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Thriving Together: Building Your Parenting Community and Networks

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 THRIVING TOGETHER: BUILDING YOUR PARENTING COMMUNITY AND NETWORKS

Have you ever felt alone in your parenting journey, searching for meaningful connections and parenting support that truly understand your experience?

Parenting support is essential for building strong relationships and finding encouragement along the way. Whether you’re navigating sleepless nights, behavioural challenges, or simply the daily stress of raising children, having a solid support network can make all the difference.

The Impact of a Smaller Circle

As adults, whether parents or not, we often find that our support networks and the people around us tend to change. From my perspective, they tend to get smaller.

When our support networks get smaller, they can become more impactful. There can be more depth, and the support can be exactly what we need in those moments.

Many things can change or shift our support network and those around us. These could include moving to a new location, outgrowing different friendships, or experiencing and moving through different life milestones, such as starting a family. 

Parenting Support: Navigating Friendships in Parenthood

When we begin the journey of parenthood, it has a whole different impact on support. Suddenly, our friendships and community around you matter in a new way and with new meaning, and the level of support can change from an occasional text message to needing people close by and in your corner more frequently. Parenting can be a lonely, extremely challenging and yet a rewarding adventure. One that I don’t believe any of us are truly prepared for until we are in the depths of parenting. 

Parenting Support Helps You Build a Community

When talking to other parents, a theme that commonly comes up is: how do we build our community around us when we are a parent with a child who may be struggling or feel lonely or isolated? We all crave social connections and to feel heard and seen by having safe people in our corner, but on the other hand, reaching out, connecting with other parents and feeling vulnerable in this space can be quite anxiety-provoking and open us up to feeling judged, criticised and the parent guilt of “what did I do…”, when there are already so many places in our communities that make us feel like that. Just like going to the grocery store to get a couple of items is not always a simple or easy experience, neither is school. 

Carving Out Time for Yourself

It’s essential to carve out time for ourselves, to breathe, and to find moments of stillness amidst the chaos. In these moments, we want you to know: we hear you, and we see you. Parenting is hard and, at times, extremely isolating and lonely. We can often internalise so many feelings inside us as well as having little time for ourselves.

Recharging and Recognising the Challenge

We want to remind you that finding a time to yourself, to not be touched, to not have to answer a million questions or navigate sibling rivalry, but to find moments of stillness amidst the chaos to give back to yourself is so important. 

Don’t get me wrong — our children are our biggest teachers, giving us the most joy in this world. However, we also acknowledge the other side, the toll that parenting can take on our mental, physical, emotional, and social wellbeing. 

Here are a few practical steps you can take to find that connection:

  1. Find Local Community Groups: There are a range of different parent-child groups within your local community that provide opportunities for you to connect with other parents of children of similar ages. This is a great way to build a parenting support system while also engaging your child in social activities. These include playgroups (playgroupnsw.org.au) and activities at the town library.
  2. Connect with Other Parents: Reach out to the parents of your child’s friends to determine if they suit your personality and slowly build your support network.
  3. Engage with Coworkers: If you are working, build a connection with your work colleagues who understand work-life commitments and the demands of juggling both. Consider organising lunch break chats to support one another.
  4. Take 5 Minutes: Set aside some time each day for yourself. Enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in silence, take a minute to breathe, no scrolling, and have time to decompress and recharge. 
  5. Join our Parent/Caregiver Group: At Explore and Soar, we will be holding a Parent/Caregiver Group every second Thursday of each month. Connect with other parents and enjoy activities like doing a puzzle, colouring or going for a coffee and walk; each month, the activity will be tailored to what the group wants to do. A fabulous and FREE way to connect with others in the Hunter region. We will have catchups in Cessnock, Kurri Kurri, Branxton and Singleton throughout the year. Check our website for details and to register today!
  6. See the Benefits with a Wellbeing Planner: Jess Rodgers has designed a Wellbeing Planner for you and your entire family to use over the course of 12 months to either individually or as a family work on set goals and work towards improving your wellbeing in 8 different areas. This is an excellent opportunity for you as a family to sit down and set out some goals to achieve together while ensuring the family is on the same page and sharing activities, bringing joy and connection. Check here for more information
  7. Engage Online: Join positive, supportive, and inclusive online community groups. Connecting online can enhance your experience and help you feel less isolated.

