Kids First Children's Services

27/03/2026

Mum and Dad Glue by Kes Gray, illustrated by Lee Wildish, is a gentle and reassuring book for children whose family is going through change.

It tells the story of a little boy trying to find glue to stick his mum and dad back together - a touching way to explore the sadness, confusion, worry and hope that can come with separation.

What we really value about this book is its clear message for children: family change is not your fault, and you are still deeply loved.

This latest addition to the Kids First professional library has been a helpful one for some of our families, and is a lovely resource for parents, educators and clinicians wanting to open up this conversation gently.

If this book might help a family you know, feel free to share this post with them.

26/03/2026

There’s something really valuable about stepping out of the day-to-day and coming together to learn from each other. 🤝

At yesterday’s Lunch & Learn, our multidisciplinary team spent time sharing ideas, asking questions, and building on the way we support children and families in real, practical ways.

Our psychologist Amy Jansen Sturgeon shared key insights from her recent professional development in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, with a focus on supporting neurodivergent children.

We also loved welcoming Courtney and Michelle from who gave us a glimpse into the creative and meaningful ways their support workers are enriching the lives of local children and young adults in the community.

These regular sessions are something we really value. They lead to some really useful conversations about how we can support children with big feelings, build flexibility, and feel more confident in themselves - and they help us stay connected as a team, keep learning, and make sure what we offer families continues to feel practical, relevant and grounded in real life.

Thank you to the CM Care team for sharing your work so generously, and to our Kids First colleagues for the consistent commitment to excellence and service that sits behind everything you do. 🌿

25/03/2026

If you have spent this week looking for a school hat, negotiating about socks, or saying “we need to leave now” more times than you care to admit, you are in very good company.

With only a few days to go before the school holidays, plenty of children are tired, less flexible, and more easily overwhelmed. Their grown-ups often are too.

When mornings get hard, what usually helps is not more talking. It is simple family systems that help children feel capable and parents feel calmer.

1. Give school things one home
A cheap coloured flexi-tub - the kind you can grab online, or pick up from Kmart or Bunnings for less than $5 - can make a big difference.

Pop these in the same spot every afternoon:
♦ school bag
♦ hat
♦ shoes
♦ library bag
♦ notes or readers

The goal is simple - no more 7:52am treasure hunts for a missing shoe.

2. Use a visual schedule
Young children respond much better to what they can SEE than to the same instruction repeated six times.

A simple picture routine can really help:
♦ toilet
♦ get dressed
♦ breakfast
♦ brush teeth
♦ shoes on
♦ bag by the door

You can print pictures, draw them, or just take photos on your phone and stick them up where your child gets ready.

Then instead of sounding like a broken record, you can say, “What’s next?”

It helps your child feel more capable and takes some of the heat out of the morning.

3. Make breakfast boring on purpose
Too much choice can turn breakfast into another battle.

Pick 2 or 3 easy options and keep them the same on school mornings. Then set up what you can the night before:
♦ bowls and spoons out
♦ drink bottle filled
♦ lunchbox ready
♦ breakfast foods in the same place

Instead of, “What do you want for breakfast?” try,
“Today it’s toast or Weet-Bix - which one are you having?”

That gives your child a little bit of control without opening the door to a full debate before 8am.

Some seasons are harder than others, and this end-of-term stretch can definitely be one of them.

If mornings are feeling harder than they should right now, it doesn't mean you are doing anything wrong. It may just mean your children need a bit less pressure, a bit more structure, and a few simple systems to lean on.

Save this for next week, or share it with another parent who is also doing their best before 8am.

23/03/2026

👋 Welcome Emily Potter 💛

We’re so pleased to welcome Emily to the Kids First team as our newest Early Intervention Specialist.

Emily comes to us from Lifestart, a highly respected service supporting children with disability and developmental delay. In a lovely full-circle moment, it’s also where our founder, Sonja Walker, first began her own journey more than 20 years ago.

Emily brings years of experience supporting children and families across preschools, schools and community settings, and works alongside children in classrooms and playgrounds to help therapy goals carry over into everyday life.

As a mum herself, Emily understands the pressures families face and brings a practical, grounded approach that feels realistic and helpful day to day.

Emily, we’re so glad you're here and we can't wait for our children, families and educators to get to know you! 💛

20/03/2026

What a fabulous morning we had with the magnificent Maggie Dent at her Sydney presentation of 'Girlhood: Raising our little girls to be happy, healthy and heard' today! Maggie's years of research, experience and advocacy were appreciated by a big audience of parents and professionals. If you get the chance to see Maggie in person or on one of her popular online webinars, don't miss it. She is simply the best! https://www.maggiedent.com/events/

18/03/2026

The wonderful Maggie Dent will be in Sydney THIS SATURDAY to present her fabulous 'Girlhood: Raising our girls to be healthy, happy and heard' seminar.
It starts at 10am at the Northside Conference Centre Cnr Pole Lane and Oxley St, Crows Nest, Sydney, NSW, Australia
If you have never seen Maggie speak, you are in for a treat - and for parents, carers and educators of girls, her insights, ideas and guidance is not to be missed

👇Link to bookings in the comments below

Girlhood: Raising our girls to be healthy, happy and heard. The early years of a little girl’s life will shape her future in powerful ways. In her book Girlhood, Maggie ...

