Information resources

The KidsMatter Primary information resources, designed for parents/carers and school staff, contain detailed information on specific topics that fit within each of the four KidsMatter Primary components about children’s development and wellbeing. These resources are intended for use by adults. Click on the links below to go directly to the entire resource booklet for each component, or scroll further down to download specific information sheets.

Component 1 – A positive school community

Component 2 – Social and emotional learning

Component 3 – Parenting support and education

Component 4 – Early intervention for students

Click here for suggestions on how schools can use the KidsMatter Primary resources

The KidsMatter Primary resources are available in the tables below for download in PDF format. Adobe Reader is require to view all the documents linked to this page. If you do not have Adobe Reader installed, go to: http://www.adobe.com/ to download it for free.

Component 1 – A positive school community                                                                          view this component
About KidsMatter
Parent information sheet Introducing KidsMatter
KidsMatter at your school
Belonging at school makes a difference
Why connect at school?
What makes a positive school community?
Overview booklet Overview of KidsMatter
Other Resources About KidsMatter – Background resources for the initiative.
 Cultural diversity and children’s wellbeing
Parent information sheet  Helping kids connect across cultures
Overview  Why culture matters for children’s development and wellbeing
Suggestions  Supporting children from culturally diverse backgrounds – Suggestions for parents and carers
 Supporting children from culturally diverse backgrounds – Suggestions for teaching staff
Other Resources  Cultural diversity and children’s wellbeing – Other resources
Children with additional needs and mental health
Parent information sheet Supporting kids with additional needs
Overview Understanding the mental health needs of children with disabilities
Suggestions Children with additional needs – Suggestions for parents and carers
Children with additional needs – Suggestions for teaching staff
Other Resources Children with additional needs – Other resources

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Component 2 – Social and emotional learning                                                                                      view this component
Social and emotional learning – How it works
Parent information sheet What social and emotional learning is all about
Why feelings are important
Supporting kids confidence
Overview Why social and emotional learning is important
Suggestions Supporting children’s social and emotional learning – Suggestions for parents & carers
Supporting children’s social and emotional learning – Suggestions for teaching staff
Other Resources Social and emotional learning – Other resources
Helping children cope with fears and worries
Parent information sheet Helping children cope with fears
Overview Helpful coping skills for common childhood fears
Suggestions Helping children to learn to cope
Learning to cope through helpful self-talk
Other Resources Helping children to cope with fears – Other resources
Learning to manage anger
Parent information sheet Kids and anger: How to help
Overview Helping children learn to manage anger
Suggestions Helping children to be cool and stay calm
Talking to children to help them manage anger
Other Resources Helping children learn to manage anger – Other resources
Children and friendship
Parent information sheet Everyone needs a friend
Overview Helping children learn positive friendship skills
Suggestions Supporting children’s friendship skills – Suggestions for parents & carers
Supporting children’s friendships skills – Suggestions for school staff
Other Resources Children’s friendship skills – Other resources
Helping children make decisions and solve problems
Parent information sheet Helping kids choose wisely
Overview Learning to make good decisions and solve problems
Suggestions Supporting children’s decision making skills – Suggestions for parents & carers
Supporting children’s decision making skills – Suggestions for teaching staff
Other Resources Making decisions and solving problems – Other resources
Learning to resolve conflict
Parent information sheet Learning to value others
Learning to resolve conflict
Overview How children can learn to resolve conflict
Suggestions Helping children to resolve conflict – Suggestions for parents & carers
Helping children to resolve conflict – Suggestions for school staff
Other Resources Resolving conflict – Other resources

