HIPPY Riverwood

Have you ever seen a child that says it HURTS to color? Or one that picks up a new color way too often? Or an older kiddo that uses their whole arm/elbow/wrist to color? All of these are signs of hand weakness that impacts the functional task of coloring! 🖍

New on the website is a comprehensive resource on all things coloring. It includes:
•Reasons kids don’t like to color
•Skills needed for coloring
•Coloring skills by age
•How to set up a child for success from a young age
•Coloring skills for toddlers
•How to teach toddlers to color
•Coloring skills for preschoolers (3-4 years)
•How to teach preschoolers to color
•Coloring skills for preschool/Pre-K (4-5 years)
•How to teach coloring to Pre-K kids
•Coloring skills for elementary children
•How to teach coloring to older kids

Go check it out! https://www.theottoolbox.com/how-to-teach-coloring-skills/ 🖍

Earlier this week, we took a little pause as a team in HIPPY Riverwood 💛

Our wonderful tutors came together for a relaxing and creative terrarium workshop, followed by a lovely lunch. It was such a nice chance to slow down, chat, laugh, and enjoy each other’s company outside of our usual busy routines.

Supporting families is meaningful work, but it can also be full-on at times. Days like this are a reminder of how important it is to take a breath, connect, and look after ourselves too.

We feel so grateful for our amazing tutors and everything they bring to the HIPPY Riverwood community 🌿

🎬✨ Movies Under the Stars 2025 ✨🎬

Looking for a fun, free night out with the family?
Canterbury-Bankstown Council is bringing back Movies Under the Stars! 🧺🌙

📅 Dates & Locations:

Sat 11 Oct – Sonic the Hedgehog 3 at Thurina Park, Villawood

Sat 18 Oct – The Wild Robot at Gough Whitlam Park, Earlwood

Sat 25 Oct – Wonka at Marco Reserve, Panania

Sat 1 Nov – Despicable Me 4 at Rotary Park, Riverwood

🕔 From 5pm: kids’ activities, crafts, games, music, and yummy food trucks.
🎥 Movies start at sundown.
💰 Free entry!

Bring a picnic blanket or chair, grab some snacks, and enjoy a movie night under the stars with your loved ones. 🌌🍿

👉 More info here:

Movies Under the Stars 2025 Movies Under the Stars 2025 brings free outdoor movies, live music, kids’ activities and food trucks to Villawood, Earlwood, Panania and Riverwood this spring. Pack a picnic, bring your chairs and enjoy family-friendly fun under the stars from 5pm with movies screening at 7.30pm.

Fun times only! We've rounded up the best ways to keep the kids entertained this spring school hols. Link in comments 👇

Calling all ghouls, goblins and ghastly creatures!

Halloween is back for another year at Fairfield City Museum & Gallery. Dress up in your scariest costumes, and enjoy a night of spooky games, crafts, and trick or treating in our Vintage Village.

Date: Friday, 31 October 2025
Time: 5pm – 8pm
Location: Fairfield City Museum & Gallery, 634 The Horsley Drive, Smithfield NSW 2164
Ages: All ages family event – this event is strictly for children and families only.
Price: FREE, registrations required.
Book via the link below:
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/halloween-at-the-museum-tickets-1763035670149?aff=oddtdtcreator

Please contact staff at FCMG on 02 9725 0190 or at [email protected] for any assistance.

Free 15-Minute Psychology Discovery Call – Learning Links

Worried about your child’s learning, behaviour, communication or social skills?

Our psychologists provide professional assessments for children and adolescents to give clarity and support.

Book your free 15-minute discovery call today to explore the best assessment options for your child:

calendly.com

🌱 The early years matter most!

Did you know a child’s first 5 years lay the foundation for their growth, learning and wellbeing?

The Parent & Carer Hub by NSW Government is full of helpful tips, services and resources to support families from pregnancy to age 5.

👉 Explore here:

Early childhood development What happens during the first 2000 days of your child’s life (pregnancy to age 5) has a huge impact on how they grow, develop and learn. Visit the Parent and Carer Hub to find out how to give your child the best start in life.

A creative arts program empowering children through music, dance, percussion, and art.

📅 Mondays (during school term)
📍 23 Stanley Street, Peakhurst
💡 Subsidies available

✨ Did you know? Learning Links – the organisation behind our HIPPY Riverwood program – has put together a free Learning Difficulties Guide for Parents.

It’s a handy resource with simple explanations and a checklist to help you understand if your child might be experiencing learning challenges, plus where to find support.

👉 Download the guide here:

Learning Difficulties Guide for Parents Download our Learning Difficulties Guide to identify your child's learning strengths and where they need extra support.

Supporting Neurodivergent Children & Young People

The Australian Institute of Family Studies has put together a helpful resource for families and professionals about supporting children and young people who are neurodivergent.

It explores practical strategies, resources, and ways we can all create more inclusive spaces for children with different strengths and needs.

👉 You can read more here:

Supporting neurodivergent children and young people We have created 3 information sheets about supporting neurodivergent children and young people. They define key terms associated with neurodivergence and provide guidance on understanding and accommodating 2 common areas of difference for neurodivergent children and young people: neurocognitive deve...