Melbourne Children's Psychology Clinic

20/07/2023

Our next group running at IVANHOE.
Register your interest via the QR code below or though our website contact form at www.melbournecpc.com.au

23/06/2023

Here is updated information for parents and carers regarding online safety for children.

Find advice for parents and carers to help children have safe, enjoyable experiences online.

11/09/2020

We know that many kids are spending more time online at present whilst families try and manage they best they can in VIC. The Office of eSafety Commissioner has excellent information on all areas of online activity to help parents keep children and young people safe.

Are your kids using the following apps to stay connected with friends online?
📱 Houseparty https://bit.ly/3drMHDk
📱 FaceTime https://bit.ly/2WExGrQ
📱 Hoop https://bit.ly/2UQMfGl
📱Messenger https://bit.ly/33HCfDe
📱 Skype https://bit.ly/2UwUEQb
📱 TikTok https://bit.ly/3bEOPpz
📱 YouTube https://bit.ly/2UPW7Ad
📱 Instagram https://bit.ly/2R0zszT

Learn how to protect their information and report inappropriate content or conduct with The eSafety Guide https://bit.ly/2xZAOnU

19/05/2020

Parents can play a critical role in supporting their children during COVID-19. Knowing some of the signs may assist and also help you to determine when to seek professional help.
https://parents.au.reachout.com/common-concerns/mental-health/su***de-and-teenagers?utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=Parents_Acquisition&utm_medium=ad_static&utm_content=su***de-and-teenagers

Understand the causes and risks of youth su***de and what to look out for in your teenager.

06/01/2020

Some very helpful tips for supporting children.

04/01/2020

Some useful tips during these devastating times- http://theconversation.com/bushfires-can-make-kids-scared-and-anxious-here-are-5-steps-to-help-them-cope-126926?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=facebookbutton

Most kids bounce back quickly after a disaster and there are several strategies you can use to help.

03/04/2019

Some helpful things to keep in mind when supporting families of children with cancer...
https://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/entry/15-things-parents-of-kids-with-cancer-want-you-to-know_n_57d728ede4b09d7a687f503f

Don’t just ask, "Is there anything I can do?" Do something.

18/10/2018

So it’s time to have THE talk... here is a great article listing books and helpful tips... https://www.babble.com/mom/need-to-have-the-talk-top-20-parent-recommended-books-for-boys-and-girls-of-every-age/

The top 20 parent-recommended books about puberty, where babies come from, and more, for boys and girls of every age (and parents, too).

02/08/2018

Some very useful resources addressing relational aggression (rather than the more obvious physical aggression) that can lead to bullying in children as young as 3! 😳

Parents are often startled to realize that relational aggression -- using the threat of removing friendship, ostracism, and other forms of social exclusion -- can appear in children as young as three years old. Moreover, as parents and educators observe these more subtle forms of bullying, it’s becoming clear that they require as much attention as physical aggression. In an excellent piece in the Wall Street Journal, Laura Barbour, a counselor at an Oregon elementary school, observes, “Kids forget about scuffles on the playground but they don't forget about unkind words or being left out.”

Relational aggression appears to be more common in girls than boys, perhaps, researchers say, because the average girl is more socially developed and more verbal than a boy of the same age. These “mean girl” tactics are often considered a middle-school problem, but both parents and teachers report them in elementary school and even preschool classes. Laurel Klaasen, a counselor at an elementary school in Iowa, says, “They're already thinking at that age about being popular, being the queen of the classroom, or the queen of the playground and vying for that position.”

While relational aggression tends to increase with age, parents and educators can do a lot to counteract it. Simple lessons in empathy -- “Imagine how it would feel if someone did that to you?” -- go a long way to preventing relational aggression. Trudy Ludwig, author of multiple anti-bullying books, also says that “kids don't understand that manipulating friendships and relationships is bullying and that's what I'm trying to educate the kids and the staff about.” When she does classroom presentations, one way she makes her point is to ask kids whether they would rather suffer a physical attack or relational aggression; over 90% of kids say relational aggression is more hurtful. In other words, she says, “They'd rather be punched in the stomach.”

Most importantly, parents and teachers have to understand that relational aggression isn’t something kids, especially younger-grade kids, can work through on their own. Samantha Walravens’ kindergarten daughter Genevieve ended up caught in a best-friends triangle that left her crying with a stomachache, not wanting to go to school; with some cooperation from the teacher, they both encouraged the other girls to understand how Genevieve felt, and encouraged Genevieve to develop other friendships to support her. Walravens says, “I always tell her you can go to me or the teacher and we will help you work it out. A lot of the stuff they can't work out on their own.”