At Explore and Soar, we focus on building supportive communities for families in our local regions. It’s essential to prioritise both your well-being and the well-being of your family while enjoying connections with others to maintain mental health and overall well-being. 

We’d love to hear about any other fantastic community or networking ideas you have so we can continue sharing valuable resources within our community.

Remember, being together, sharing life experiences, and supporting one another will strengthen us.

If you’d like to chat more, please don’t hesitate to contact us today! Call us on 0477 708 217 or email admin@exploreandsoar.com.au

Until next time, 
Jess

PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 2025

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Welcome to 2025: A Year of Community and Wellbeing!

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Girl Enjoying the outdoors - promoting community wellbeing

WELCOME TO 2025: A YEAR OF COMMUNITY AND WELLBEING!

Welcome to 2025: Explore and Soar is focused on community wellbeing!

Happy New Year, everyone!

Welcome to 2025! As we step into this new year, we’re thrilled to kick off our January School Holiday Group Programs and Intensives, starting January 13th. We can’t wait to see you all there!

Our Annual Theme: Community for Wellbeing

This year, Explore and Soar is focusing on community wellbeing by fostering strong connections within our local communities.

For us, being an active part of both the Explore and Soar and Occupational Therapy communities enriches our connections, support, and resilience, allowing us to provide the best practices for our clients and families. This highlights the importance of communities remaining connected to promote our collective wellbeing.

Every member of our Explore and Soar team is part of their own community outside of work—whether through hobbies, volunteering, or local activities. This community provides them with joy and support. When you think about “Community for Wellbeing,” what comes to mind for you?

What Does Community Mean to Us?

A community can be defined in many ways. While it’s more commonly known as a ‘geographical location or place of residence’, at its core, it’s about relationships that bind people together.

In occupational therapy, there are many definitions of community, but this one stands out for us:

“to do something that cannot be easily done in isolation

(Scaffa, 2001, Pg.8)”

It highlights that the basis of a community is in the relationships of people who come together. A community built around wellbeing thrives when its members come together to share values and cultures and support each other. For us, engaging in our community through jobs, schooling, sporting activities, volunteering, shopping locally, or advocating for community improvements (such as new parks or pathways) are just a few ways we can connect and support one another to achieve common goals.

When we contribute to something meaningful and can use our unique skills and talents within our community, we not only find joy but also enhance our contribution and connection within our community to help improve our health and, ultimately, our wellbeing. 

Understanding Wellbeing

Wellbeing is a personal and multifaceted journey. It is defined by what, how, and where each person is in a positive state. Wellbeing encompasses many aspects of our lives: Occupational/Work, Emotional, Financial, Social, Environmental, Intellectual, Spiritual, and Physical health. Each of these elements plays a vital role in our overall wellbeing, helping us find purpose, contribute, and find meaning in what we do.

When we actively work towards improving our wellbeing, we improve our health and enhance our everyday lives, by finding more motivation and meaning to keep going. 

Now, don’t get me wrong — improving our wellbeing isn’t always easy. It requires consistency, support, and adaptation. Some days, I find balance; other days, I need to focus on my social connections or my physical health. 

It is important to remember that everyone’s version of wellbeing and where they find meaning is unique, and that’s perfectly okay!

Building Connections for Your Wellbeing

Where can you start building connections to enhance your wellbeing? Consider your current relationships. Do they bring you joy, and are they conducive to my wellbeing? What areas could you improve? Reflect on the time you can dedicate to nurturing these connections.

These are all great starting points to direct yourself towards where you want to start building these relationships. 

Here are some great ways to enhance your wellbeing through connection:

  • Volunteer at your child’s school to meet other parents and teachers – This is both rewarding and helps build connections.
  • Say hello to someone who walks at the same time as you are taking a morning stroll – Connect over shared interests.
  • Join a group or activity that sparks your interest.
  • Sign up for a local team sport to enjoy camaraderie and physical activity.

Building relationships in your local community can significantly enhance your community wellbeing, helping you achieve a more balanced life.

