Short Videos
Catholic Schools Maitland‑Newcastle has created a series of short videos in collaboration with leading Australian parenting experts on friendship, belonging and bullying. These videos provide parents and carers with practical insights and simple, easy‑to‑use strategies designed to support their child’s wellbeing.
Additional Resources
Maggie Dent- quietly improving lives
Humans are social beings, wired to live in families and communities. When children or adolescents experience a low sense of social connectedness, they can be at greater risk of exclusion and difficulties with peer relationships.
Parenting educator Maggie Dent explores these important issues on her website in the section “Friendships, Social Skills and Bullying.” This page includes a suite of short, practical videos created by Maggie, along with links to carefully selected external resources she recommends for parents and carers.
Maggie Dent | Quietly improving lives
ReachOut Parents: Friendships
ReachOut Parents: Bullying
Emerging Minds
It’s natural to want to fly into action when you find out your child has been bullied. However, it’s important to first take time to check your emotions, understand your child’s bullying experience, and plan how to respond together with your child. To assist, Emerging Minds has developed a section of their website dedicated to Taking action to stop your child from being bullied, which includes information on addressing bullying at school, dealing with online bullying, and knowing when to seek help.
The Playground is a Jungle
Shona Innes and Irisz Agocs
Going into the playground can be like setting off on an adventure in the jungle – exciting, a little bit wild and filled with lots of different creatures. You’ll meet lots of people having their own adventures in the playground, and sometimes you might want to play together. There’s a lot to learn, but there’s also lots of fun to be had.
This series deals with emotive issues that children face in direct and gentle terms, allowing children’s feelings and problems to be more easily shared and discussed with family and friends. Author Shona Innes is a qualified clinical and forensic psychologist with many years of experience assisting children.
Your Softness is Your Strength
Jess Sanders and Jorge Garcia Redondo
Did you know that there is a special softness that lives in your heart? It has always been there and it’s an important part of who you are.
If you have ever felt like your softness is a weakness, you are not alone. This book is for any child who needs a reminder that their softness can be their greatest strength.
The Boy with Flowers in His Hair
Jarvis
Jarvis offers a moving tale of friendship, kindness, and acceptance, softly touching on the subjects of illness or hardship in a way that young children can understand.
Everyone likes David, the boy with flowers in his hair. He’s sweet and gentle, just like his colourful petals. David and his best friend have a great time together, finding the good puddles, making up songs, and running away from the bees. But one day David comes to school wearing a hat, and he is quiet. When he takes off the hat, his bright petals flutter down like butterflies. Now, where his flowers were looks twiggy and prickly, causing the other children to stay away. But David’s best friend has an idea–a way to help David get his colour back, wielding paintbrushes and plenty of love. Sensitively told and simply illustrated, Jarvis’s story invites even the youngest children to talk about difficult subjects in an age-appropriate way, and feel inspired to support others when they face trying times.
Eric, The Awkward Orc
Alex Dyson and Laura Wood
Eric, The Awkward Orc is a heart-warming story about dancing to the beat of your own drum, from ARIA award-winning triple j host, Alex Dyson.
Move that Mountain
Kate and Jol Temple, Terri Rose Baynton
A whale is stranded on the beach, but the tiny puffins are far too small to help. Or are they? Read the book in reverse to see what they can do … together. A heartwarming and inspirational story showing the power of teamwork and cooperation.
Kindness: A Little Good in a Big World
Zanni Louise and Missy Turner
Through the Human Kind series, families can explore core values together and build a shared language of care and connection. In Kindness, children discover how even small acts of generosity can have a big impact- on others and ourselves. From sharing words of encouragement to being gentle with our own feelings, kindness is something we can all practise every day. It helps us feel good, brings people closer and makes the world a warmer place. There are so many ways to express kindness with heart.
I’m (almost) always kind
Anna Milbourne and Asa Gilland
Being kind is super important, but it isn’t always easy. Using a goodhearted, enthusiastic little boy’s perspective, a lot of sensitivity and a little gentle humour, this story explores the potential pitfalls of trying to be kind, and what being kind really means. To be truly kind, it turns out, you have to try to look at things from other people’s points of view.
Back to school- helping your child make friends
Parental as Anything presented by Maggie Dent with guest Bec Sparrow
Making friends is tough at any age, but for kids and teens, who are still mastering social skills, it can be an emotional rollercoaster. It can be so hard to watch your kids bump through the ups and downs of friendships, and even harder to know what to do to help them through the dramas of it all!
Maggie Dent and Bec Sparrow come together in this episode, with parent educator Claire Orange, to give you advice on what you can do as a parent to help your kids navigate the often-tricky world of friendships.
The friendship formula
Navigating Parenthood- Growing Great Tweens presented by HCF
Listen to host Dylan Lewis as he speaks to tween-parents George Georgievski and Pia Miranda on how to navigate young friendships, when to respect your child’s friendship choices and if it’s ever okay to meddle. In this episode, the difference between primary school and high school friends is discussed as well as examples of peer pressure and general friendship advice you might like to share with your tween.
Friends and friendship for your child with ADHD: 12-18 years
Raising Children Network
Friendships are good for teenagers’ sense of belonging, confidence and social skills. This article explores how teenagers with ADHD might need extra support to develop skills for handling the complexities of teenage friendships.
Friends and friendship for your child with ADHD: 12-18 years
Helping teens build positive social connections
Black Dog Institute
This article provides parents and carers with ideas for supporting their young person to develop positive social connections using easy to follow dot point strategies and provides a list of additional resources.
Helping teens build positive social connections
Navigating the bullying maze: a guide for parents
By Dr Justin Coulson for Happy Families
Bullying can be confusing and frightening for families. This article gives parents clear, compassionate guidance on how to support their child and take action early.
Navigating the bullying maze: a guide for parents
Student Wellbeing in Catholic Schools Maitland-Newcastle
At Catholic Schools Maitland-Newcastle, your child’s wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do.
Our schools are communities built on faith, respect and genuine care; places where every young person is known, valued and supported to thrive.
Our approach is guided by Catholic identity and shaped by clear policies and practices that nurture student wellbeing, positive relationships and safe behaviour in every school day.
