Engaging children: Good beginnings

In this course you will work towards developing your confidence to utilise a range of practice skills in beginning to work with children in relation to their mental health and social and emotional wellbeing. These skills include:

• intentionally creating a child-friendly, welcoming physical space
• deciding whether to meet with children and parents separately, together, or a combination of both
• talking about your role and the purpose of the consultation in ways that resonate with children
• talking with children about privacy and confidentiality
• exploring children’s experience of safety and engage in safety planning with children; and
• beginning to engage children in your work together.

It is estimated that this course will take you three hours to complete, including reading material and watching videos.

You can undertake the course across multiple sessions at your own pace. The last screen you visit before logging off will be bookmarked, and you will have the option of returning to that screen when you next log in.

This video introduces you to the Engaging children pathway. It is recommended that you complete the initial Engaging with children course prior to proceeding with this course.

As you work through the course, it is important to be aware of your own emotional responses. Please follow the self-care tips below and seek help if needed:

• We do not recommend undertaking the entire course in one sitting. Give yourself some breaks. Even if you don’t feel that you need a break, it’s a good idea to take one anyway and come back later.
• Be aware of your emotions as you progress through the course, and take action if you are starting to feel stressed or upset. For example, consider taking a break and doing something for yourself that you enjoy.
• Be aware of your emotional responses after you complete the course.

If at any point you find you are struggling, please talk with your supervisor, seek help, or call Lifeline on 13 11 14, Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, or SANE Australia on 1800 18 7263.

Some essential strategies for self-care include:

• being prepared – thinking through the ‘what-ifs’ step by step
• understanding personal signs of being overwhelmed
• setting prompts that will notify you that you need to pull back
• pre-determining how you will pull back, and how you know you will be OK to re-engage
• linking into peer supports
• engaging in, and prescheduling, regular stress-reduction activities; and
• seeking opportunities to reflect on your experiences with your professional colleagues.

You will explore specific tips for self-care for yourself later in this course. These are also relevant to your staff and your family.

You can begin the process of self-care as you work through the course by being aware of your emotional responses. Please seek help if needed.

For the purposes of this course, the term parent encompasses the biological and adoptive parents of a child, as well as individuals who have chosen to take up a primary or shared responsibility in raising that child.

Social and emotional wellbeing refers to the way a person thinks and feels about themselves and others. It incorporates behavioural and emotional strengths and is a facet of child development.

In broad terms, social and emotional wellbeing is the foundation for physical and mental health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It is a holistic concept which results from a network of relationships between individuals, family, kin and Community. It also recognises the importance of connection to Land, culture, spirituality and ancestry, and how these affect the individual.

Social and emotional wellbeing is also used by some people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, who may have differing concepts of mental health and mental illness.

This course refers to children aged 4–12 years.

This course draws on the latest research, clinical insights, and the lived experience of our child and family partners. We’d like to thank the professionals and families who played an integral role in shaping this course, generously offering their time, wisdom and unique perspectives.

Emerging Minds. (2021). Engaging children: Good beginnings [Online course]. Emerging Minds Learning. https://learning.emergingminds.com.au/course/engaging-children-good-beginnings

Watch the following video for a quick guide on how to navigate Emerging Minds Learning courses.