Explore and Soar’s Commitment to Connection

At Explore and Soar, we are deeply committed to supporting our local communities and fostering meaningful connections. To learn more about our team, values, and the work we do to enhance community wellbeing, we invite you to visit our About page and discover how we’re making a difference in the lives of our clients and families.

Some ways we do this are:

  • We have continued to develop group programs to support our clients in socialising and engaging in fun activities with children of similar ages, consistently offering these opportunities within our local community in Branxton.
  • We have attended local community events and school expos. 
  • We have sponsored local sporting associations. 
  • Education has also been our way to connect. Volunteering our time to offer online and in-person educational talks to parents of children transitioning into Kindergarten and teacher education and training to further enhance their connection with our clients within the classroom and playground environments. 

Exciting New Initiatives!

We are continually creating opportunities for our clients and their families to connect, share their lived experiences, empathise, and feel supported in their communities.

This year, we’re excited to announce the launch of a Parent and Caregiver Support Group. Join us for coffee, conversation, and connection in a warm, welcoming environment. Keep an eye out for details in the coming weeks.

We cannot wait to see you there!!

Tracking Your Wellbeing Journey

Our own Jess Rodgers has been working behind the scenes to develop a Wellbeing Planner designed to help track goals and wellbeing progress. This planner originated during the rapid changes of 2020-2021 when Jess realised she needed a way to stay accountable and look after her health and wellbeing. 

Jess created a Wellbeing Planner to achieve this goal!

Our Explore and Soar team will utilise this Wellbeing Planner throughout the year to support our journeys and remain accountable for our health and wellbeing to ensure we are happy, healthy, and present to support you, our clients, and our families. And we’re thrilled to offer it to you as well.

If you’d like to join us on this journey, purchase your Wellbeing Planner today. With the new Wellbeing Planner, we hope this will help our clients track and improve their health through intentional goal-setting.

Wellbeing Planner for sale - https://www.jessrodgers.com.au/

We look forward to being part of our community this year, providing support, education, and engagement for all our clients and families.

By focusing on community wellbeing, we hope to inspire you to start building meaningful connections, too!

Stay tuned for exciting events and monthly blogs filled with valuable information just for you!

Until next time, 
Jess and the Explore and Soar Team

PUBLISHED DECEMBER 2024

References

  • Hyett, N., McKinstry, C. E., Kenny, A., & Dickson-Swift, V. (2015). Community-centred practice: Occupational therapists improving the health and wellbeing of populations. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 63(5-8).
  • Scaffa, M. (Ed.). (2001). Occupational Therapy in Community-Based Practice Settings. Philadelphia: F. A. Davis.

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Embracing Transitions and Growth: A Year of Learning and Achievement

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EMBRACING TRANSITIONS AND GROWTH:
A YEAR OF LEARNING AND ACHIEVEMENT

Embracing Transitions and Growth Fuels Our Success!

As we approach the end of the year, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the incredible journey we’ve shared. All I can say is, “What a year it has been!”

It was a year of exploring ways that we transition throughout our lives. From significant life changes such as transitioning into adulthood, moving homes, transitioning into a new school year (especially Kindergarten or year 7), starting new careers, trying a new sport, or managing health conditions to the everyday transitions we experience, like transitioning from home to school, catching the bus, transitioning from playtime to dinner, or switching off technology devices. The list is endless.

Every transition, big or small, contributes to our growth and learning.

By embracing transitions and growth, we develop new skills and gain valuable experiences at each stage of life.

Celebrating Success in Life Transitions

At Explore and Soar, we understand that embracing transitions is essential for both children and their families. Each step forward is a sign of progress.

What truly stands out this year is the unwavering support from parents and caregivers. Your dedication, love, and hard work in helping your children navigate these transitions have been truly inspiring. The effort, persistence, and love you pour into supporting your children as they reach their goals is a beautiful sight. We’ve witnessed the joy and pride on their faces as they master new skills – a testament to your hard work. We also recognise the challenges you face, and in those tough moments, please remember – we see you, we hear you, and we are here to help!

For more on managing life transitions, check out our previous blog to learn more about transitions in therapy.

