Understanding and supporting your child's emotions and behaviours
About this pathway
Children who are supported to experience, understand and express all their emotions in healthy ways are more likely to have positive relationships and good mental health and wellbeing.
Parents play an important role in supporting children’s emotional development, helping them understand their own emotions and express them in healthy ways. Understanding your child’s emotions and behaviours, and knowing the most helpful ways to respond, is not always easy.
Children’s behaviours – especially the ones parents find challenging or worrying – are often reactions to stress and emotional experiences. To respond to these behaviours, it is key to learn what triggers big emotional reactions for your child, acknowledge their experiences and allow them to safely express whatever they’re feeling.
This pathway offers ideas and strategies to support parents in understanding and responding to the range of emotions and behaviours children might experience as they grow and develop. It is informed by the latest research about children’s social and emotional development and what parents can do to support it, as well as the experience and wisdom of families and the health professionals who support them.