Keep an open conversation so they can come to you any time. Let your children know that you are available to talk with them when needed. Encouraging children to talk about their feelings will help them understand their experiences. Sometimes children don’t have the words to describe their feelings, however you can reassure them that their feelings are normal and that they will come and go.
In this episode, three rural parents share their experiences on how they have encouraged their children to talk about their feelings during tough times, such as drought. In addition, John Dean and Andrea Baldwin, two clinical psychologists, provide their practice wisdom with some tips for parents and caregivers in how they can support open conversations during and after these difficult times.
Some of the stories in this podcast may be distressing to some people. If you or someone you know require assistance, please call LifeLine on 13 11 14 or beyondblue on 1300 224 636. If life is in danger, call 000.
- Reflection 1: Amanda (parent) [00:56 min]
- Reflection 1a: Andrea (clinical psychologist) [01:34 min]
- Reflection 2: Jane (parent) [05:05 min]
- Reflection 2a: John (clinical psychologist) [5:45 min]
- Reflection 3: Belinda (parent) [08:40 min]
- Reflection 3a: John (clinical psychologist) [10:05 min]
Further information and resources:
- The big dry: the impact of drought on children and families: https://emergingminds.com.au/resources/the-big-dry-the-impact-of-drought-on-children-and-families/
- How can I support children during a drought? https://emergingminds.com.au/resources/how-can-i-support-children-during-a-drought/
- Child 360 app: https://emergingminds.com.au/resources/child360-app/
- Communicating with your baby during ‘tough times’
- Communicating with your toddler during ‘tough times’
- Communicating with your primary school-age child during ‘tough times’
- Communicating with your teenager during ‘tough times’
- E-safety Commissioner – eSafetyparents: https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents
- Queensland Centre for Perinatal and Infant Mental Health – Bird’s Tree: https://www.childrens.health.qld.gov.au/natural-disaster-recovery/
Hosts: Events On Air (Drew and Leigh Radford). The Radford brothers previously work for the ABC and held various roles from Journalist, Executive Producers and Directors in both the urban and regional settings in Australia. Drew Radford is passionate about rural issues and need for respectful and authentic storytelling to ensure that the essence of people’s experiences and stories are captured.
Podcast voices: Emerging Minds thanks the parents for Isolated Children’s Parent’s Association SA, School Link and Got It! Programs, NSW Health Murrumbidgee Local Health District and Queensland Centre for Perinatal and Infant Mental Health, Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service, for contributing to this podcast.
Development committee: This podcast series has been co-designed with support from executive members from Isolated Children’s Parent’s Association SA and NSW Branches, Remote Isolated Children’s Exercise, South Australia Government Drought Response program, Department of Rural Health, University of South Australia and Emerging Minds staff.
Funders: This podcast series has been made possible by funding from Country SA PHN under the ‘empowering our communities SA’ grant and the National Workforce Centre for Child Mental Health, led by Emerging Minds. The National Workforce Centre for Child Mental Health is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health under the National Support for Child and Youth Mental Health Program.
Music: Podcast music theme for this series has been created by Stu Day Music: https://studaymusic.com/
Photos and Drawings: Postcard images courtesy SA Commissioner for Children and Young People’s “Tell Helen Postcard Project” Visit ccyp.com.au for details.