Welcoming Our Little Ones: Sharing stories from birth to 1 year old

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Why birth to 1 year matters

What might work for me?

Stories of culture and connection

Many of us continue to learn our stories of culture and connection throughout life. We are all at different parts of our learning journeys and that is OK. One thing is the same for all of us: this journey of learning culture has no end.

Whatever our cultural knowledge, we can talk to our children about family and kinship connections. We can explain how they are related to the people around them.

Many of us are affected by the impacts of the Stolen Generations and other things that happened to break up our families and disconnect us from Country. But it’s good to introduce our little ones to the kin we do have to strengthen their family connection.

In the following video (34 seconds), you’ll see a grandfather (ŋathi) introduce himself to his baby granddaughter, Gutjan. He’s excited that she can recognise him and is talking to him.¹

We can also help connect our children to special places, animals, plants and other culturally important things. This knowledge is often passed down from the Ancestors to Elders, then to children. Sometimes this doesn’t happen. It is OK to look at other ways to get information about important people and places from the internet, books, films and even videos on YouTube. Any information about a person’s culture, family and Country can help a person discover their identity and where they belong.

Connection to Country

Connection to Country creates a feeling of belonging for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

Country is made up of all things: Land, Waters, sky, animals, plants and its traditional people. All of these things about Country are part of a child’s heart, mind and spirit.

We can connect our children to Country by talking about it and touching it.

Some of us don’t get much chance for outside time, so we need to find ways to make this time for ourselves and our children. An easy way we can do this is to find some grass, ground or sand and walk with our bare feet outside to feel connected and grounded ourselves. This can help us to connect to Land and Ancestors.

Lore

Lore is the traditional customs, stories and laws passed down through generations. It guides all parts of life. It is different in every cultural group.

Not all of us get the opportunity to go through our traditional Lore. But we can learn about the important things in our culture from Elders, other people and places so we can build our children’s connection to the old ways.

Children learn the rules and what they should and shouldn’t do through cultural stories and their connection to Country. It can help our children feel connected, and know they are being guided by their Ancestors and are not alone.

For the dads

Staying strong to keep mum and kids safe

Dads can protect mum and baby. But sometimes we need to reach out to our supports to help us stay strong.

If you are feeling worried or no good, you can call 13YARN on 13 92 76 to talk confidentially to another Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person. It will be a culturally safe conversation with no judgement.

Understanding identity

Dads can help children know who they are and where they come from. Telling children who their mob is and how they are connected to community is important.

Storytelling

Dads can pass down cultural knowledge and values by sharing stories. Or maybe you can find local Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Community members who can share stories if you don’t know any. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.

There are also many places online you can find cultural yarns, watch a video or listen to a podcast from people sharing their story – WellMob has a list of podcasts to check out.

More information for parents

• SMS4DeadlyDads sends short texts with info for dads
• The booklet Koori parenting, what works for us shares ideas from Aboriginal parents with childhood trauma on what helped them break cycles of intergenerational trauma.

The Living Story: Birth to one year

You might be interested in the following video (2 minutes, 5 seconds) which shows families and babies from birth to one year old. What do you notice?

Deciding what to do

It is OK if you don’t know where to start. Other families have shared some ideas they found helpful.