Supporting our Superhero Teachers

Dear 

When the new school year commenced in late January, many of us wondered how our  teachers would cope after the horrific summer we endured. As we watched school buildings reduced to ashes and families losing their homes and livelihoods, teachers knew they'd be called on to support anxious children returning to the classroom while having to deal with the same trauma themselves.

Little did we know that all this was just the prelude to a devastating global pandemic with far reaching consequences.

With Australians emerging from their homes after two months of lockdown and with face-to-face teaching due to commence full-time from Monday, our teachers will once again be at the coalface. They have the important and essential job of educating our children, while simultaneously enforcing hygiene and social distancing practices. Moreover, teachers will play an integral role in supporting the emotional wellbeing of students, many of whom will return to the classroom with heightened anxiety, driven not only by COVID-19, but also due to changing family circumstances as a result of parents' job loss or reduced income. 

We expect a lot from our teachers and their job is not an easy one. We know that next week in particular will bring with it media critique and the inevitable questions of "are teachers keeping our kids safe?"  "do they know how stressed our children are?" "will our kids catch up on the work they missed?" "will our Year 12 students be ok?". All these are valid questions, but perhaps not enough of us are asking "are our teachers ok?" "are they getting the support they need for their stress?" and importantly "are we telling our teachers that they are true superheroes?" The role of the teacher in a community leaves an everlasting impression on a child that is unmatched by any other profession.

With the lockdown measures forcing KidsXpress to pivot online, our therapists have continued supporting our teachers and children digitally. As we prepare to return to face-to-face delivery, our therapists and education consultants have created a series of videos with tips for mental health support during COVID-19. Whether you're a parent, caregiver or a teacher, we know you'll find these videos helpful in supporting the children in your life - not only during the pandemic, but beyond.

We hope you enjoy this latest edition of our newsletter. Stay safe!

Many thanks,

P.S. Don't forget to watch our video featuring Sally's story, a parent and an advocate not only of our Expressive Therapy program but of supporting our teachers so that they can in turn support our kids.

Tips for children's mental health support during COVID-19

With the lockdown measures and news coverage surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, following on from a difficult bushfire season, it is normal for many children to be feeling overwhelmed and stressed during this time. We've created a series of five videos featuring a selection of tips that will assist you to best to support your child and reduce any anxiety they may be feeling. Developed by our Expressive Therapists all five video tips will help you to help your children in the KidsXpress way...creatively. Click on each image below to watch each video.