17/03/2026

📣 If you collect a child from daycare, preschool or OOSH at the end of the day, this may sound familiar.

Many children arrive at care around 7.30 or 8.00 in the morning and are not getting home until after 6.00 pm. By the time pickup arrives, they may have spent ten hours:

• listening carefully
• concentrating on learning
• navigating friendships
• following instructions
• coping with busy rooms and playgrounds

That is a very long day for a young nervous system.

Teachers and early educators often see how hard children are working all day. Many are doing an enormous amount of emotional and social self-management.

So, when a child bursts into tears in the carpark, refuses to walk to the car, or melts down the moment they see their parent, it can feel stressful - and sometimes a little embarrassing.

But very often, that moment is simply when the “trying hard” tank is empty.

They have held it together all day.

When they finally see the person they feel safest with, the effort releases.

It doesn’t usually mean they had a bad day.

It usually means they feel safe enough with you to let their guard down.

A few small things can help make pickup time easier.

🧸 Start with connection
Before heading straight to the car, take a moment for a cuddle, a calm hello or sitting together for a minute. That brief pause can help a tired child settle after a very long day.

🥚 Have a small snack ready
Even if dinner isn’t far away, many children benefit from something small straight away. Think of it as the 'starter', not spoiling dinner. Cheese, yoghurt, a boiled egg, a small sandwich or chicken strip can take the edge off hunger and help avoid the classic 6 pm crash.

🚶 Slow the transition to the car
Busy carparks, noise and lots of instructions can overwhelm tired children. Walking slowly and keeping things simple often helps their nervous system regulate.

🍽 Be flexible about the family meal
Of course, it’s wonderful when families can sit down together for dinner every night. But many working families don’t live in that ideal world - and that’s okay.

If weeknight dinners often end in tears and raised voices because everyone is exhausted, it may help to think differently about when your family connects around food.

Some families find that weekend dinners, Sunday lunches or even breakfast together are calmer and more enjoyable times to connect.

Children rarely remember what was on the plate.

They remember how it felt to be together.

📋 Use a simple evening routine your child can see
Late afternoons can become harder when children hear lots of instructions: take your shoes off, wash your hands, sit down, eat dinner, get ready for bath…

For many young children, a visual schedule can help enormously.

Pictures showing the “when we get home” routine - snack, play, dinner, bath, story, bed - give children something they can see and follow.

Children of this age learn best from what they can see, not from repeated verbal instructions.

A visual routine quietly shows them what comes next, which often lowers the stress level in the household after a busy day.

🌙 Lower expectations for the evening
After a ten-hour day, some evenings are simply about getting through dinner, bath and bedtime. That’s okay. The goal is not the perfect family evening. The goal is helping everyone land safely at the end of a big day.

🌆 If the late afternoon feels tricky at your place, hang in there.

Many children are simply running on empty by that point in the day.

And if you’ve just finished a long workday yourself, you might be too.

💛 Giving your child - and yourself - a little grace and space can make a real difference.

If you know a parent, teacher or educator who might find this helpful, feel free to share it with them.

15/03/2026

Every child experiences the world in their own way.

This week offers a gentle reminder that different ways of thinking, learning, communicating and responding are part of what makes us human.

Children do best when we understand them more deeply, appreciate their differences, and make space for who they are.

14/03/2026

Want OT support without the after-school rush?

Before school OT can make life much easier for busy families. It can mean less pressure after school, fewer clashes with homework and dinner, and support at a time of day when some children are more settled and ready to engage.

We now have before school OT appointments available on Tuesdays with experienced Kids First Occupational Therapist Chiran Nimsara.

Chiran is a very popular member of our team, and families really value his calm, practical approach with children.

If your child would benefit from support with motor skills, sensory processing, emotional regulation or everyday independence, these sessions could be a very practical fit.

These spots are limited and unlikely to last long.

📞 Contact us on 9938 5419
🔗 Complete our online enquiry form via the link here https://kids-first.com.au/contact-us/

12/03/2026

👋 Meet Rebecca King - or ‘Bec’ as most of our families know her! 💬

We say 𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙆𝙞𝙙𝙨 𝙁𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙛𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙮, 𝙮𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙆𝙞𝙙𝙨 𝙁𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩 𝙛𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙮… and Bec is a perfect example.

Bec first worked with us more than a decade ago. Since then, she’s run her own local speech practice, become a mum, and built an impressive career supporting children and families across the Northern Beaches. This year, she’s returned to Kids First – and we couldn’t be happier to welcome her back.

With more than 18 years of experience, Bec is a highly respected Speech Pathologist known for her calm confidence, practical advice, and a great sense of humour that kids instantly warm to.

She now leads our Speech Pathology team while also working directly with children who need support with speech sounds, language, literacy, stuttering and social communication.

