Support during the school holidays

This resource has some helpful apps, resources, and external support services that you can turn to if you're looking for some support for your child during the school holidays, or any time. 

Helpful Apps for kids

Breathe, think, do with sesame 

• Teaches skills such as problem solving, self-control, planning, and task persistence.

Mindful powers

• An award-winning, kid-first, holistic approach to helping young minds learn and practice mindfulness so they can respond more effectively to stressful situations through the power of play.

Children's Bedtime meditations

• This app has meditations and mindfulness tracks for children of all ages and covers a range of themes to help your kids to sleep soundly at night.

The Zones of regulation

• Helps kids gain skills in consciously regulating their behaviours, emotions, and level of alertness.

Support for parents

Raising healthy minds app

• The Raising Healthy Minds App offers practical tips and information to help you support your child’s social and emotional wellbeing, from ages 0-12. It’s funded by the Australian Government, reviewed by experts and non-commercial.

Parent Line A.C.T

• Parentline offers advice, support, information, and referral for parents and families in the ACT. They offer free telephone and face-to-face counselling.

Beyondblue healthy families

• Healthy Families is all about giving you the information, knowledge, and confidence to support the young people in your life. They are also here to help you take care of your own mental health and wellbeing.

Kids Helpline

• You might know Kids Helpline as the 24/7 phone counselling service for children, but they also have a variety of helpful information for parents and kids on their website.

Families Under Pressure

• Try these simple tips and tricks, formulated by researchers and mental health experts, which are backed by science and proven to work with families. Families Under Pressure offer short videos that cover a range of behavioural and emotional concerns.

COPMI national initiative

• The COPMI (Children of Parents with a Mental Illness) national initiative develops information for parents, their family and friends in support of children and young people.

Who to talk to during the holidays

Your GP

• Your GP is available to chat about how your child is feeling and can discuss a range of options with you, as well as refer you to other services, such as a Psychologist or Paediatrician.

Kids helpline

• Kids HelpLine is Australia's only free, 24/7, confidential telephone counselling service for young people. Your child can call them any time on 1800 55 1800

Your local youth centre

• Most youth or community centres have free school holiday programs and have drop-in times for a safe space for children and young people to be social and have fun!

Beyondblue

• BeyondBlue free telephone and online counselling service is open 24/7 for everyone in Australia. Head to their website, or call 1300 22 4636

Head to Health

• Head to Health has more than 500 digital resources to support wellbeing and mental health.

Mindmap

• Mindmap is a dedicated portal for children and young people (up to 25 years of age) to help navigate Canberra’s mental health system and to find the right service and support.  It also provides helpful resources for parents. 

Tips for supporting your child

Talk to your child about emotions

• Encourage them to recognise and name their emotions, and let them know that it is normal to have all sorts of feelings. If something is bothering your child, you could offer them hugs, reassurance and validation.

Role model a positive outlook

• Show your child how to deal with feelings such as frustration, anxiety and disappointment in a constructive way, through your behaviour in every-day situations.
• Help them learn to manage small worries before they turn in to bigger problems.  You can encourage your child to try things that they fear, instead of avoiding situations that cause them anxiety.

Offer healthy food and eating habits

Encourage a variety of physical activity

Make sure that your child gets enough sleep

• Try to keep consistent bed and wake-up routines as much as possible, limit screen time before bed and try out sleep meditations if your child has trouble with sleep.

Use a positive, constructive, and consistent approach to guide your child’s behaviour

• This looks like rewarding desired behaviour with praise and attention, rather than a focus on negative consequences when they display challenging behaviours.

Make time each day to talk and listen to your child

• Find things you enjoy doing together and take an interest in their interests.