Your childhood is a time of fun, learning and adventure. You are now in primary school, you’re making new friends and learning more about how the world works and where you as an individual and as a kid fit in to that!
You still have a strong support system from your family and community but slowly as you get older you may be given small responsibilities in taking care of yourself like remembering to do your homework or pack your lunch.
This page will explore the key goals and milestones, challenges and tasks as well as some services you can access that can assist you as a kid.
Image source: Koori Parenting: What Works For Us, Victorian Aboriginal Health Service.
1. Eat Healthy
Active Tasks
- Identify healthy food options
- Define ‘Sometimes’ food vs. ‘Regular’ food.
- Develop healthy snacking options
- Limit takeaway & junk foods
Supporting Resources
2. Maintain sound Mental Health
Active Tasks
- Understand what it takes to maintain good mental health
- Keep connected with your community
- Identify the people in your circle who you know and trust (could be Aunties/Uncles/older siblings/etc.) and can speak too when you’re feeling down
- Look out for identifiers; ADHD, Autism. Recognise that this manifests differently in boys and girls
- Engage in creative activities. Art, music, painting, photography, filmmaking
- Culturally safe Mental Health Support Services
- Be aware of who the school guidance counsellor is
Supporting Resources
- Cultural Activities, Arts & Craft
- Cultural Art & Crafts
- Community & Cultural events
- Social & Emotional Wellbeing Fact sheets
- WellMob, Social & Emotional Wellbeing resources
- Yarn it out! Article
3. Keeping Active & Fit
Active Tasks
- Join local/school sports team
- Join a Koorie sports club
- Attend Koorie sports carnivals
- Make time for exercise during the week
- Learn a traditional game that you can play with your community
Supporting Resources
- Yulunga Traditional Indigenous Games
- The Fitzroy Stars (website)
- The Fitzroy Stars (Facebook page)
- Melbourne Aboriginal Youth Sport and Recreation Co-Operative
- The Rumbalara Football & Netball Club
- Spark Health
- Koorie Basketball Academy
- Wellah Workout Series
- Move It Mob Style (Dance Exercise videos)
Image source: Cultural Hub, Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency.
4. Get enough sleep
Active Tasks
- Understand the importance of healthy sleep
- Understand the healthy habits that help promote quality sleep
Supporting Resources
- School age: sleep (Raising Children resource)
- Better Sleep advice (Headspace)
- Facts on healthy sleep (Headspace)
5. Have clean healthy teeth
Active Tasks
- Understand the importance of having healthy teeth
- Understand how to properly brush your teeth
- Book regular dentist appointments
Supporting Resources
- Building Strong Teeth - Visual flip chart
- Dental services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (Victoria)
6. Stand strong against racism
Active Tasks
- Learning to walk away
- Develop Self-care practices
- Tell your parents or caregivers about racism that’s being experienced
- Tell teacher (if happening at school)
- Find creative outputs to express feelings (music, art, painting, photography, videography)
Supporting Resources
- Responding to Racism (It Stops With Me)
- Responding to Racism (Beyond Blue)
- Deadly & Proud YouTube channel
- Racial Vilification Laws Victoria
Downloadable Resources
Download and print the resources below.
-
Guide to Healthy Eating - Wall Chart
Eat different types of foods from the five food groups every day. Drink plenty of water. [Source: www.eatforhealth.gov.au]Download
-
Healthy, Deadly Lunch Boxes!
These cards are full of great ideas for different foods and snacking options that you can have in your lunch box to make it healthy and nutritious.Download
-
Building Strong Teeth - Visual flip chart
A visual flip chart that explains the importance of keeping your teeth clean and how to do this. [Source: Queensland Health]Download
-
Dental services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
A dental services brochure produced by The Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne for First Nations people residing in Victoria.Download