Bec offers both in-clinic and mobile speech therapy sessions, supporting children at Kids First and in their schools so strategies can be used where children learn and play every day.

Bec has a lovely way of helping children relax, have a laugh and build their communication skills at the same time.

We’re so glad she’s back at Kids First - right where she belongs 💛

10/03/2026

📣 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 - 𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 - 𝗺𝗲𝗹𝘁𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲.

Across Australia, many families describe the same moment.

The front door opens…
The school bag hits the floor…
And suddenly everything unravels.

Floods of tears.
Snapping at siblings.
Refusing simple requests.

Parents often ask us: "𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦?"

For many children, the school or preschool day takes an enormous amount of effort.

They spend hours listening carefully, following instructions, concentrating on learning, navigating friendships and coping with busy classrooms.

Many teachers and early educators see this every day. They know that some children are working incredibly hard to manage their emotions, follow instructions and navigate friendships in busy classrooms. By the end of the day, that effort can be exhausting.

When those same children finally reach home, the pressure releases.

Child psychologists often call this after-school 'restraint collapse'.

The meltdown isn’t planned.
It’s a release.

A few small changes in the first 20 minutes after school can make a real difference.

Things many families find helpful include:

🧘 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 (𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻𝘀)
15 - 20 minutes with no demands at all can help children reset. Quiet play, drawing, Lego, backyard time or simply lying on the couch can help their nervous system settle.

While children are decompressing, it is usually best to keep them off screens. After a busy day of concentrating, learning and processing information, many children benefit more from low stimulation activities that help their body and mind settle.

🥚𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗶𝗻-𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝘀𝗻𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆
After hours of concentrating and moving around, children are often genuinely hungry. Protein-based snacks help stabilise blood sugar and avoid the classic 5 pm crash. Think yoghurt, cheese and crackers, boiled eggs, chicken strips, meatballs or tuna on toast.

💬 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝗲
A tired child can feel overwhelmed by lots of questions the moment they walk in the door. Sometimes a simple “I’m glad you’re home” can work better.

⏳ 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲
Homework, unpacking bags and chores can often wait 20 minutes while your child resets.

🤝 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁, 𝘀𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿
When emotions are high, reasoning rarely works. Sitting beside your child, speaking calmly and staying steady helps their nervous system settle much faster.

Here's a perspective shift that might help parents....

• Children often save their biggest emotions for the people they feel safest with.

• When a child melts down after school, it is rarely about poor behaviour.

• More often, it is the moment when their emotional battery is simply flat.

If the late afternoons are tricky at your house, hang in there. Many children are simply running on empty by the end of the day - and perhaps you are too.

💛 Giving your child - and yourself - a little grace and space can make a real difference.

If you know a parent or educator who might find this helpful, feel free to share it with them.

08/03/2026

📌𝗔 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗔𝗗𝗛𝗗 𝘂𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀

Across Australia, more GPs are being trained to play a bigger role in ADHD assessment and care. For some families, this may make it easier to start getting answers with a local GP, rather than always needing to begin with a specialist.

Because each state is handling this a little differently, the local pathway will still vary depending on where a family lives.

👨‍👩‍👧 If you’re a parent:
Start with your regular GP. This is often the best first step if you are concerned about attention, impulsivity, hyperactivity, learning, behaviour or emotional regulation.

When you book, it may help to ask:

🔹 Does this GP assess children for ADHD, or help coordinate referrals?
🔹 Is this GP trained in the current ADHD pathway in our state?
🔹 If not, can your practice suggest a GP nearby who is?
🔹 If assessment is needed, what are our options beyond medication?

It is also worth knowing that ADHD assessment can involve more than one professional. Information gathered by a psychologist or school counsellor, together with feedback from parents and teachers, can help build a clearer picture of what a child is finding difficult and what kind of support may be most helpful. If you already have reports, questionnaires, notes from school, or information from a child psychologist or school counsellor, it can be helpful to take these with you to the GP, as they may contribute to the broader assessment process.

🍎 If you’re a teacher:
Teachers are often the first to notice when a child is finding school harder than expected. One of the most helpful things you can do is describe the pattern you are seeing in clear, everyday language.

For example, you might mention that the child is:

▫️ finding it hard to sustain attention
▫️ acting impulsively
▫️ frequently restless or on the move
▫️ having trouble starting or finishing tasks
▫️ reacting strongly to frustration or change
▫️ showing a pattern over time rather than just having a rough week

A gentle way to raise this with a parent might be:

“𝑰’𝒎 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒑𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒎𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒍 𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒅. 𝑰𝒕 𝒎𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒃𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒉 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝑮𝑷 𝒔𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒈𝒖𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒙𝒕 𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒑.”

💬 ADHD is a sensitive topic and, understandably, families often have lots of questions when they are trying to make sense of their child’s unique needs.

For many families, assessment is not about rushing into a medication pathway. It is about understanding a child’s needs more clearly, getting answers, and making informed decisions about support at home and at school.

📍 If you know of a local GP practice that has undertaken ADHD training, feel welcome to share it in the comments so other families can explore options in their local area. It may save another family a lot of time and uncertainty.