Managing Screen Time During the School Holidays

Managing Screen Time During the School Holidays

It’s no surprise that our children’s technology use skyrockets over the school holidays. With Term 2 nearly at its conclusion and the break just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to learn how Family Zone can help make your life easier when it comes to online use. Join the Managing Screen Time During School Holidays webinar next Tuesday, 23 June, from 7 to 8pm.

To register for the webinar, please click here.

Student Wellbeing During COVID-19

We recognise the significant collaboration required by staff, students and parents/carers to support wellbeing and learning during COVID-19. It is in these difficult moments that students look to teachers and parents for guidance. The modelling behaviours and support that have been provided have no doubt had a positive impact on students at Waverley College and we are endeavouring to continue to provide appropriate support for all students.

Here are some simple wellbeing tips that may be useful during this time:

• Normalise and validate feelings. Your son may be experiencing a range of different emotions including stress, fear, uncertainty, depression, frustration, anger and disappointment.
• Remind your son where he can seek help at school, eg Heads of House, wellbeing mentors and school psychologists.
• Offer perspective and acknowledge his ability to cope, or his resilience.
• Develop his wellbeing literacy by sharing evidence-based resources, eg Beyond Blue Youth, ReachOut and Smiling Mind.
• Encourage him to take breaks from social media and engage in physical activity.
• Starting a gratitude journal or list can help your son refocus on the positives.
• Engaging in daily or weekly random acts of kindness will enable him to support others and gain a sense of control.

Parent Resources

Looking After Yourself is an interactive self-care tool from Super Friend, designed to guide adults through a quick wellbeing check-in. There are some great tips and tricks as well as a customisable wellbeing planning tool. Click here to access Looking After Yourself.

I would also recommend this six-minute video on boys and respectful relationships. Dr Justin Coulson discusses common issues for boys because many boys are raised in an environment that expects them to be tough, to take risks to prove their manhood and to disassociate from emotions. Dr Coulson talks about how to reframe ‘the boy code’. Click here to watch the video.