Shire Child Psychology

22/12/2025

MERRY CHRISTMAS
This Christmas, we thank you for your commitment to your child's therapy journey.
Your trust, collaboration, and the kind, positive messages you share with us are deeply meaningful to us as psychologists.

Wishing you all a peaceful Christmas and hopeful New Year.

Warmly,
The Shire Child Psychology Team
Melissa, Sarah and Laura.

We enjoyed reflecting and celebrating the end of 2025 by learning a new skill - Pasta making!
What fun we had! Laura was missed (recovering from illness) however we look forward to coming together in 2026 to connect in mindful moments.

09/12/2025

As Australia's under 16s social media ban begins, families may wonder what this means for them. At Shire Child Psychology, we support informed conversations about dopamine, digital habits, and child wellbeing. Healthy boundaries can make a difference. If you need help navigating tech use or supporting your child's emotional wellbeing, we're here.

21/10/2025

Accomodations and environmental adjustments are super important when supporting ADHDers! We are passionate about supporting teachers to design and implement strategies and tools to assist in getting the best out of each student. Take a look at some simple switches and accomodations that can help. For more support or information please reach out via our online enquiry form. www.shirechildpsychology.com.au/contact

03/10/2025

🧠 ADHD Redefined, let’s focus on strengths!

03/10/2025

✨October is ADHD Awareness Month✨ Let's celebrate individual strengths and characteristics!
People with ADHD often shine in these areas:
🔸CREATIVITY & IMAGINATION: Bringing innovative ideas to learning, writing, and STEM projects.
🔸ENERGY & ENTHUSIASM: Fueling passion for tasks and projects.
🔸RESILIENCE & PERSEVERANCE: Developing strength through overcoming daily challenges.
🔸HYPERFOCUS: Demonstrating intense concentration when engaged.
🔸COMPASSION & EMPATHY: Showing understanding and kindness towards others.
🔸HONEST, STRONG MORAL COMPASS: Guiding principles of honesty and fairness.
🔸IMPULSIVE, SPONTANEOUS, RISK TAKER: Embracing new experiences and challenges.
⭐️ Share what strengths you admire in individuals with ADHD ⭐️ Comment below ⭐️

02/10/2025

✨October is ADHD Awareness Month! 🧠This month, we're shining a light on the strengths and celebrating the awesomeness of ADHDers! 🧠We'll also be sharing essential supports to help thrive. Stay tuned and spread the word! 💫Embracing ADHD positivity💫

13/05/2025

📝. A psychometric assessment helps to understand a child’s cognitive abilities, learning style, emotions and behaviour. It can support school planning, understanding and unlock persona development. Read along to find out some common myths vs facts so help you make the best decision for your child’s development.

01/04/2025

1️⃣ Connection Builds Trust and Openness:
Children act out or shut down when they feel unheard, misunderstood, or emotionally disconnected. If they sense that you’re only trying to control them rather than understand them, they may resist or withdraw.

2️⃣Behavior is Communication:
Instead of seeing their defiance as disrespect, try to view it as an expression of an unmet need. Are they feeling overwhelmed, unheard, or powerless? By staying calm and curious, you show them that their feelings matter.

3️⃣Emotional Regulation Starts with You:
Children learn how to regulate their emotions by watching how you handle yours. If you react with anger, they mirror that. If you stay calm and connected, they’re more likely to soften and listen.

4️⃣Connection Reduces Power Struggles:
When kids feel connected, they’re more willing to cooperate. Instead of forcing compliance, try engaging with empathy:

“I see you’re upset. Want to tell me what’s wrong?”

“It looks like you don’t like what I just said. Let’s talk about it.”

5️⃣ Listening First Encourages Listening Back:
If you model active listening—giving eye contact, nodding, and reflecting back what they say—your child will be more likely to do the same when it’s your turn to talk.

➡️Top tips to Strengthen Connection in Tough Moments:
1. Pause before reacting – Take a breath to center yourself.

2. Get on their level – Speak gently and make eye contact.

3. Acknowledge their feelings – “I see that you’re frustrated.”

4. Offer choices – “Would you rather do homework now or after a snack?”

5. Use humor or play – Playfulness can diffuse tension and reconnect you.

💫Connection doesn’t mean letting go of boundaries; it means enforcing them with empathy. When your child feels connected to you, they’ll be more open to hearing you.

For more info or supports, you can reach out to us via our website: www.shirechildpsychology.com.au

17/03/2025

📱PHONES & SETTING BOUNDARIES 📱 📴This can be a tricky path to navigate for parents and caregivers! Here are some top tips when considering giving your child access to a phone. Your child may have already asked you for a phone or told you about how many other friends of theirs already have one. If you are considering providing one to your teen, then here are some brief, simple but effective tips to implement boundaries around its use.

13/03/2025

🤍 Caregiver / parent self care 🤍 Parenting and supporting children throughout different stages of life is stressful and can often lead to parenting burnout. Feedback from parents and research suggests that engaging in fun, enjoyable and positive activities on a regular basis supports improved mood, and reduces the impact of stress. We call this self care, and this can be as easy as going for a regular walk in nature, having a bath, painting your nails or even doing a gym class. We can’t pour from an empty cup, so prioritising parent or caregiver wellbeing is super important! ❔❔what are some self care activities that you make priority for???

04/03/2025

“You can’t stop the waves but you can learn to surf” is a famous saying by Jon Kabat-Zinn. This is one of our favourite quotes which is used to symbolise a message of resilience. Waves are unstoppable, they are a force of nature. They may change heights and intensity but they will still come. We can brace against them, but they are unstoppable. 🌊Waves are like emotions in this sense. Whilst we cannot stop them, we can learn ways to tame them or even enjoy them. It doesn’t necessarily make the waves smaller, but it does make it a little less scary and slightly more manageable. 🏄Learning to ride the waves takes time, perseverance and commitment. It won’t be easy, and there may be some times that the ride to the shore will be rough and wild. But if you are willing to embrace it, you are allowing yourself the courage to grow in strength and reailience.

03/03/2025