Smiles All Round Psychology

26/02/2026

✴️Term 1 Workshop ~ 3rd March at 10am✴️

📒Have you noticed that our children don’t come with a manual?
That’s one of the reasons we offer a range of practical, solution-focused workshops at Smiles All Round. You don’t need to wait for a crisis. We can upskill our children from a young age (and ourselves too).

👶🧒Young children, especially toddlers and preschoolers are like little sponges. They’re curious, observant, and incredibly capable of learning through repeated positive connection and interactions with a trusted adult in their life. We’ve had children as young as 3 and 4 years old learn basic brain science and simple calming strategies!

Never underestimate what a young child can learn, particularly when they have you, their trusted adult in their corner.

We receive training for most other things — we even take our dogs to Puppy School! So it makes sense to seek guidance and strategies from all different sources along our parenting journey.

This upcoming workshop provides an opportunity to come along and learn practical ways to help teach your children to notice their emotions, and develop strategies to cope with those big or tricky feelings.

Our information and strategies are backed by science and show you how to apply these concepts in everyday life. We’ll explore how to teach children about the brain 🧠 science behind emotions, support them to regulate their feelings, and help them move through, rather than avoid unpleasant thoughts and emotions.

This term our workshop will be held during the daytime. So if you’re a parent or caregiver with young children at kindy, childcare, or primary school, this timeslot might suit you better than our evening workshop.

We can’t wait to connect with our community on Tuesday!

You can purchase tickets via this link:
https://www.stickytickets.com.au/organiser/392253/events/188951

23/02/2026

🎉Celebrating 10 Years ~ Mandy Clark 🎉

In January, our longest-serving team member reached a very special milestone — 10 years with Smiles All Round.

In January 2016, Mandy joined me, helping to grow Smiles All Round from a solo practice into the team of nine we are today in 2026. When we first started working together, Mandy was based at home, making phone calls to clients to schedule appointments and follow up on enquiries.

By April, we had rented our first premises. We didn’t even have an EFTPOS machine and clearly remember celebrating the day it was installed! We had a clunky old printer, paper invoices, and paper files stored in manila folders. Since then, we have grown from a paper-based system to an online practice.

Mandy’s role has evolved over the years. She has been our 2IC and worked across administration, finance, HR, workshop coordination (over 80 workshops!), overseeing our assessment service, workshop preparation, daily scheduling, and so much more.

Affectionately known as my “Wingy” — the Robin to my Batman — Mandy has also accompanied me on many road trips to present workshops, especially in the early days when we were just getting started. She has supported me through the many ups and downs of running a business.

Mandy is also a mum of three, and her youngest was barely two when we first started working together. We’ve literally shared in watching our children grow up! Over the years, she has also been actively involved in our local Little Athletics and Naracoorte Netball and Football Club, giving back to the communities we support.

It is impossible to put into words all that Mandy has done and more importantly, the incredible person she is. What is also truly special to me is having a teammate and friend who treats Smiles as if it were her own. There is no doubt about her dedication and investment in the work we do and the families we support across the Limestone Coast and West Wimmera.

Thank you, Mandy, for who you are and all that you do. Thank you for putting up with my ideas, humour, and emotions, and for helping bring plans and dreams to fruition.

Now it’s time to book some well-earned holidays 🙂

Smiles from a very grateful boss lady,
Lana-Joy 🙂

22/02/2026

This post from NeuroChild Community is just as relevant today as the day they shared this:
1. Regulate
2. Relate
3. Reason

A dysregulated person (child, teen, or adult) struggles to access reason because the thinking part of their brain has gone offline.

At Smiles, we focus on these steps often, whether we’re supporting parents and caregivers in our consulting rooms, or sharing practical strategies and insights at workshops for caregivers and educators.

There is always something to learn...and apply 😉

19/02/2026

Thank you for sharing Onwards and Upwards Psychology 🙏🌈

18/02/2026

✴️Term 1 Workshop 〰️ 3rd March✴️

You can purchase tickets via this link:
https://www.stickytickets.com.au/organiser/392253/events/188951

17/02/2026

As parents, we have the privileged and challenging role of teaching, nurturing, and loving our children. Here are a few points to consider when promoting strong mental health and resilience in our young people:

🟢In the early years, plenty of face-to-face (connection time) is recommended, not the “tech type” on your smart device. The best place for your child to learn about emotions and develop their play skills is through their relationship with you.

🟢Let your children experience discomfort and allow them to struggle when completing tasks or activities. Let them have a go and ask for help when needed, instead of stepping in immediately to keep them happy. If we make everything “happy” and do everything for them at the drop of a hat, how will they learn to use coping skills when things get tough? Remember, F.A.I.L stands for “First Attempt In Learning.” (Note: They need help learning and applying the coping tools - think skill development 😉).

🟢Validate your child’s feelings. This encourages empathy and helps them understand themselves better.

🟢Teach your children how to label both pleasant and unpleasant emotions by modelling it yourself. For example, say “I am feeling happy because [situation].” Use phrases like “I feel [emotion] when…” instead of “You make me feel…” This helps your child take ownership of their feelings.

👨‍👩‍👦Young children need adult guidance to manage and express their emotions appropriately. Be a positive role model, and be mindful of how you express your own emotions. After all, our children are amazing observers!

We’re planning to run more practical parent support workshops this year. If you're interested in adding to your parenting toolkit, let us know at admin@smilesallround.com.au.
Also check out our socials and website homepage for upcoming workshops. Soon our most popular workshop will be available on demand too, which will help to make it even more accessible!

Our children didn’t come with an instruction manual. We're often given “Huff and Puff” classes, give birth, and sent on our merry way, leaving us second-guessing ourselves and wondering how to handle this parenting journey. Know that we are here to help, guide and encourage!

17/02/2026

FYI

16/02/2026

Same goes for adults too!

When kids are outside, they’re not just passing time. They’re restoring their minds, strengthening their bodies, and finding space to breathe. 🌿

Nature isn’t extra. It’s essential.

Let them roam. Let them play. Let nature do what it does best.

(Any why not start with some birdwatching this weekend? See my previous posts about the Backyard Bird Count happening right now!)

09/02/2026

Activities happening in our community;

24/12/2025

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas 💚❤️

At this time of year, we are choosing to enjoy and savour the moments we have, knowing how precious life is. We hope you can meet the day in whatever way it unfolds, and that there are moments of love, joy, and peace to be found.

We also want to acknowledge that Christmas can be a difficult time for some. If you are experiencing grief, loss, or finding this season heavy, please know that your feelings are valid — you are in our thoughts 🙏

It has been a privilege connecting with so many people through Smiles All Round this year. Thank you to everyone who has been part of our journey in any way, we are truly grateful. We feel fortunate to live and work in the Limestone Coast and West Wimmera!

A BIG thank you to our Smiles team for your care, commitment, and passion in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of young people and families. It is a privilege to work alongside one another and to support each other through both the joys and challenges.

Holiday Closure:
Smiles All Round will be closed for the Christmas break and will reopen on Monday 5 January 2026.

Best wishes,
Lana-Joy & the Smiles Team