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How to Set Realistic Grade Expectations For Your Teenager

by Melbourne Child Psychology & School Psychology Services

Nearly every parent wants their teenager to achieve their best at school.

Perhaps you have a particular “dream career” in mind or maybe you would be happy simply knowing that your child is reaching their full learning potential.

Well, believe it or not, most teenagers do actually want to do well at school for themselves, as well as to make their parents and friends proud.

However, “doing well” at school can mean many different things to different people. Some parents will be happy if their child passes, while others will be satisfied with Bs and Cs. And then there are those parents that will settle for nothing less than straight As!

But what many people don’t realise is that the best way to motivate an adolescent is to set expectations that are in line with what they are actually capable of.

And it’s vital to communicate your expectations clearly and to listen to your child’s opinions regarding grades and future career prospects.

So how can you go about this?

Sleep Difficulties in School-Aged Children

by Melbourne Child Psychology & School Psychology Services

Did you know that an estimated 20-30% of school-age children experience a significant sleep disturbance at some point?

(The incidence is even higher for children with certain disorders, including AD/HD, Tourette’s Syndrome, Rett Syndrome, cerebral palsy and autism.)

Why is Sleep so Important for Children?

Put simply, sleep is required to function properly! Poor sleep directly affects physical and mental health.

In children, poor sleep has been linked to daytime behavioural problems and poor school performance (reduced attention span, difficulty with problem solving and completing tasks).

Lack of sleep is also related to daytime sleepiness, which results in irritability (as all parents know only too well!).

Choosing a Secondary School Without Losing Your Cool – 7 Practical Tips For Parents

by Melbourne Child Psychology & School Psychology Services

As your child nears the end of primary school you start to hear the same questions over and over:

Which secondary school will you send them to?

Public or private? Co-ed or single sex? Religious or secular?

And on it goes…

When faced with such an inquisition at every turn, it’s easy to become racked with fear about the implications of choosing the WRONG school.

What if your kid falls in with a bad crowd? What if they aren’t challenged? What if they are not supported? What if they are not properly prepared for adult life and a future career? What if you can’t afford it??

Eeek!!!

BUT the good news is that with some basic research and timely planning you can avoid a lot of stress.

Following this simple seven step process will help you to feel more confident in your decision and put your mind at ease.

Dyslexia Help – 9 Tips to Improve Your Child’s Learning Skills

by Deborah Jepsen

Dyslexia is a commonly used term for a difficulty with learning to read or with interpreting words, letters, numbers and other symbols.

Such problems may be manifested as poor reading fluency or comprehension, difficulties with maths and ‘delayed processing’ (the inability to rapidly name letters, symbols or numbers). Some people with dyslexia even report that letters appear to “move around the page” when they try to read.

(More recently, the disorder has been relabelled as a “specific learning disorder in the domain of reading” in the upcoming 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statstical Manual of Mental Disorders or DSM-5.)

The term dyslexia is commonly used, but often poorly understood.

In fact, it has taken me nearly ten years as an educator and a psychologist to be able to effectively diagnose the disorder, explain to parents what it means for their child and provide targeted recommendations to help improve their child’s learning skills.

Here are my top nine tips to help your child with dyslexia improve their learning skills:

How to Get a Referral And Claim Medicare Rebates For Counselling

by Deborah Jepsen

Since November 1st, 2006, the “Better Access to Mental Health Care” initiative has allowed many Australians to access Medicare rebates for counselling services. Such services must be provided by registered psychologists (who must use certain approved evidence-based approaches), following referral by a GP, paediatrician or psychiatrist.

Medicare rebates are currently available for up to ten individual counselling sessions per calendar year (and up to 10 group sessions, although these are generally more appropriate for adults).

(You can find more about the scheme in this handout for patients.)

So how do you go about getting a referral to a psychologist for yourself and/or your child, so that you can claim Medicare rebates for counselling?

The Curse of Academic Entitlement (And How to Avoid it!)

by Melbourne Child Psychology & School Psychology Services

I came across this article the other day about a concept known as “academic entitlement” and it really struck a chord.

So what does “academic entitlement” mean?

Academic entitlement refers to the tendency of some children to expect good marks and positive feedback for their school work, regardless of the quality of their work or the amount of effort they put in.

Common Responses to Grades

I recall that when I went to school and university (back in the day) there were several common responses that students made when receiving their graded work back (some of these might also sound familiar to you!).

Working Together – The Importance of Consistency in Parenting

by Melbourne Child Psychology & School Psychology Services

So you’ve had a good hard think about how to parent your child…

You’ve figured out when to draw the line with discipline … and when it’s time for a good ol’ fashioned cuddle.

BUT … what if your partner disagrees? What if your opposite number has a very different way of going about things? Does it matter?

Should you just continue on your merry way, doing things the way you see fit? Or should you go through the (sometimes difficult) process of trying to get both parties on the same page?

Silver Linings Playbook Movie Review

by Melbourne Child Psychology & School Psychology Services

There has been a lot of buzz about Silver Linings Playbook. It has won a plethora of awards and has been nominated for eight Oscars. It has ignited debates about how mental health should be presented on the silver screen. The movie has also had far reaching impacts, as the director, David Russell, along with the lead, Bradley Cooper, have visited the US Vice President, Joe Biden, to help introduce a new mental health act in America.

What I Learned About Child Care and Dealing with Separation Anxiety

by Deborah Jepsen

Kids are hard work!

They bring us, as parents, so much joy and laughter and so many smiles … but also an overwhelming sense of responsibility for their welfare.

Then there comes that time in their early years when your child starts child care. And so along with the joy of caring for a young toddler, there comes the joy of letting them go (at least for the day)!

My son is now in child care for two days per week at the moment and I HATE drop offs! The first day was the worst. He was so upset…but I put on my brave face and did a quick good bye. I cried myself on the way home.

Four Parenting Styles: Which One is Right for Your Child?

by Melbourne Child Psychology & School Psychology Services

Strict or relaxed? Rules or play? Smacking or “time-out”? Listening or telling?

There are so many different opinions on how to parent, it’s enough to send you into a tailspin!

Many new parents start out with firm ideas about how they will balance a loving approach with a nice dose of discipline in their household… But often this all goes out the window when you first find yourself in the supermarket with a toddler throwing a tantrum!

And what if your child has been diagnosed with a learning difficulty or a developmental delay? Should you adjust your parenting style to deal with a child who has different needs?

In this article I summarise some of the most important research findings on common parenting styles and their effectiveness (which, to a certain extent, depends on how you define “effective”!). I also offer a brief summary of research on parenting children with different needs. (Hint: they may benefit from a different approach).

Why is Sleep so Important for Children?

Common Responses to Grades

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