Connected Kiddos

28/09/2025

Highly recommend Pynmanto’s Horse Wisdom Program for kiddos over 7 yrs! Get in fast if you want to know more/register interest.

Expression of Interest: Term 4 Horse Wisdom Program

We’re excited to open Expressions of Interest for our upcoming 7-week Horse Wisdom Program (Term 4, 2025).

This program blends Equine Assisted Learning with practical life skills, offering participants the chance to:

Build emotional regulation and resilience
Strengthen communication and connection skills
Explore presence and awareness in a safe, supportive environment
Experience the unique feedback and wisdom horses bring

Who is it for?

NDIS participants (self or plan-managed)
Anyone seeking growth in self-awareness, confidence, and regulation
Suitable for a wide range of abilities — sessions are adapted to meet individual needs

Program Details:
📅 Term 4 (dates TBC, 7 weeks)
📍 Gumlow
👥 Small group format for safety and support

How to apply:
If you or someone you support would like to participate in this program, please feel free to let me know by sending a direct message or contacting Mel on 0407 103 390.

Places are limited — we encourage early EOIs to avoid missing out.

18/09/2025

🎉 Party Hats & Big Smiles! 🎉

Today we wrapped up with my longest-standing family 💛 Pictured with her aunty — but every family member has been part of this journey, showing up, opening up and committing to the process.

I’ll miss them all heaps, but feel so grateful knowing she is surrounded by such unwavering support and now has a strong sense of self. 🌱💫

12/09/2025

First of three days at Synergetic Play Therapy training in Brisbane 🦁✨ Feeling inspired (and totally fan-girling!) being here with Lisa Dion.

Lots of ah-ha moments already — trusting my intuition as a play therapist, deepening my understanding of dysregulation, and exploring new ways to support children to connect to themselves through play.
Synergetic Play Therapy Institute

08/09/2025

One of our Connected Kiddo families shared that they’ve been listening to Snoop Dogg’s positive affirmations for kids – and we can see why it’s catching on! 🎶✨

The lyrics are simple, fun and powerful – perfect for little ones learning about feelings, confidence and kindness:

💬 My feelings matter.
💬 I get better every single day.
💬 I choose to feel happy.
💬 My family loves me so much.
💬 I care about others.
💬 I learn from my mistakes.
💬 I’m surrounded by love.
💬 Every problem has an answer.

These small but mighty statements give children words they can hold onto when tricky feelings show up. They’re a playful way to help kids replace negative thoughts with positive ones, building a strong sense of self and belonging. 💛

👉 Tell us what your kiddos think!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1XYoduQMAjU&fbclid=IwRlRTSAMrV4FleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHlVUxJdMn5pLFjQWlfmDot8SVHMGbxtAAcTmFQbLTXEVFnkGTIyEdyxFrDsu_aem_J-3Lwd7Oj4tbuLb1idHfpw

"The Affirmations Song" sing along from Snoop Dogg's Doggyland - Kids Songs & Nursery Rhymes.Watch this video all about positive affirmations for kids! In th...

05/09/2025

🌟 Have Your Say on Disability Supports for children 🌟

The Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Disability wants to hear directly from families about your experiences with support services for children with disability, developmental delay and autism.

This is your chance to share what’s working, what’s missing, and what needs to change. Your input will help shape recommendations to improve services for children and families across Australia. 💬✨

🔎 The short survey asks about things like:
• How easy (or hard!) it is to find information
• Wait times for services
• Telehealth vs face-to-face access
• Inclusion support at school
• Quality and impact of supports

🖊️ You don’t need to be an expert – just share your lived experience. Every story matters.

💡 If social work or play therapy has been valuable in your family’s journey, please mention it in your response.

These supports are often overlooked but provide unique benefits, including:
• Building parent and caregiver capacity
• Supporting attachment and relationships
• Helping children regulate emotions through play
• Providing holistic, family-centred approaches that complement OT, speech and psychology

👉 Complete the survey here:
https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House/Health_Aged_Care_and_Disability/ThrivingKidsinitiative

📅 Submissions close soon – don’t miss the opportunity to have your voice heard!

At Connected Kiddos, we know families are the experts in their children’s journeys. Sharing your story can help shape the upcoming Thriving Kids reforms and ensure the importance of social work and play therapy is recognised in supporting children to thrive. 💜

On 2 September 2025, the Minister for Health and Ageing, the Hon Mark Butler MP, referred an inquiry into the Thriving Kids initiative to the House Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Disability. The Committee would be grateful to receive written submissions addressing t

29/08/2025

🌟 One of the sweetest parts of my work is the little moments of connection.

Before our session in Ayr today, this bright kiddo proudly gifted me her drawing 🖍✨ She was so excited to share it—and I was just as excited to receive it!

It’s these gestures of care and creativity that remind me how important it is to slow down and celebrate the joy children bring into our spaces. 💛

25/08/2025

✨ Theme of the Week: Slow Play ✨

If there was one theme in play today, it was the incredible difference we see when we support slow.

