QV
We are proud and privileged to live in a country that recognises the importance of mental health. The Australian Government has become one of the first countries in the world to issue a nationwide strategy to tackle mental health, wellbeing, and suicide prevention.
An article in The Sector shared the perspective of Emerging Minds; an organisation committed to children’s mental health advancement, who have embraced this new strategy and expect it to positively change lives and bring visibility to children’s mental health.
The Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy showcases the Australian Government’s commitment to meeting the cognitive as well as physical needs of children to ensure they are comfortable to express themselves and seek help in their daily environment. Research shows that more than 50% of children encounter mental health issues that are not addressed or valuably supported.
Moreover, the Mental Health Commission reports that half of the Australian adults’ mental health problems surface before the age of 14, which is why significant support and plans ought to be implemented at the earliest stage.
“The earlier we intervene in life, in distress and in the onset of illness, the chances for better recovery are much, much greater. If we give children the best start, they will grow into happier, healthier adults.” – Professor Helen Milroy, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Perth Children’s Hospital said in the National Mental Health Commission.
National and local policies and frameworks like the Early Years Learning Framework for Australia (EYLF), along with the Victorian Curriculum, place a strong focus on mental health and wellbeing for young children by providing educators with the appropriate tools and practices to aid children with their psychological and emotional development.
Much like the EYLF, Aurora Early Education and pedagogy towards early learning is extremely holistic in nature and heavily focuses on improving mental health and wellbeing for both our children and our staff. At Aurora Rowville, Doncaster, and QV, we work towards building good habits in our children to check on themselves and others and recognize when they need additional support to deal with their thoughts and feelings.
Our curriculum is designed to help us continuously take active steps to support our children’s mental health and wellbeing. There are several ways we can motivate our children to understand and manage their mental wellbeing, as when they do so, they are able to feel a stronger sense of control over their own emotions and thoughts. For instance, we can encourage our children to take a pause, practise breathing exercises, read stories that explore a range of emotions, and do physical activities like yoga to help them gain more control over their feelings.
In order to equip our children with strategies and resources, we have designed a Mental Health and Wellbeing Pack; a collection of resources that we find helpful in supporting our own, along with our children’s mental health and wellbeing. These resources will help stimulate functional thoughts and actions towards mental health challenges parents and children encounter on a regular basis.
The pack includes a range of childrens’ and adults’ resources such as informative readings, stories, games, podcasts, and music to better guide, comprehend, and treat feelings of anxiety or restlessness that often come about in various situations. The tools provided for parents are to help them devote significant time and care to their mental health and wellbeing to be able to better support their children’s issues. Visit our website to access our Mental Health and Wellbeing packs or contact us directly if you require any support.
Have a trip to our Kindergarten in Melbourne CBD or Kindergarten in Doncaster.
Click here to view Aurora’s Mental Health & Wellbeing Packs
Sources:
Have a trip of our centres: Aurora Early education Doncaster & Aurora Early Education QV
