Early years initiative ByFive will host the free webinar in partnership with Yarra Communities that Care on Thursday, October 14, at 7pm.

The webinar is intended for children, parents, carers and coaches, and will look to provide practical strategies to parents about re-engaging in social, cultural, sports and arts activities after COVID-19 lockdowns.

ByFive coordinator Rachel Robinson said the idea was inspired by questions posed by parents at the group's past webinars.

"We had more than 4000 people engage with our webinar, and we invited questions and comments. A lot of people had comments about practical strategies when their child was feeling worried about re-engaging with sport," she said.

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"Partially because sometimes there was a sense of reticence about getting back out there, maybe some fear around COVID, but also because we haven't been used to doing it and we are feeling a bit anxious about it.

"We are so used to engaging on social media or homeschooling, we need a bit more encouragement to get out there."

The event will feature a presentation from paediatrician Dr Bill Garvey, as well as guest speakers Lucy Stephan, former A League champion Mark Milligan, and lawyer and writer Nyadol Nyuon.

The guest speakers will share their positive childhood experiences, including subjects such as; being able to talk with family about their feelings, feeling supported by family during difficult times, and enjoying participating in community traditions.

"We really want our guest speakers to reflect on those important parts of childhood development," she said.

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"We are going to be asking those people to reflect back on their own childhoods. We don't just want to focus on the gold medals."

Ms Robinson said the aim of the webinar was to get parents to think about how activities that give joy can produce childhood development.

"Dr Bill in particular is going to talk about child development, where it is sort of like an elastic band," she said.

"Children are often stretching at that elastic band and it allows them to go out into the world, but it allows them to be attached to their family.

"Naturally, we keep stretching that band as children grow older. The COVID lockdowns have made that elastic band a little bit less flexible.

"So we actually have to do some encouragement to get our children back on that natural trajectory of stretching that band, it is a really normal part of child development."

To sing-up to the webinar, visit https://www.trybooking.com/BUPFQ.

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