As parents, this is one of the hardest skills to practise—slowing down, holding back on interjecting with our ideas, and adding in all the talking and questioning. But the outcomes are truly powerful when we do.

When we go slow, we get to:
💡 Witness our children’s own initiatives
🌏 See the world through their eyes
⏳ Give them time to process at their own pace

Slowing down doesn’t mean doing less—it means giving children the space to show us who they are and what they can do. And often, that’s where the magic happens!

Doesn't it feel good to go slow? Charlotte Jenkins explains why slowing down to play helps your child think, learn, and connect - https://www.beaconservices.org.uk/why-slowing-down-to-play-helps-your-child-think-learn-and-connect/

You don’t need to do anything fancy. You don't need to direct the shape of play in a structured way. Just slow down, join their play, and give your child time. There is no right or wrong way to play with a leaf. If your child plays with a tree stump, they can enjoy and learn from the experience whether they climb onto it, count the rings, or sit on it like a king or queen.

Charlotte offers gentle questions and conversational points you can share with your child to help them play with a sense of agency and calming control, feeling safe and connected as they try things out at their own pace.

25/08/2025

Highly encourage Connected Kiddos families and friends to watch Seen!

Spark the healing journey to transform your family.

07/08/2025

Hey Parents- I highly recommend linking in with Melanie (a fellow social worker!) and joining her next Tuning in to Kids group.

TUNING IN TO KIDS PARENTING PROGRAM - LIMITED SPACES

🌿 Did you know... the way we respond to our children’s emotions can shape their confidence, resilience, and relationships for life?

💬 “I felt understood and never judged.”
💬 “I’m parenting differently now—with more calm and connection.”

✨ Join our Tuning Into Kids® parenting program – a practical, evidence-based course that helps you support your child’s emotional development (and manage your own big feelings too!).
📅 Dates: Tuesday 16th September, 30th Sep, 14th Oct, 28th Oct,
11th November, 25th November
⏰ Time: 6pm to 8pm
📍 Location: EveryMind Counselling at 617 Flinders St Townsville
💲 Cost: $676.64 for all 6 sessions (NDIS compliant) (discount
for parent couples)
DM or email everymindcounselling@gmail.com
Booking link: https://www.halaxy.com/book/everymind-counselling/location/753241?appointmentTypeId=555577

04/08/2025

(Repost from Don Mackenzie at Social Sense)

💛 Showing Parental Warmth Matters 💛

Parental affection isn’t just nice—it’s vital. Research shows that consistent warmth from parents helps children:

🧠 Develop empathy
💬 Communicate openly
❤️ Form secure attachments
🚫 Reduce behaviour problems

When children feel seen, valued and safe, they’re more likely to thrive emotionally and socially.

💡 How to Show Warmth
Try these simple, powerful behaviours:

👀 Look your child in the eyes when talking or playing
🤗 Hug them often and let them know you love them
🎨 Praise their creativity and efforts
💬 Talk enthusiastically and share happy memories
🎶 Use a gentle or sing-song voice
🧸 Join in on their games and let them lead
🧍‍♂️ Sit close, lean in, and smile often
👂 Talk about feelings—yours and theirs

Parental warmth can buffer against conduct issues and build the foundation for lifelong emotional health.

📚 Based on the Parental Affection/Warmth Scale (PAWS), University of New South Wales
🔗 Learn more: https://lnkd.in/ekDhY7gb

💛 Showing Parental Warmth Matters 💛 Parental affection isn’t just nice—it’s vital. Research shows that consistent warmth from parents helps children: 🧠 Develop empathy 💬 Communicate openly ❤️ Form secure attachments 🚫 Reduce behaviour problems When children feel seen, valued...

21/07/2025

Sharing for families who are in need of feeding support for their kiddos. These guys have a team of dieticians who specialise in children, better yet they do Telehealth!

🌈 We are thrilled to introduce our newest Paediatric Accredited Practising Dietitian, Alessandra!!

Alessandra has over 25 years of experience in a wide field of nutrition and health. Her extensive career has spanned hospital settings, community diabetes care, cancer care, and private practice, where she has specialised in pre- and post-natal nutrition, food intolerances, and diabetes management. Alessandra's passion for understanding the intricate relationship between food and health has led her to constantly evolve and deepen her expertise.

Her approach to nutrition and eating concerns is grounded in gentleness and collaboration. She believes every family is unique, and her goal is to empower both parents and children to make safe and informed choices that honour their needs and preferences. With compassion, she helps families build confidence and calmness as they navigate their challenges—no matter how long the journey may take.

To learn more about Alessandra, please head to our website: https://kidsdigfood.com.au/about/alessandra-winfield/

🎉 Alessandra, we welcome you to Kids Dig Food! We are so excited to have you a part of our family 🎉

Kids Dig Food team ♡