connection

The impact of trauma to children’s learning experiences

Regardless of whether you teach in remote, rural, regional, or metropolitan schools, you can expect to come across a child in your classroom who has experienced trauma. Understanding the impact of trauma on learning capability may assist you to create trauma-sensitive learning environments. What is trauma? Adverse childhood experiences (ACE) are stressful or traumatic events, [...]

Engaging and empowering parents after separation

There is a body of research linking parent engagement to improved student learning outcomes in the classroom (Jeynes, 2010; Anderson & Minke 2007). Research has shown that when schools and families work together, children do better, stay in school longer and are more engaged in school. Parent engagement results in longer-term economic, social and emotional [...]

By |2019-11-26T06:18:46+11:00November 25th, 2019|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: , , , |1 Comment

Public places through kids’ eyes – what do they value?

Children are too rarely asked their perspectives on public spaces. Traditionally, adults make choices for children, particularly about how they live and play. In yet-to-be-published research* on behalf of a local council, we asked 75 children aged 7-12 from ten primary schools in a disadvantaged area of Sydney to map what they value in their [...]

By |2019-11-18T11:30:32+11:00November 18th, 2019|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: , , , , |0 Comments

For people with a mental illness, loved ones who care are as important as formal supports

People living with mental illness often require support from carers, such as family and friends, on a long-term and somewhat unpredictable basis. But these support networks are not always in place. Geographical or emotional distance from family members, conflict with friends, and the tendency for people with mental illness to withdraw from others means these [...]

By |2021-03-03T16:27:08+11:00October 21st, 2019|Categories: Mental Illness|Tags: , , , |0 Comments

Building empathy is more important than ever

Empathy isn't always what people think of when considering important factors in leading a good and successful life. It's difficult, uncomfortable, and doesn't seem to yield any immediate, tangible gain for either the giver or the receiver. Like many words to do with emotions it's also fuzzy; hard enough to define, let alone quantify. Despite [...]

By |2019-10-22T11:13:06+11:00October 21st, 2019|Categories: Society & Culture|Tags: , , , |0 Comments

Technology Is Diminishing Us

Have you found yourself checking email at dinner, or skipping from book to screen, unable to focus? The closer the world gets to our fingertips, the more we stand to lose. Psychologists who study empathy and compassion are finding that, unlike our almost instantaneous responses to physical pain, it takes time for the brain to [...]

The Power of Talking Sideways to Children

Good family communication is the key to successful parenting at all stages, but it’s not always easy. We all know the advice about getting down to a toddler’s tantrumming level, offering a stroppy six-year-old a non-judgmental ear and giving a tired teenager peace to think and a cup of tea after a tough exam, but [...]

Science Shows That Social Media Is Good For You…Until It Isn’t

Flickr Images Even as we are addicted to checking our Facebook or Twitter feeds and compulsively respond to the familiar ding of new email, we worry about its negative impacts. Cyber bullying, sexting, and victimisation occur. We are bombarded with images of friends who seemingly lead lives far more glamorous than our own. [...]

82% Of Australians Say Loneliness Is Increasing

Milos Kreckovic/Getty Images Are you lonely? Chances are, according to a Lifeline survey, the answer is yes – but you’re unwilling to talk about it. The national survey, released on Tuesday, found about 60% of the 3,100 respondents said they “often felt lonely” and 82.5% said they felt loneliness was increasing in society, [...]

Gaming And Porn Are Changing Men’s Brains

Pixabay Images Leading American Psychologist Philip Zimbardo recently discussed how men are getting left behind. For the first time in history young men are less educated than their fathers. The American Paediatric Society's 2013 study found that teenagers spend more time engrossed in media than they do in school and that time on [...]

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