快播视频

Big feelings and behaviour

Strong emotions are a natural part of growing up, for children and for teens. When big feelings lead to challenging behaviour, it can feel confusing and exhausting for families. Children and adolescents are still developing the skills to recognise, manage and express emotions, and behaviour is often a sign of stress, overwhelm or unmet needs.

 

The information on this page is designed to help parents and carers better understand what sits underneath children鈥檚 and teens鈥 behaviour. It offers practical, evidence鈥慽nformed strategies to support emotional regulation, strengthen connection, and respond with empathy while maintaining clear and consistent boundaries.

Short Videos听

Catholic Schools Maitland鈥慛ewcastle has created a series of short videos in collaboration with leading Australian parenting experts on big feelings and behaviour. These videos provide parents and carers with practical insights and simple, easy鈥憈o鈥憉se strategies designed to support their child鈥檚 wellbeing.

How to help kids regulate

Watch Now

Emotional regulation Part 1

Watch Now

Emotional regulation Part 2

Watch Now

High emotions = low intelligence

Watch Now

Anger is a secondary emotion

Watch Now

Additional Resources

Triple-P Online

Parenting is full of听ups and downs. Sometimes it can feel like guesswork when it comes to improving behaviour and strengthening your relationship with your child. This听蹿谤别别,听self-paced program听is designed for parents and carers of children under the age of 12 and听will empower you with proven strategies to confidently tackle any challenges that come your way, at every age and stage. From dealing with tantrums, building social skills, boosting cooperation, listening, self-regulation, and more. This听颈蝉苍鈥檛听a rulebook 鈥撎颈迟鈥檚听a toolkit to help you feel calmer, solve problems before they get bigger and support your child to reach their full potential.

ParentWorks

ParentWorks听is a鈥痜ree鈥痮nline program for parents and caregivers of children 2 to 17. It is an鈥榚vidence-based鈥欌痯rogram, which means that the program has been tested in research and found it be effective in improving parenting skills, parenting听confidence听and child behaviour.

Parents and caregivers may find this program helpful for听managing challenging child behaviours such as tantrums, aggression, non-compliance, inattentive or hyperactive behaviour听and听sibling conflict. It is designed to also increase participants confidence in their parenting and, provides guidance on working as a team with their partner.听听ParentWorks听is entirely self-directed, which means that you work through the program on your own and there is no听assistance听from a professional during this program.

WellMob

WellMob听brings together online resources made by and for听Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People. On the site, you will find听websites, apps, podcasts, videos, helplines, social听media听and online programs all with a focus on social and emotional wellbeing.

ReachOut听

ReachOut is a free service, funded by the Australian Government, designed to support parents of teens. Its website includes guidance on a听range of topics such as drugs, bullying, social media, mental health and wellbeing, ADHD听and also听includes information on how parents can access free, professional support with a trained parenting coach.听听

Anger Is Like Armour

By听Shona Innes & 脥risz Ag贸cs

This book helps children understand anger as a feeling that shows up when they are hurt,听scared听or overwhelmed. Using simple language and gentle illustrations, it supports parents and children to talk about what听anger feels like, why it shows up, and how it can be expressed safely. It is especially helpful for opening calm conversations after big emotional moments.听It is best suited for children ages 4-8 years.听

 

I Am Peace: A Book of Mindfulness

By听Susan Verde & Peter H. Reynolds

This beautifully illustrated book introduces children to mindfulness in a way that feels comforting and accessible. Parents can expect simple ideas around breathing, noticing feelings, and finding calm when worries or big emotions take over. It is designed to be read slowly, with pauses for reflection and shared discussion.It is best suited for children ages 4-10听years.

 

My Calm Me Down Book

By Trace Moroney听

This practical book supports children to recognise when they are experiencing a 鈥渂ig feelings storm鈥 and offers clear,听childfriendly听strategies to help calm their body and mind. Parents will find ideas they can practise alongside their child, such as breathing, movement and sensory activities, making it a useful tool during emotionally intense moments.听It is best suited for children ages 4-9 years.

 

My Mindful Brain, My Brain Is a Home, My Brain First Aid, My Breath

By听Orlanda Bettison

The听My Brain听series helps children understand what is happening in their brain when they experience big emotions. Using simple explanations and friendly characters, these books introduce ideas about how the brain works, why strong feelings show up, and what can help when emotions feel overwhelming. Parents can expect clear, practical strategies that support emotional regulation, mindfulness, and coping skills, making the books especially helpful for shared reading and conversation.

The series is often valued by parents and educators for children who like to know听why they feel the way they do, or who benefit from concrete tools rather than reassurance alone. The series is best suited to children ages 5鈥12 years, with support and discussion from a trusted adult.

