Cockburn Kids usually tells you what is coming up for families with children. Unfortunately many of our events and groups have been suspended during the COVID-19 crisis. However, the City will be trying to provide as many alternatives and support services as possible during this time, so please keep up to date on our Facebook page and our Website to see what is happening cockburn.wa.gov.au
Cockburn Kids will instead provide alternative information during this time including:
What is the City doing? What is open and what is closed? - see COVID-19 update below
How are our services operating, especially parent services, support services and financial counselling?
What about our libraries and environmental services?
How are some of our other family centres and parent network groups operating?
How can you talk to your children about what is happening with COVID-19?
And let's have some fun in this crazy new world - what can you do with your children at home?
Information about how services are operating changes daily, so contact services directly, check websites and Facebook pages.
Our Family & Community Development team
Community development and other services continue to support the community through phone or online contact (e.g.Aboriginal, Children's, Disability, Cultural Diversity, Community Development team). Our Volunteer Resource Centre is operating a full service via phone and email. Financial Counselling is delivering a full service via phone appointments. Cockburn Support Service is providing counselling, advocacy, information and referral via phone appointments. Cockburn Parenting will continue to be delivered via alternative methods (phone, online) - see South West Metro Parenting below. Parenting classes and workshops will be available as soon as possible online, either live or recorded.
What changes for South West Metro Parenting?
The South West Metropolitan Parenting Service (SWMPS) is a vital source of information and support for parents. Their face to face services have been suspended due to COVID-19 government recommendations. The SWMPS partners in Cockburn - Cockburn Parenting Service and Meerilinga Parenting Service are committed to providing resources and support to families via telephone or Zoom online platforms and sharing useful content, tips and ideas on social media: Meerilinga Parenting Webpage South West Metro Parenting Facebook
Story Box Library - a vibrant, interactive storytime experience via a diverse range of storytellers, each sharing past and present book titles instead of Storytime.
Kanopy Kids - Stream videos from a wide selection of educational and enriching videos on Kanopy Kids Developmentally appropriate with age-based ratings, as well as additional parental control, Kanopy Kids helps to keep your kids viewing safe. Kids categories include TV Series, Learning Languages, Animated Storybooks, Anime Favorites, Classic Films and Movies for the Whole Family.
How are our Child Care Services working?
Family Day Care Service (FDC) and In Home Childcare (IHC) Service are both well informed of requirements and directives and are following information and guidance from the Health Department and the WA Education and Care Regulatory Authority.
FDC and IHC Educators have access to City of Cockburn Childcare Program Staff and are being supported and information provided to them. Information includes additional risk management plans including hygiene practices to follow and notices have been provided for Educators to display.
Vulnerable families have been identified, particularly within the In Home Childcare Service that provides childcare within the child’s family home. Families with children in care have all been provided information from the service.
Playgroups update
All playgroups have been closed in accordance with government regulations, but many are sharing tips on what to do with children at home on their Facebook pages.
Playgroup at Home WA In this challenging time, Playgroup WA has some exciting news. They have launched a new Facebook group called Playgroup at Home WA.
This group is for WA families with children aged 0-5 years and in it they will share many different activities and ideas to keep you inspired, entertained and connected while at home. They encourage you all to join them and share, interact, and have fun.
South Lake Ottey Centre Unfortunately South Lake Ottey Centre is closed in accordance with COVID-19 guidelines, so their playgroups have also closed. They are maintaining a skeleton staff to work behind the scenes to continue to provide support to those in need in the community. For essential information/assistance contact 9417 2372 or email hello@otteycentre.org for an appointment and they will try and assist as best they can.
Connecting Community for Kids
Connecting Community for Kids (CCK) has responded to the evolving crisis developing a variety of methods and platforms to keep community engaged, supported and children visible.
Virtual action team meetings set up via Zoom
Weekly on-line virtual chats open to the general community at set times
Community Mothers continuing to support the community via Zoom meetings
A new website section with details of key community supports and a variety of resource links and activities listed
Community champions involved and connected by filming short videos of themselves and their children doing cultural cooking, craft etc and sending them in
Running children's on-line art, photographic and nature/craft competitions
Sharing community initiatives e.g. rainbow challenge (photos and captions including different languages sent in and posted on social media)
Dads and kids activities, especially with a high level of unemployment and more dads at home during this time.
Following the requirement to close community centres, Yangebup Family Centre has activated contingency plans to support program users, engage with members and the community in new ways. Join their enews and Facebook so they can remain in touch and share new activities and ideas.
You can do this by: - visiting the website and sign up for enews - joining the Facebook page, and groups which are relevant to you:
Yangebup Family Centre
Friends of Yangebup Family Centre
Social Sewing
Essential Early Education and Care programs still operate at the centre. Occasional Care is available Monday, Wednesday, Friday 8.30am-3.30pm $87/day with CCS available Places are available. Contact info@yangebupfamilycentre.org or 9417 9995 to book.
Outdoor opportunities
Get outside for fresh air, fun and some Vitamin D (but don't forget to be Sunsmart). There are lots of great things you can do outside in your gardens or backyards with your children.
Grow it Local The City is a proud partner of Grow It Local, an online platform to help you grow food at home. Check out Grow it Local for gardening tips, connect with like-minded growers and register your patch. You can even make the most of being home this Autumn and get stuck into the garden with the #isolationgardenchallenge – be resourceful and see how much you can grow without going to the shops. If you’re anything like us you might even have a forgotten packet of seeds hiding in a drawer in your kitchen!
Birds in Backyards Autumn Survey April-May Visit the website and get involved in the Autumn Birds in Backyards bird count!
Celebrate the Environment at Home Outdoor classroom every day! A number of key dates are coming up this Autumn/Winter. Celebrate these days in your garden or with a themed activity. Plenty of activity ideas on Facebook and Instagram.
Earth Day 22 April
World Migratory Birds Day 9 May
Biodiversity Week 18-22 May
International Day for Biological Diversity 22 May
World Environment Day 5 June
Or how about checking out Nature Play for activities to do at home with children. Try their Time in Nature has not been cancelled: 25 things to do in self-isolation.
Online and other fun ideas for families
Taronga Zoo in Sydney is livestreaming - Taronga TV
Arts and culture from your couch Google Arts & Culture has compiled a list of 500+ museums and art galleries that you can wander around from the comfort of your living room couch. View collections from museums, such as, The Museum of Modern Art in New York, Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam and Tate Britain in London - Arts & Culture list
Talking to children about social distancing. Look at the 2 minute video posted on the Western Australian Association for Mental Health's Facebook page.
Ngala Parentline Another option to the parenting support mentioned above for advice on talking to children about COVID-19, dealing with anxiety or any other parenting queries is the Ngala parentline.
