Topic: Children’s health

Breastfeeding is universally acknowledged as the best way to feed a baby, providing significant health benefits for both mother and baby.

Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months provides necessary nutrients and energy, helps develop a strong immune system, supports jaw and mouth development, and reduces obesity risk. Source 1

For mothers, breastfeeding can lower the risk of breast and ovarian cancer, type 2 diabetes, and enhances bonding through oxytocin release.  Source 1, Source 2

Pregnancy can also increase vulnerability to mental health issues, with anxiety disorders affecting 10 to 20 per cent of mothers, often co-occurring with depression. Source 3

Where to refer?

If experiencing mental health symptoms or concerns about breastfeeding, mothers can seek support from services like:

• NSW Perinatal Infant Mental Health Services
• Australian Breastfeeding Association
• Karitane
• Tresillian
• Pregnancy Birth and Baby
• Child and Family Health Nursing Services

Handout: The benefits of breastfeeding

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Multilingualism has been linked with many benefits for children and families.

Children may learn multiple languages simultaneously, and may show a preference for one language.

Receptive language skills are key in determining if speech pathology intervention is required for multilingual children.

The amount of exposure to each language directly impacts language acquisition, and the trajectory of language development for multilingual children can differ from monolingual children. 

When a child has strong skills in their first language, they are better able to learn additional languages.

Early referral to speech pathology is critical if a child is having difficulty with understanding and following verbal information in their primary language.

Additional resources

Speech pathology service directory in South Western Sydney

23-minute webinar: The Benefits of Multilingualism

Interview for careforkids.com.au: Teaching multiple languages to under fives

Expert in the field of multilingualism: Paola Escudero

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These articles are written by members of the ‘Stronger Seeds, Taller Trees’ project which includes professionals from a number of government and non-government organisations in South Western Sydney. The group aims to support GPs working with families to navigate and access timely services when they have a concern about a child’s development.

It can be difficult to know when a child’s behaviour is a typical developmental stage or whether further intervention is needed.

Examples of challenging behaviour include:

• defiance/refusing age-appropriate requests
• overly fussy such as difficulty settling
• hurting self/others
• excessively angry when refused their wishes
• ongoing or frequent emotional outbursts

When to refer?

Challenging behaviour is part of typical development.

However, families need support if their child’s behaviour is impacting on family functioning, the child’s engagement in daily tasks and learning environments, or if there are safety concerns.

Some behaviours may be due to an undiagnosed developmental delay (e.g., social, emotional, communication), disability or trauma.

Where to refer?

• psychologist or family therapist
• parent-child interaction therapist
• parenting education program such as Circle of Security or Tuning in to Kids

 Find out more

• where and how to refer
• parent child interaction therapist
• EACH referral
• parent handouts (English, Vietnamese, Arabic) 

 

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These articles are written by members of the ‘Stronger Seeds, Taller Trees’ project which includes professionals from a number of government and non-government organisations in South Western Sydney. The group aims to support GPs working with families to navigate and access timely services when they have a concern about a child’s development.

One in four children in South Western Sydney are at risk of delayed fine motor skills.

The importance of fine motor skills

Fine motor skills allow children to participate in play, self-care and school-based tasks. Early intervention services can maximise outcomes for children who may be having difficulty learning these skills.

Fine motor skills include:

• hand and finger strength
• hand preference
• using two hands together
• hand-eye coordination
• object and pencil grasp
• cutting skills
• drawing and handwriting skills

 Screen and refer

Every appointment is an opportunity to screen a child’s fine motor skills. It is more important than ever to refer to occupational therapy early as waiting times in both public and private services are increasing.

How to identify a fine motor delay

Quick checklist by age

Occupational therapy: Where and how to refer

 

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A Neighbourhood Centre is a good first point of contact for families and individuals, and is a place for local people to access a range of community services which can include:

• activities for children and young people and information for parents
• educational and self-help courses, activities and groups for parents
• referrals to other services
• a welcoming place where people can discuss a problem and gain help
• other support such as emergency relief and no interest loans

Neighbourhood Centres have existed in NSW since at about 1961. They’re independent community based not-for-profit organisations funded by the NSW Government.

Download a list of Neighbourhood Centres in South Western Sydney.

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These articles are written by members of the ‘Stronger Seeds, Taller Trees’ project which includes professionals from a number of government and non-government organisations in South Western Sydney. The group aims to support GPs working with families to navigate and access timely services when they have a concern about a child’s development.

One in five children in South Western Sydney are at risk of poor language outcomes.

The importance of language skills

Language skills are needed to understand and communicate across different environments. A child’s early language skills are predictive of long-term outcomes.

The harm of ‘watching and waiting’

Watching and waiting will not rectify a language delay. Instead, it will prevent children from accessing critical early intervention.

 It’s more important than ever to refer early, as waiting times in both public and private services are growing.

Instead: screen and act

Every consultation is an opportunity to screen a child’s communication. In addition to the Blue Book, you can use this screening checklist to identify when needs a referral to a speech pathologist. 

These articles are written by members of the ‘Stronger Seeds, Taller Trees’ project which includes professionals from a number of government and non-government organisations in South Western Sydney. The group aims to support GPs working with families to navigate and access timely services when they have a concern about a child’s development. 

It’s time to start thinking about whether children are ready for school when they are four.

Transition to school has an impact on a child’s educational trajectory.

A successful transition to school requires more than academic skills.

It requires social, emotional, communication, and motor skills.

GPs have a role in partnering with schools and supporting families to:

• Find early learning opportunities like playgroup and preschool (Starting Blocks)
• Access supports if there are concerns about their child’s development (Where and how to refer)
• Delay school start if a child is not ready (children in NSW should start school by the year they turn six)
• Enrol and attend kindergarten orientation (NSW Department of Education Parents and Carers Hub)
• Communicate with their school if additional supports are required (Enrolling and starting primary school: children with disability)
• Ensure their child is ready (Starting School: preparing children)

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Further links:

Children with disability have the right to go to school alongside their peers: Reimagine Australia Ready, Set, School! resource

Starting School (NSW Department of Education)

Playgroup NSW

Find your local school

Transition to School Resource

Crunch&Sip

Conversations for Collaboration

Early intervention: where and how to refer

These articles are written by members of the ‘Stronger Seeds, Taller Trees’ project which includes professionals from a number of government and non-government organisations in South Western Sydney. The group aims to support GPs working with families to navigate and access timely services when they have a concern about a child’s development.