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Component 3 – Parenting support and education                                                                                   view this component
Children’s development: Understanding emotions
Parent information sheet Making sense of children’s emotions
How come they’re so different? 
Overview How children’s emotions develop and change
Suggestions Supporting children’s emotional development: Understanding and managing feelings
Supporting children’s emotional development: How thinking affects feelings
Other Resources Children’s emotional development – Other resources
Children’s development: Thinking and learning
Parent information sheet Supporting children’s learning
Overview How children’s thinking and learning develop
Suggestions Assisting children’s thinking and learning – Suggestions for parents & carers
Assisting children’s thinking and learning – Suggestions for teaching staff
Other Resources Children’s development: Thinking and learning – Other resources
Children’s social development
Parent information sheet ‘I dare you.’
Overview Children’s social development
Suggestions Supporting children’s social development – Suggestions for parents & carers
Supporting children’s social development – Suggestions for teaching staff
Other Resources Children’s social development – Other resources
Effective discipline
Parent information sheet Catch them being good  
Using effective discipline 
Overview Strategies for effective discipline
Suggestions Making rules and setting limits – Suggestions for parents & carers
Applying effective discipline in the classroom – Suggestions for teaching staff
Other Resources Effective discipline – Other resources
Family relationships
Parent information sheet Strengthening family relationships
When parents separate
Overview Building better family relationships
Suggestions Building better family relationships – Suggestions for parents & carers
Building better family relationships – Communicating effectively
Other Resources Building better family relationships – Other resources 
Coping with separation and divorce – Other resources
Risk and protective factors for children’s mental health
Parent information sheet Stuff happens
When life hurts
Everyone has a right to feel safe
Overview How risk and protective factors affect children’s mental health
Suggestions Building protective factors for children’s mental health – Suggestions for parents and carers
Building protective factors for children’s mental health – Suggestions for teaching staff
Other Resources Risk and protective factors for children’s mental health – Other resources 
Bullying and mental health – Other resources 

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Component 4 – Early intervention for students                                                                                  view this component
Children’s mental health difficulties and how to get help
Parent information sheet Getting in early for kids’ mental health
Knowing when to get help for children
Overview How mental health difficulties affect children 
Suggestions Recognising children’s mental health difficulties – Suggestions for parents & carers
Recognising children’s mental health difficulties – Suggestions for teaching staff
Other Resources Children with mental health difficulties – Other resources
Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Parent information sheet Why can’t Jason sit still?
Overview How Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) affects children
Suggestions Assisting children with ADHD – Suggestions for parents & carers
Assisting children with ADHD – Suggestions for teaching staff
Other Resources Children with ADHD – Other resources
Children with anxiety problems
Parent information sheet When will Sara stop worrying
Overview How anxiety problems affect children 
Suggestions Assisting children with anxiety problems – Suggestions for parents & carers
Assisting children with anxiety problems – Suggestions for teaching staff
Other Resources Children with anxiety problems – Other resources
Children with depression
Parent information sheet What’s making Danielle so moody?
Overview How depression affects children 
Suggestions Assisting children with depression – Suggestions for parents & carers
Assisting children with depression – Suggestions for teaching staff
Other Resources Children with depression – Other resources
Children with serious behaviour problems
Parent information sheet Sam is on a short fuse
Overview How serious behaviour problems affect children
Suggestions Assisting children with serious behaviour problems – Suggestions for parents & carers
Assisting children with serious behaviour problems – Suggestions for teaching staff
Other Resources Children with serious behaviour problems – Other resources
Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders**
Parent information sheet Ash is on his own track
Overview How Autism Spectrum Disorders affect children 
Suggestions Assisting children with Autism Spectrum Disorders – Suggestions for parents & carers
Assisting children with Autism Spectrum Disorders – Suggestions for teaching staff
Other Resources Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders – Other resources
** The examples and suggestions in the Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) resources focus on children with High Functioning Autism and Aspergers Syndrome. In children with Autism, there is usually a much more marked degree of intellectual impairment. These children will require ongoing support and specialised assistance to succeed at school and in life.

To access further information about Autism, including support strategies, see www.autismhelp.info/ or www.aspect.org.au

Please note: KidsMatter supports the dissemination of the information resources, however the KidsMatter copyright and permissions policy must be adopted.