Classroom Support with Mrs Spackman
Anxiety
We all feel anxious at times. Sometimes our children feel anxious too. There are many websites and apps available to help us deal with anxiety. Here are just a few.
REACHOUT BREATHE
https://au.reachout.com/tools-and-apps/reachout-breathe
SMILING MIND
https://www.smilingmind.com.au/
REACH OUT
Yoga and Mindfulness
We all know the benefits of moving for our mental and physical wellbeing. There are many wonderful websites and resources for teaching your child yoga as a calming routine. Yoga can help your child grow in confidence, as they master new poses and create a flow between the body and mind. Regular yoga poses help build, stretch and strengthen coordination, flexibility and balance. Concentration, attention, focus and the behaviour of students improves with the implementation of yoga techniques. Controlled breathing can assist with moments of anxiety and stress. Yoga does not focus on an ability level but allows you to be the best you can be. Kids yoga can include songs, story-telling and word play.
There are many sites available to visit if you want to try yoga at home with your children.
https://youtu.be/jSZvMHlw9vs?list=PL8snGkhBF7ngqv160qM0Uf9IDaBkGzpo5
Allow your child opportunities to experience calming activities: yoga, listening to music, playing an instrument, colouring-in, meditating and building with lego. Just like adults, children need time out from over-stimulation and constant activity.
Auditory Processing Disorder
This is the system which transfers and decodes what we hear and sometimes the brain can’t make sense of the sounds that it hears. It is also known as Central Auditory Processing Disorder (CAPD). One of the biggest struggles is listening with background noise.
An assessment for Auditory Processing can be done by a qualified audiologist. To help children with APD it can be helpful to:
- Break instructions down into small steps
- Sitting close to the person teaching
- Writing instructions down
- Double check with the child for understanding
- Asking the child to repeat the instructions
- Reduce background noise
- A quiet study area at home for homework and reading
- The use of an Assistive Listening Device eg. An FM in the classroom