Explore and Soar: Growing Together

This year, Explore and Soar has expanded its horizons! We introduced a fresh new look and broadened our age range to better support clients transitioning from school to university, work, or community life. We were also thrilled to open our new space in the Kurri Kurri clinic for therapy sessions when home or community settings aren’t ideal.

These transitions wouldn’t have been possible without the collaboration and commitment of our families and, most importantly, the continuous work of our dedicated team, who tirelessly support these transitions and consistently assist our families in new and evolving ways.

End-of-Year Celebrations & Transition Ahead

As we wrap up the year, the Explore and Soar team celebrated with a joyful Christmas party, creating beautiful macrame pieces and enjoying a delicious dinner. We had so much fun!

We also held our Annual Reflections and Projections Day, where we identified our achievements and worked toward an actionable plan for the new year. It was a wonderful opportunity to connect, share ideas, and commit to growing together as a team while continuing to support each other, our families, and our communities.

Important Dates: Holiday Closure & Upcoming January School Holiday Programs

At the end of each year, our team takes a well-deserved break to rest, recharge, and spend quality time with our families and friends!

This year, our Christmas closure will begin at the end of business on Friday, December 20th. We will return with our January School Holiday group programs starting Monday, January 13th, 2025!

If you’d like to join our January programs, be sure to secure your spot today! These fun and engaging programs will run from January 13th to 17th and again from January 20th to 24th, 2025. We cannot wait to see you there. Click here to see more about the programs and secure your spot!

Looking ahead to the new year, embracing transitions and growth will remain a central focus at Explore and Soar.

Until next time, we wish all of our Explore and Soar family a joyful Christmas break filled with quality time with loved ones, sunshine, and relaxation. Look after yourselves, and we can’t wait to reconnect in the New Year and continue this journey together!

Wishing You a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Until next time, 
Jess and the Explore and Soar Team

PUBLISHED DECEMBER 2024

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Nurturing Imagination and Social Skills in Today’s Digital World

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NURTURING IMAGINATION AND SOCIAL SKILLS IN TODAY’S DIGITAL WORLD

In our fast-paced digital era, fostering social skills in children is more crucial than ever. These skills are the cornerstone of effective communication, relationship-building, and navigating social situations.

As children grow, their social development equips them with tools to handle conflicts, understand emotions, understand social roles, solve problems, and adapt to changes. However, in a world dominated by technology, the landscape of social interaction is evolving.

Embracing Technology for Social Growth

While children increasingly engage in online activities like online gaming, it’s essential to recognise the potential for social skill development in digital spaces. Online platforms offer unprecedented opportunities for connection, creativity, and sensory input, enriching social experiences in new ways.

Challenges in the Digital World

Despite the benefits, parents’ concerns about online safety and screen time persist. By fostering open communication, setting boundaries, educating on privacy, and serving as positive role models, parents can guide their children through the digital landscape with confidence and resilience. The skills they learn while playing virtual games can also translate into real-world social connections.

Exploring Social Thinking Concepts

Our children may encounter difficulties in participating in imaginative play and sustaining conversations. Sharing what someone else is imagining involves complex processing! It requires focusing your attention on what the other person is doing, interpreting the person’s words and actions, and then placing those ideas in the context of what you already know about the person and the environment.

Incorporating Social Thinking Concepts 

Incorporating social thinking concepts helps promote self-regulation in social contexts. 

Social executive functioning is important for classroom learning, playing, joining in activities, and online social interactions. It can be divided into four categories: Hidden Rules, Smart Guesses, Flexible and Stuck Thinking, and Size of the Problem.

Hidden Rules, Expected and Unexpected Behaviours –

Understanding the unspoken rules of social interactions, known as ‘Hidden Rules,’ is crucial for navigating various situations. It involves aligning our behaviours (what we say and do) with social expectations through skills like interpreting non-verbal cues, social cues, negotiation, collaboration, problem-solving, compromise and empathy. 

Various events, such as turn-taking or winning, may occur during activities like gaming. While adhering to expectations may not always be enjoyable, it ensures smooth progression. Unexpected actions can lead to discomfort among peers, highlighting the importance of social cohesion.

This concept can be challenging for many children, especially when games hold significant meaning. Collaborative efforts with families, including sensory diet activities, help foster self-regulation and engagement during challenging situations.