For an excellent new book for parents of girls from 3 to 13 that explores this issue in depth, we highly recommend "No More Mean Girls" at https://www.amightygirl.com/no-more-mean-girls

For two books for young children that address relational aggression, we highly recommend "My Secret Bully" for ages 5 to 8 (https://www.amightygirl.com/my-secret-bully) and "Trouble Talk" for ages 6 to 9 (https://www.amightygirl.com/trouble-talk)

A helpful resource for older children (7 to 12) that addresses bullying of all types and help kids learn how to stand up for themselves and others in a positive, productive manner is "Stand Up for Yourself and Your Friends" at https://www.amightygirl.com/stand-up-for-yourself-and-your-friends

For a variety of books for kids and parents that address bullying of all types, we've prepared a three-part blog series on bullying prevention.

In the first part of the series, we showcase books for preschool and early elementary-aged children on teaching empathy and responding to bullying: "The End of Bullying Begins With Me": Bullying Prevention Books for Young Children," at https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=10255

In the second post, we feature recommendations for tweens and tweens: "Taking a Stand Against Bullying: Bullying Prevention Books for Tweens and Teens" at https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=10257

And, in our final post, we share resources for parents and educators to help them better understand childhood bullying and learn how best to respond to it: "Leading the Way: Bullying Prevention Books for Parents and Educators," at https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=10259

27/07/2018

Here are some great tips to increase your child's capacity to manage their emotions. https://parentswithconfidence.com/6-guaranteed-ways-to-boost-your-childs-emotional-regulation-skills/

Learn the common mistake parents make when helping to build their child's emotional regulation skills and what approach really works.

20/07/2018

Some great books for exploring feelings with children.
https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fchildhood101.com%2Fbooks-about-emotions%2F&h=AT0Gswho5i088tXhWbwGzkBCJFUctmFL9A3gTCMRhVDIU5AMPvZNpBlius6JsYL9ikqCwEreLvuF_bislaWG6u5UVRGTdG52LkrkmbESnOc3Ew99ljhEErob7ElDhIJby8j25NdT

16 books for helping children learn to identify emotions and their causes, and for helping children learn strategies for managing their own feelings and emotions.

19/01/2018

We put this image up several times a year. Why? Because rupture and repair are at the heart of healthy relationships. Mistakes happen. Struggles happen. Stepping off of the Circle happens. The key is our capacity to recognize our rupture, acknowledge it, share our concern about how this feels to those we love, and find a way to return to caring connection. What's so surprising for many to learn is that it's this very process that deepens trust. As Leonard Cohen said, "There is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in."

21/12/2017

This is a very helpful article for parents and carers of children in foster care and permanent care who have suffered accumulative early trauma. Why giving and receiving gifts can be hard...
http://gretchenschmelzer.com/blog-1/2014/12/21/trauma-and-holidays-on-giving-and-receiving

Gretchen Schmelzer December 12, 2015 Trauma and Holidays: On Giving and Receiving Gretchen Schmelzer December 12, 2015 When I was a psychology intern, one of the psychiatrists on the unit used to describe the problems of most of the inpatients as a “closesness-distance” problem. They couldn’t ...

26/09/2017

This has some excellent ideas on how to talk to children about potential exposure to po*******hy (Note this webpage specialises in mental health & wellbeing for boys - the content equally applies to girls!). http://www.understandingboys.com.au/why-we-need-to-talk-to-primary-aged-boys-about-po*******hy/

Talking about p**n with your primary-aged son is never going to be easy. But here’s why now is the right time to start.

23/09/2017

This article has some great tips for teaching your child about body safety. phttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/help-protect-your-child-from-sexual-abuse_us_5878261be4b03e071c14fbc8

Teach your child that their body is their body and it belongs to them.

10/06/2017

Why don't children do what we ask the first time? Here are some good explanations and solutions to help parents through these challenging moments!!
http://www.ahaparenting.com/blog/Obedience_Why_Do_You_Have_To_Tell_Them_Five_Times

"In one fairly typical encounter, a father asked his eight-year-old son five times to please go take a bath or a shower. After the fifth plea went unheeded, the father picked the boy up and carried him into the bathroom. A few minutes later, the kid, still unwashed, wandered into another room to pla...

05/06/2017

We talk about the "brain house" all the time with kids at MCPC. It is such a great concept to help kids (and parents) understand their brains...
http://www.heysigmund.com/how-to-teach-kids-about-the-brain-laying-strong-foundations-for-emotional-intelligence-by-dr-hazel-harrison/

When children understand what’s happening in the brain, it can be the first step to having the power to make choices and build their emotional intelligence.