"My daughter, for the first time ever, wanted to go to school at the start of the school year."

Why is the Growing Stars workshop important?

Having a learning difficulty can result in heightened anxiety and worry about learning, frustration and low self-esteem.
​
The Growing Stars workshop helps children aged between 6 and 12 years with learning difficulties, such as dyslexia, dyscalculia or dysgraphia, to develop strategies to manage their learning difficulty. It also helps their parents to understand and manage the emotional impact of living with this learning difficulty. Having a learning difficulty can result in heightened anxiety and worry about learning, frustration and low self esteem overall.
"My son, at the start of the school year, stood up in front of the class and said, 'I'm dyslexic. It doesn't mean I'm not smart; I just think in a different way'."

How Growing Stars helps children and parents

The Growing Stars workshop helps children to:
  • recognise these feelings of anxiety and worry;
  • recognise there are strengths that come with thinking differently;
  • recognise they are not alone with their learning difference;
  • understand strategies they can use to help lessen the impact of anxiety;
  • understand strategies they can use for feelings of frustration;
  • know who they can talk to and help them with ways to do that; and

Parents attend a workshop to understand what their children will learn and how they can continue to support them after the workshop.
"My son, at the start of the school year, stood up in front of the class and said, 'I'm dyslexic. It doesn't mean I'm not smart; I just think in a different way'."

What activities are included?

Growing Stars uses a variety of fun and colourful activities that are learning difficulty friendly. These activities help the children start to identify feelings and what strategies will help them.

Activities include mosaic making, salt jars, blowing bubbles, listening to stories, making their own box to store what they make, making a strengths shield, playing sleeping lions, making a poster about themselves, and much more.
"Definitely the way he understands his feelings. He can put it into practice and link to feeling nervous, saying, ‘That’s ok I need to breathe,’ or use one of his techniques, or will verbalise it to us, or I can ask what he is feeling. It’s been really amazing to see what affect this workshop has had on him."

What you need to know

  • The workshops are limited to 10 children per workshop.
  • They are run in the school holidays and are held over two consecutive mornings from 8.45am to 12.30pm.
  • The workshops cost $50 per child and are for children aged between 6 and 12 years who experience a learning difficulty.
  • Parents of children taking part need to subscribe to the Dyslexia Support Southland Mailing List.
  • Parents are required to attend a parent information evening prior to the children’s workshop.
  • Parents are able to attend a second parent workshop afterwards if they want more support and are also kept up to date with helpful strategies and information through emails.
  • Each workshop is run by two trained facilitators and with 2 - 3 trained helpers.
  • All personnel are police vetted.
  • The Learning Differences Aotearoa Trust have a Vulnerable Children Policy and Privacy and Confidentiality Policy which you may wish to read.

Upcoming Workshops

Growing Stars workshops have limited spaces and can book up quickly. Check out upcoming workshops using the button below.
"He is definitely more positive about school and learning activities also."