Smart Guesses –

Making informed guesses, known as ‘Smart Guesses,’ is foundational for social and academic problem-solving. It involves observing cues from peers and anticipating the outcomes of social interactions. In contrast, ‘Wacky Guesses’ are often inaccurate and stem from a lack of information.

To make a Smart Guess in social interaction, we need to figure out what people mean by what they say, and we try to figure out what someone’s facial expression or gesture means and what will happen next. 

This is something that can be a challenge for our children. Here are some strategies to support Smart Guess development:

  • Observation: Encourage children to notice everyday clues in their surroundings, aiding in making informed guesses about others’ thoughts and plans.
  • Guided Narration: Provide guidance during games or activities, helping children interpret and plan for potential outcomes.
  • Interactive Games: Engage in games like “Guess Who,” prompting children to observe, listen, and think critically about their environment.

By implementing these strategies, children can enhance their social insight and navigate interactions confidently and accurately.

Flexible and Stuck Thinking –

A high level of flexibility is needed to consider and adapt within social interaction.  In any given situation, we are expected to consider where we are, who is there, what is happening, what people are saying and doing around us, how they are feeling, and what they might be thinking, and adjust our plans and behaviour accordingly. 

A challenge in any of these areas can lead to getting “stuck” in Stuck Thinking.

Flexible Thinking means we can change our plan, try a different solution to a problem, change our thinking, or give up what we want based on the larger plan of the group.

Stuck thinking is the inability to change what we are doing or thinking based on what is happening around us. If we are Stuck Thinkers, we might see a problem or situation in only one way or follow one rule all the time, no matter where we are or what is happening around us.

Teaching flexibility begins with understanding that there are multiple ways to approach a situation, fostering problem-solving skills and a sense of control. Empowering children to recognise choices and alternatives makes them more comfortable with change, reducing frustrations and promoting active participation.

Incorporating “Flexible Thinking” and “Stuck Thinking” vocabulary in daily activities reinforces these concepts, facilitating smoother adaptation and enhancing social interactions.

Size of the Problem –

In daily life, a ‘problem’ is something that happens that is not part of the plan and makes people feel uncomfortable. Problems cause emotions and reactions of different sizes, and the size of the emotions and reactions are expected to match the size of the problem. 

Problems come in different sizes – 

Small problems can be resolved quickly, and children can handle them independently or with minimal help from others. Children can also aid each other in resolving minor problems, promoting collaboration and empathy.

Medium problems require more time and usually will need assistance from adults. 

Big problems take significant time to resolve and require extra help from others. When big problems happen, even adults may need help from other adults.

It’s crucial to acknowledge that everyone has the right to their own emotional reactions, shaped by their hardwiring (temperament) and life experiences. Encouraging children to understand the varying sizes of problems fosters emotional intelligence and resilience.

Parents can also model problem-solving behaviours and narrate their experiences to reinforce this understanding. This includes identifying the problem’s size, emotional reactions, and potential solutions. For example, what happened? What was the problem’s size? How did you feel about it? What did you do to solve it? How did you feel afterwards?

How Can Explore and Soar Help?

As Occupational Therapists, we target underlying regulation strategies to help children maintain and shift their attention and concentration to activities and navigate their thoughts, feelings, and actions. 

We implement ‘Social Thinking Concepts’ ideas within one-on-one sessions, peer sessions, group programs, and parent education to facilitate the transition into the home environment. You can learn more about our group programs on our website. 

Empowerment and Positive Behaviors

By encouraging children to share ideas and imaginations, we help them learn the skills that are crucial for more sophisticated social interactions and conversations with their peers. Implementing social thinking concepts can support and scaffold their social interactions, empowering them with confidence, resilience, and a foundation of positive social skills that endure throughout their lives.

During gameplay, it’s vital to acknowledge and reinforce positive social behaviours, such as good sportsmanship, cooperation, and empathy. By consistently praising these behaviours, we reinforce their importance and encourage their continuation.

Join us in nurturing our children’s social skills and imagination. Together, we can shape a brighter future filled with confident, resilient, and socially adept individuals. Give us a call today if you would like to find out more.

