cafes and restaurants. Take the time to look at the beautiful historic buildings in this area. If you’re a festival family, you can enjoy family-friendly events throughout the year organised by Maitland City Council like Maitland Taste, Riverlights and New Year’s Eve.
7. Walka Water Works
If you’re a nature lover, history buff or barbecue guru, there is something for everyone at Walka Water Works. Located just outside Maitland in Oakhampton Heights, this is a great place to spend a few hours. It was originally built in 1887 to supply water to Newcastle and the Lower Hunter Valley. The area has since been restored and preserved and the Pump House is now registered with the New South Wales State Heritage Register.
The lake is full of birdlife, ducks and turtles. There are also walking trails located throughout the park. The Bush Trail is known for its expansive views and The Kangaroo Trail is where, you guessed it, you are most likely to see a mob of kangaroos. There is also a playground and lots of space to have a barbecue and picnic.
8. Heddon Greta Drive In
Located south of Maitland, the Heddon Greta Drive In is the perfect mix of nostalgia and fun, offering a unique way to go to the movies. Plus with only two drive ins left operating in New South Wales, we are incredibly lucky to have one right on our doorstep. Heddon Greta Drive In is open every Friday and Saturday night plus every night of the week during the school holidays.
It screens the latest mainstream movies, with two or three films screening each session (depending on Daylight Savings) and there is usually a family-friendly film on offer. It’s terrific value for a family as the price is set per vehicle based on the number of films you’d like to watch.
9. Morpeth Common
If you feel like a picnic, visit Ray Lawler Reserve also known as Morpeth Common. With lots of lawn, trees, play equipment and small ponds, it’s a popular spot for local families.
There is a lovely large, fenced duck pond that is home to many breeds of duck including Chestnut Teal, Black Ducks, Pekin Ducks and Moorhens. Most of the ducks are very friendly and will swim up close looking for food. If you want to take food to feed them, ensure that it’s suitable for wild ducks.
10. Largs Skate Park
Recently opened, the skate park features a pump track, half pipe, volcano and grind rail plus two large shade shelters, seating , bins and drinking fountains. It’s been given 4 stars by Skater maps so if you have a skater, might be worth a visit.
11. Lawes Street Skatepark
If your kids like to skate, scoot or BMX, head to the skate park at Lawes Street, East Maitland. This skate park has various elements for all skill levels and disciplines, including a 1.5 metre to 2.1 metre skate bowl.
12. Indoor Play
If it is too hot or too cold or even raining, head indoors and enjoy some indoor activities. You can head to the movies at Reading Cinemas Maitland or go bowling at Superstrike or take little ones to Kids World Adventure Playland at Stockland Green Hills Shopping Centre. If kids like to bounce around, head to Inflatable World in Rutherford where kids can jump endlessly.
