by Karen Young (BSc)(Psych)(Hons)MastGestTher
If we want to meet their learning needs, we first have to meet their relational ones. If we want them to be open to learning, they first have to open to the adult they are learning from - and they won’t be open if they don’t feel seen, safe, and cared for. It’s not always easy, it’s just how it is.♥️
Jun 29
You know what`s lovely? Aside from Sundays and sunshine? …
Sales.
You know what`s even lovelier?
Sales that are 25% off books and resources designed to help kiddos feel bigger, braver, and calmer.
For a short time, we’re taking 25% off books, plushies, courses, posters, and a bunch of tiny treasures that can help build courage and calm in kids and teens.
With the end of the financial year just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to top up your toolkit — or quietly replace those resources that have shimmied away while you weren’t looking. (We see you. We`ve been there.)
This one is for you. And the young ones in your life. Actually, this one is for everyone.
Happy shopping!
Jun 23
A heartfelt and massive thank you to Catholic School Parents Queensland for such a wonderful day in Cairns with you and your community of parents, educators, and school principals. What a beautiful community you have - I’m so grateful to have had the day with you. Thank you for trusting me with your time, your questions, your stories, and for the enormous work you are doing to support children and their families.♥️
May 31
We know there are too many kids struggling right now, including those from loving, responsive families and in loving, responsive schools.
One of the places these struggles will show themselves is at school, even in the most loving responsive ones. Sometimes these struggles show themselves with a roar, sometimes with nothing at all.
Too many kids are feeling no sense at all that they matter. They don’t feel they are doing something that matters, and they don’t feel that they matter to others.
Too many of them will go weeks at school without hearing their name in a way that makes them feel seen, cared for, and valued.
Too many of them are showing up at school but are noticed more when they don’t, even if only by the unticked box beside their name.
For too many kids, we are asking them to show up when they don’t feel like they have anything to offer, or anything at all to show up for. Why wouldn’t they struggle?
This week I had the greatest privilege of speaking to a room of 300 school well-being staff about how to support all children, how to catch the ones who are struggling, and what we can do to buffer, protect and heal all young people at school.
If you are a parent of a young person who is struggling, I want you to know that schools are working hard to hold them, lovingly and safely.
I know there are also many parents who haven’t had this experience, and your children haven’t got what they need. I know that. I want you to know that change is happening. I want you to know what I see when I work with the wellbeing staff at these schools. They care. They really do. They are so invested in supporting your children, seeing the child behind the student and showing up big for all of them. The work is happening. There’s a lot to do, but it’s happening.
Yes we need more resources, and yes more people, and yes we’re asking more of our schools and teachers than ever, and yes the world is asking more of our kids than ever, but the work is happening.
Thank you to the Department of Education Queensland for working with me, and thank you to the wellbeing staff, teachers, and leadership who are giving everything they can to be there for our children. You matter.♥️
May 30
Thank you Brisbane! Thank you for bringing us into your world today. Thank you for your energy, the chats, the warmth, the laughs and for being here with us at The Resilience Kids Conference. Thank you for your personal stories and for sharing them with me. It means everything and makes me want to keep doing what I’m doing forever. Thank you Brisbane. I loved every moment of today with you. ♥️
Thank you @michellemitchell.author,
Steve Biddulph, @matt.runnalls for your incredible wisdom. What a privilege to stand on a stage with you. Thank you @nathandubsywant for your energy and collecting of us, and to @sharonwittauthor, @_mattmitchell, and Doc for everything you do to make today what it is. And thank you to my beautiful tribe, @mik.young, @_lizzie_young_ , @ben_marriott6 for the work you did to keep our book stall up and running. It couldn’t have happened without you.♥️
May 24
I like your new videos and look forward to sharing them with our 7yo granddaughter who we are raising.
I bought her your book and it has helped her tremendously! I brought it out recently when she was having anxiety about a Girl Scout function. I flipped straight to the part about the tummy feelings caused by anxiety and it was as if she had never read it before. That’s like ME, she exclaimed! She was very brave and ended up going and having a GREAT time which she whispered in my ear at pick up.
I can’t thank you enough!
Mari thank you! I love that your granddaughter was able to make the connection. Kids are amazing aren’t they. And so are grandparents.