Social-emotional skills are important for children’s health and wellbeing from the early years to adulthood at home, school, work and everyday life.
Young children are still developing parts of the brain which help understand and manage strong emotions and feelings. Children often use behaviour to communicate a need, feeling or emotion because they do not yet have the words, understanding or skills to manage them in other ways.
Many factors can contribute to big feelings, behaviours and emotions, such as needing connection and comfort, frustration, tiredness, hunger, sickness, feeling overwhelmed, and changes to routine.
Parents can help with strong nurturing relationships, being responsive and engaged in parenting, and seeking support when needed. There are services in the local community which can provide emotion focussed parenting education which can help:
- parents supporting their child to identify and talk about emotions
- practicing turn-taking and sharing
- reinforcing positive behaviour
- role modelling
- teaching calming strategies
More information and support
Learn more about children’s social and emotional development, understanding emotions and responding to behaviour:
Social and emotional development in preschoolers – Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network
Understanding behaviour as communication – Australian Childhood Foundation
Social and emotional wellbeing – Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
Social-emotional learning – NSW Department of Education
Understanding and managing emotions – Raising Children Network
Parenting and family support
Parents and carers can also access support, parenting programs and family services in South Western Sydney and across NSW:
South West Sydney Family Connect and Support – Uniting
Support for children, young people and families – Mission Australia
Parenting, child and family services – CatholicCare Sydney
Child and family services – Fair Foundations
Community programs – FOCUS Connect
Village Connect – Karitane
Free telephone counselling and support for parents and carers – Parent Line NSW
This article appeared in Practice Pulse on Wednesday, 26 August 2026. If you are a GP, practice nurse or practice manager in South Western Sydney and do not get the weekly Practice Pulse email, speak to your Practice Support Officer.
