{"id":118676,"date":"2025-11-09T04:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-11-08T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/byroncoasttimes\/?p=118676"},"modified":"2025-11-05T23:55:49","modified_gmt":"2025-11-05T12:55:49","slug":"making-slime-for-kids-mental-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/byroncoasttimes\/news\/making-slime-for-kids-mental-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Making slime for kids mental health"},"content":{"rendered":"

A COMBINATION of creative therapies, family involvement, and evidence-based practices is making a positive difference in the lives of children and their families.<\/p>\n

The Mijung Jarjum Kids in Mind (MJKIM) program helps children navigate challenges and build emotional resilience.<\/p>\n

Mother of 11-year-old Oscar, Jennifer Stokes said they found solace and support through the program.<\/p>\n

\u201cOscar has a long history of anxiety for an 11-year-old. He was being bullied at his old school, and it all came to a head around the same time as the floods. It was overwhelming,\u201d Stokes said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe moved him to a new school, which was a good decision, but he still needed more support.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was at MJKIM that Oscar met Frank Coughlan, which proved a significant turning point.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrank was so warm and approachable. Oscar felt safe and comfortable with him from the first moment, which was a big deal because he didn\u2019t usually like talking to adults,\u201d Stokes said.<\/p>\n

\"\"
The program incorporates a mix of play, creativity, and reflection through activities including slime-making, puzzles, and games. Photo: SUPPLIED<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHe really enjoyed his time there, and he started to feel more comfortable in his own skin and less anxious about being himself. I could see the difference it made.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was fun, and it gave Oscar a chance to express himself in ways he hadn\u2019t before,\u201d Stokes said.<\/p>\n

\u201cOscar still has anxiety, but things have continued to improve a lot. He\u2019s more settled, and it feels like something clicked for him during those sessions.\u201d<\/p>\n

With MJKIM for over a decade, Coughlan works with children and families to address challenges such as anxiety, anger and school issues.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe use a lot of creative and expressive therapies because kids often find it hard to articulate their feelings in words,\u201d Coughlan said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s about building connection and trust through activities. These activities help kids feel grounded and safe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Coughlan emphasised the importance of working with families.<\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes parents come in thinking we\u2019ll \u2018fix\u2019 their child, but it\u2019s about supporting the whole family,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery child is different, and every session is unique, but at the heart of it all is the belief that with the right support, kids can overcome incredible challenges. That\u2019s what keeps me going.\u201d<\/p>\n

For information, call Social Futures on 1800 719 625 or visit socialfutures.org.au\/mijung-jarjums<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A COMBINATION of creative therapies, family involvement, and evidence-based practices is making a positive difference in the lives of children and their families. The Mijung Jarjum Kids in Mind (MJKIM) program helps children navigate challenges and build emotional resilience. Mother of 11-year-old Oscar, Jennifer Stokes said they found solace and support through the program. \u201cOscar […]<\/p>\n

Read More…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":228,"featured_media":118677,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"post_folder":[],"class_list":["post-118676","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nMaking slime for kids mental health - Byron Coast Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Mijung Jarjum Kids in Mind helps children build emotional resilience through creative therapies, family support, and evidence-based practices.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/byroncoasttimes\/news\/making-slime-for-kids-mental-health\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Making slime for kids mental health - 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