If you’d like to chat more, please don’t hesitate to contact us today! Call us on 0477 708 217 or email admin@exploreandsoar.com.au

Until Next Time,
Maddie

PUBLISHED APRIL 2024

References – We Thinkers! Volume 2 Social Problem Solvers

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Life Transitions and The New Year

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LIFE TRANSITIONS AND THE NEW YEAR

Happy New Year! We hope you have enjoyed the end-of-year celebrations with some yummy food, rest and spending time doing things that bring you joy. 

Annual Theme – Life Transitions

Progressing from a year of developing Safety for Vulnerability for ourselves, our team, clients, and their families and communities has shaped us into this next phase of ‘Life Transitions’. For myself, our team, and many of our families, they are all going through new life transitions. Life transitions are powerful and have the potential to shape who you were, who you are and who you are becoming.

What are life transitions?

Life Transitions can also be described as ‘Transitional stages of life’.

It is defined by significant changes in roles, responsibilities, and routines requiring you to adapt to new circumstances. It can also involve a constant flow from one temporary state to another, resulting in each of these changes being a transition or a “passage from one state, stage, subject, or place to another” (Transition, 2018).

Transitions in everyday life can be meaningful or a part of everyday life. Different types of transitions, for example;

Smaller everyday life transitions:

  • Engaging in an everyday conversation – transitioning in and out of a conversation with someone.
  • Commuting to school or work – leaving home, travelling, then entering the office or school grounds.
  • Transitioning from different classrooms or from the classroom to recess and back again.

Significant Life Stage Transition:

  • Transition to preschool, Kindergarten, Year 7 and transitioning out of school.
  • Experiencing puberty. 
  • Beginning a relationship. 
  • Moving home: moving from one home to another.
  • Moving Communities: moving from one town to another.
  • Changing sporting clubs or sports.
  • Changing careers, jobs or being promoted with different responsibilities.
  • Entering the workforce.
  • Commencement of University and a significant life transition for us adults is
  • Parenthood. 

Do you have any new life transitions happening this year? Or What life transition are you experiencing or in at the moment?

This year, we have a few of our clients coming to the end of their schooling years, some making the big transition into Year 7 and others who are transitioning into Kindergarten. 

Personally, this year, I am making the new life transition into parenthood alongside my husband. A new life transition for us that you all are already on, and I am thrilled to be joining you. 

For the team, many of us are going through our own life transitions as well and have shaped many of our conversations together by sharing our experiences and different strategies that have helped us along the way.

Explore and Soar’s Life Transition

As Explore and Soar approach our sixth year with you all, we are thrilled to be growing alongside our clients and families! We are excited to be sharing with you an extension of our services and an ability to continue to support you as you continue to grow. 

For Explore and Soar, we, too, are in a new life transition; we have decided to share with you an extension of our service to continue to support our clients as they make the new step and life transition into adulthood. That transition from school to work. That transition to independence, living alone, being self-sufficient and living a meaningful and best life! We are so excited to continue to work with our clients now to the age of 24! This is an exciting opportunity for us to continue to build our occupational therapy team with therapists who are experienced in supporting our teenagers and young adults in these big life transitions!

To mark these life transitions for all of us, you will see our new Explore and Soar logos, socials and website updates, and a uniform change this coming month. We are loving these changes and are excited to share them with you. So keep an eye out, as they are coming soon!!

How Explore and Soar can help you?

Please know you are not alone; each person at different ages and stages in their lives go through different transitions based on their personal life experiences. Each of our clinicians is trained in providing strategies, interventions and support through any life transition, meaningful activity or everyday task. We love to problem solve and help no matter the question or concern. 

Each month this year, you will also have access to a different blog that will go through different life transitions, big or small and have a range of different strategies or ways to support you through those moments. 

We are always here to help in a range of different ways. If you’d like to chat more, please don’t hesitate to contact us today! 

0477 708 217 or admin@exploreandsoar.com.au

Articles:

Adler, A. B & Castro, C. A. (2019). Transitions: a Theoretical Model for Occupational Health & Wellbeing. Occupational Health Science. 3:105-123.

Until next time, 
Jess

PUBLISHED JANUARY 2024

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