The Ark

Please find attached the website link for Children’s Mental Health Week 2020.  There is lots of information on there for parents and carers and I wanted to share this with you.

Here is the website:  https://www.childrensmentalhealthweek.org.uk/parents-and-carers/

Have a lovely day – Pastoral Care Team

I have been kindly passed some details of parenting courses that are coming up in the New Year.  I wanted to share the details of these as they are fantastic courses!

Time Out for Parents: THE TEENAGE YEARS 

A 7-session course on Monday evenings starting 20^th January for parents of 11-16 year olds

HARTLEY WINTNEY – St John’s Church Centre, Fleet Road, RG27 8ED

January 20^th, 27^th; February 3^rd, 10^th, 24^th; March 2^nd, 9^th (no session on 17^th February – half-term) – 7.30 to 9.30pm (refreshments from 7.15pm)

Book by email to ken.shorey@parenting.org.uk and include a contact phone number

There is no charge for attending but donations are invited to help cover costs.  £25 is suggested which includes the course handbook (otherwise £7.50).

Course facilitators: Ken & June Shorey – telephone 01252 843803

Time Out for Parents: THE TEENAGE YEARS 

A 7-session course on Thursday evenings starting 23^rd January for parents of 11-17 year olds

BASINGSTOKE CENTRAL – St Mary’s Eastrop, Goat Lane, RG21 7PZ

January 23^rd; February 6^th, 13^th, 20^th, 27^th; March 12^th, 19^th (no sessions 30^th January or 5^th March) – 7.30 to 9.30pm

To book a place or for further details, email philiphiorns@doctors.org.uk or telephone 01256 464249

Course fee: £10

Course facilitators: Philip & Elizabeth Hiorns and Cathy Hawkins

Time Out for Parents: THE PRIMARY YEARS

A 6-session course for parents of 4-11 year olds on Thursday evenings starting 23^rd January

ARBORFIELD GREEN Community Centre, Sheerlands Road, RG2 9ND

January 23^rd, 30^th; February 6^th, 13^th, 27^th; March 5^th – 7.45 to 9.45pm (refreshments from 7.30pm)

To help cover costs, participants are invited to make a voluntary contribution of £30/parent

Book online at heartofoakcoaching.co.uk/parenting-courses

Course facilitator: Alison Green – email alisonj.green@outlook.com or phone 07742 045686

Time Out for Parents: Understanding and Helping your Child with AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER 

A 4-session course for parents of children with ASD on Wednesday mornings starting 26^th February

ALTON – Four Marks Primary School, Kitwood Road, GU34 5AS

February 26^th; March 4^th, 11^th, 18^th – 10.00am to 12.00 noon

To help cover costs, participants are invited to make a voluntary contribution of £12/parent

To book a place or for further details, email Gill Jacobs at: gill.6ot@gmail.com

Information about all the Positive Parenting ‘Time Out’ courses is on the Care for the Family website at cff.org.uk/courses/parenting-courses-time-out.

Kind regards

Mrs Greer

I have found this good link for taking care of yourself and your mental health.  It has some lovely tips that children can use and also you as parents/carers.

I hope you find it useful.

https://www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/your-feelings/mental-health/taking-care-of-yourself/

Do you care for a child or young person who struggles with their mental health? Is your child attending, or waiting to attend, CAMHS? Find out more here.

Welcome back and I hope that you had a lovely summer break.  It’s at this time of year when it is hard to get back into a routine so I wanted to list some top tips to hopefully help.

1.  Establish a good bedtime routine.  Everyone needs a good nights sleep to function effectively the next day.
2. Try to be as prepared as possible for the next day.  Get your children to pack their bag, find their water bottle and put things that don’t need refrigeration, in their lunch boxes.  Leave these things in a sensible place ready to pick up in the morning.
3. Keep a list displayed where the children can see what they need for each day.  Encourage them to check it for themselves.
4. Keep a tray or folder for all of the school letters.  This will remind you all what needs to be handed in.
5. Some children need time to wake up slowly (just like us adults!).  Try setting an alarm clock 20-30 minutes before you want them to get up.  Set another to go off at 10 minute intervals.  We all love to snooze!  :)
6. Try keeping uniform all in one place, a box or a drawer so it can always be found.  As it’s getting colder, put some of it on the radiator so it’s nice and warm on those cold mornings.
7. Allow some negotiation, or limited choice, of what is eaten for breakfast; this will reduce the time spent arguing instead of eating.  Have these discussions when you are not in a rush!
8. Have a check list or visual pictures of what needs to be done before leaving for school.  List them in order so they can progress through it.  Give stickers or small incentives for success.
9. Set realistic goals that have a reward to speed up the process e.g. get dressed before you have breakfast, no TV or electronics until breakfast is eaten.
10. Leave in enough time to get to school on time.  When we rush, it can get us flustered or stressed.  Allow extra time in the winter months for defrosting the car or walking on icy pavements.

If you are struggling with routines or finding it hard to get your child/children to school on time, please come and have a chat with us in the Pastoral Care Team.  We will always try to help.