 

Parental As Anything

By Maggie Dent

Written by one of Australia鈥檚 most trusted parenting voices,听Maggie Dent,听this book draws together contemporary research, professional听experience听and real family stories. It supports parents to respond calmly and confidently to children鈥檚 and teens鈥 emotions, with a strong emphasis on connection,听coregulation听and emotional safety rather than control or punishment.

Best suited to parents of children and teens, particularly those navigating big emotions, anxiety, or behaviour challenges.

 

A Parent鈥檚 Guide to听SelfRegulation

By听Dr Amber Thornton

This听evidenceinformed听book focuses on the role of the parent鈥檚 own emotional regulation as the foundation for helping children regulate theirs. It helps parents recognise triggers, break cycles of escalation, and build calmer responses during emotionally charged moments.

Best suited to parents of children and teens, particularly those feeling overwhelmed by repeated emotional or behavioural challenges.

 

What Makes You Stronger

Dr Louise Hayes, Dr Joseph听Ciarrochi听& Ann Bailey听

Written by leading Australian psychologists, this book helps parents understand how emotional resilience is built through everyday experiences rather than by avoiding discomfort. Grounded in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and decades of research, it supports parents to respond more calmly and effectively when children and teenagers experience big emotions,听stress听or setbacks.

Rather than offering quick fixes, the book focuses on helping听adults听model emotional regulation,听flexibility听and compassion, recognising that these qualities strongly shape how children learn to manage their own emotions. Parents will find practical,听evidencebased听guidance for supporting young people through anxiety, frustration and emotional overwhelm, while also strengthening their own coping skills.

Parental As Anything–听How to help your child manage emotions

ABC Listen

Throwing a tantrum, being naughty and bawling their eyes out. Kids often react to situations that stress them in a way听that’s听socially unacceptable.

A huge part of growing up though is learning how to regulate emotions.听So听what can parents do to help their kids spot听what’s听going to tip them over the edge before it happens?

Parenting expert听Maggie Dent finds out from self-regulation expert, Dr Stuart Shanker.

This podcast听episode听is most recommended for parents and carers of听children听navigating big feelings, mood听changes听or withdrawal.

 

Happy Families-听Managing emotional dysregulation听with Dr Justin Coulson听

In this practical and听easytofollow听episode, Dr Justin Coulson explains what emotional dysregulation is and why children and teens sometimes react in ways that seem out of proportion to the situation. Using clear听neuroscienceinformed听explanations, he helps parents understand the difference between behaviour and the emotions underneath it.

The episode offers simple, realistic strategies parents can use to help children calm their nervous system, build emotional regulation听skills听and feel supported rather than judged.听

This podcast episode is most recommended for parents and carers of children and teens who experience strong emotional reactions,听meltdowns听or shutdowns.

 

Emerging Minds-听How听is loneliness听impacting听young people in Australia?

This episode explores the growing impact of loneliness on children and young people, drawing on Australian research and insights from听mentalhealth听professionals. It helps parents understand how loneliness can show up as mood changes, withdrawal,听anxiety听or behaviour challenges, particularly during times of transition.Parents are guided to recognise warning signs and consider practical, compassionate ways to support connection, belonging and emotional wellbeing at home and in partnership with schools.


This podcast episode is most recommended for parents and carers of听primaryaged听children and adolescents, especially where social connection or wellbeing is a concern.

Smiling Mind听

Mental fitness听doesn鈥檛听have to be another thing to add to your to-do list. With the Smiling Mind App, families can use short, age-appropriate sessions to navigate busy mornings, transitions after school, or bedtime routines.听

Try practising mental fitness in everyday family moments:

  • In the morning, to enhance focus and calm
  • On the go, to make travel a mindful and enjoyable experience
  • After the school day, to unwind and relax
  • At听meal times, to create a calm dinner table environment
  • Before bed, to fall asleep鈥攁nd stay asleep鈥
  • During weekends, to foster family connection and boost everyone’s mood听

Every session is designed to help kids听establish听new habits and foster positive mental wellbeing and resilience.听

Parent Line NSW

Parent Line NSW is a free听and confidential听telephone counselling and support service for parents and carers with children, aged 0 to 18 years.听A team of trained and professional counsellors are available 9am to 9pm, Monday to Friday and 4pm to 9pm on weekends to听assist听with guidance whether you are caring for a baby,听child听or teenager. Call听1300 1300 52 or visit their website for more information.

Student Wellbeing in Catholic Schools Maitland-Newcastle

At Catholic Schools Maitland-Newcastle, your child鈥檚 wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do.鈥

Our schools are communities built on faith, respect and genuine care; places where every young person is known, valued and supported to鈥痶hrive.听

Our approach is guided by Catholic identity and shaped by clear policies and practices that nurture student wellbeing, positive relationships and safe behaviour in every school day.鈥

Learn more