Support Worker Resources

These mindmaps should cover issues that will and will not change. It is important to include both so that they can see what is staying the same.

Mindmaps can include drawings that can be displayed at the centre, or sent home. Visuals are really important for children because their ability for abstract thinking is still developing.

If the family are relocating

A mind map can be created showing what their life looks like now e.g. friends, house and household routines, community, environment, routines, early childhood service and educators, what the environment looks like (google images), household chores (feeding pets).

Another mindmap can be created showing what their life might look like at the new location e.g. new friends, household routines, community, environment, family routines, early childhood service and educators, what the community looks like (google images), household chores (e.g. feeding the pets).

Explain to the child that what they have now is good, and what their life will look like later can still be good, but it will be different. 

A mind map can be created showing what their life looks like now e.g. Dad is home every night after work, he picks you up 3 days a week from preschool and looks at your paintings and sees what you have been playing with, he reads to you at night, he to BBQs at Rita's house with the whole family, he cooks yummy fried rice, he mows the lawns and he tells silly jokes.

Another mindmap can be created showing what their life might look like when he is working away for a few months e.g. Dad is away every night for 3 months, your Mum picks you up each day from preschool, Dad looks at your paintings and what you have been doing at preschool through the pictures and emails that we send him, you listen to him read on the audio recording your Mum did before he went away, we draw pictures of the BBQ at Rita's and send him photos, you miss his fried rice, Mum mows the lawns and he tells silly jokes on the video call each week with Mum and your sister.

Explain to the child that what you have now is good, and what your life will look like later can still be good, but it will be different. You can remind them of when Dad has been away for training before and then came back. For example 'Remember when your Dad was in Nowra for 4 weeks on training? We sent him pictures of what you had been doing at preschool, and you and your Mum video called him on the weekends. We emailed him some photos of your birthday cake you brought to preschool'.