Relationships with Children

Online Masterclasses: A Framework for Understanding and Responding to Children's Behaviour

Develop your knowledge with a leading expert and receive ongoing support

We recognise the significant rise in the number of children exhibiting behaviours that educators and teachers find challenging. Building the skills to manage these big behaviours not only enhances outcomes for children but also supports the well-being of teachers and educators.

To be effective and ensure each child can reach their potential, early childhood professionals need to clearly understand what drives children’s behaviour. Created and led by child development expert Professor Cathrine Neilsen-Hewett, this training equips early childhood educators with evidence-based strategies to address challenging behaviours in children. This 4-part online masterclass series provides practical tools and ongoing support to empower your entire team with an evidence-informed framework to reduce the incidence of challenging behaviours.

The program unpacks a practice framework called The 6 Rs to Understanding and Supporting Children’s Behaviour (6Rs). This framework is designed to help teachers and educators comprehend the complexities of children’s behaviour and intentionally develop children's capacity to navigate their environment. Each component of the framework is informed by a rich evidence base on children’s behaviour, effective early childhood pedagogy, and the Practices and Principles embedded in the EYLF V2.

Participants will complete the program equipped with a comprehensive toolbox of strategies and tips. These tools are designed to help you understand and respond to children’s intentions and behaviours 'in the moment,' as well as to foster their self-regulatory capacity across various learning contexts.

Note: At checkout, enter only one attendee name. We will gather the names of additional attendees via a survey after booking. 

Hear what Professor Cathrine Neilsen-Hewett says about the training


Online masterclass series overview

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Webinar 1: Understanding and Responding to Children's Behaviour: Exploring the Why Behind Behaviour

25th February, 10am-12pm

Child development expert Professor Cathrine Neilsen-Hewett will guide participants through an exploration of the crucial role of the brain in shaping behaviour, children's developmental capacities in relation to behaviour responses, and the influences of trauma and challenging environments.

In this first webinar you will be introduced to the 6R framework - an evidence-based approach to responding sensitively and effectively to behaviours that challenge. Participants will be supported to understand the “why” behind children’s behaviours, and to critically reflect upon existing program strengths as well as potentialities for growth and development. 

Cathrine will discuss the routes to behaviours that challenge: The interrelated factors in a child’s life such as temperament and diagnosis, familial dynamics, parenting approaches, neighbourhood influences, early childhood education settings, as well as broader socioeconomic contexts, and their impact on behaviour and development.

Webinar 2: Understanding and Responding to Children's Behaviour: Trauma Responsive Practice and Pedagogies

4th March, 10am-12pm

In this webinar, child development expert Professor Cathrine Neilsen-Hewett will explain how to foster safety and security for children through relational pedagogy and intentional teaching. Participants will learn practical strategies to build self-regulatory capacity - a skill critical for children’s learning, wellbeing and development. Participants will be introduced to the innovative and popular Self-Regulatory Ship, a teaching tool that brings the 6Rs together in a fun analogy that is easy to understand and remember.
 
Participants will leave the session armed with a toolbox of tools and tips that are designed to not only help you to better understand and respond to children’s behaviours ‘in the moment’ but to build their self-regulatory capacity across a range of learning contexts. 

Webinar 3: Community of Practice Q&A session

11th March, 10am-12pm

Webinar 4: Understanding and Responding to Children's Behaviour: Empowered and Enabled

18th Mar, 10am-12pm

Professor Cathrine Neilsen-Hewett will explore the significance of staff wellbeing and capacity to effectively respond to behaviours that challenge.

Together you will examine the way that supported and empowered educators can engage in relational pedagogy to provide a sense of safety and security for the children in their care. You will discuss the key characteristics of enabling environments, including consistent routines and clear expectations and the important role of the environment in shaping behaviour.

Participants will develop an understanding of effective communication and collaboration and how this supports a consistent response to children’s behaviour. The session will also cover the importance of consistency in educator-child interactions, the role of clear communication in setting behavioural expectations, and how respectful, trust-building practices can reduce the incidence of behaviours that challenge. Cathrine will share practical strategies for creating a relationally inclusive and supportive environment that supports capacity building.

Webinar 5: Understanding and Responding to Children's Behaviour: Building Better Behaviours

25th Mar, 10am-12pm

During this workshop, you will explore tools and techniques for building children’s self-regulatory capacity and the development of strong, respectful relationships with children, emphasising the significance of a nurturing and responsive environment. We will explore activities and pedagogies designed to build self-regulatory capacity across everyday experiences (i.e., within STEM-based activities, through imaginative play, through dialogical reading experiences)

Participants will be introduced to tools designed to audit and enhance their service’s physical, relational and pedagogical environments, ensuring they are responsive to children's developmental needs, interests, and cultural backgrounds. By understanding and applying these principles, educators can create enriching environments where children feel safe, respected, and engaged, ultimately leading to more positive behavioural outcomes.


 

Reminder: At checkout, enter only one attendee name. We will gather the names of additional attendees via a survey after booking. 

 

About your trainer

Professor Cathrine Neilsen-Hewett is the Academic Director of the Early Years, University of Wollongong, is a member of the National Early Childhood Development Council and sits on both government and non-government advisory committees and boards in Australia and internationally.

She has demonstrated leadership and scholarship in translational research with a strong track record in developing and delivering professional learning initiatives across the early childhood education sector. She has co-led numerous large-scale research projects, has authored and co-authored academic papers and been recognised for her expertise in children’s behaviour, self-regulation, early childhood pedagogy and workforce development. 

 

 

 

FAQs

When will the webinar recordings be made available? +

The recording of each webinar will be made available to ticket holders via email within 5 working days of each live online workshop.

For how long will the recordings be available? +

All recordings will remain available to watch for 2 weeks after the last live workshop.

When will I receive my certificate of attendance? +

A survey will be sent out after the event to gather attendee details. Details will need to be completed for a certificate to be issued.

  • All certificates for face to face attendees will be sent by email within 3 weeks of the event.
  • All certificates for live webinar attendees will be sent by email within 3 weeks of the final live webinar.
How many team members can attend if I have purchased a team ticket for the online session? +

A Team Ticket covers all staff members who work within your service.

For how long will I have access to the Padlet resource library? +

The Padlet resource library is packed with supporting resources to the training. It’s important you work through the supporting resources in your own time. You will have ongoing access to the Padlet resource library.

Why am I being charged for multiple team tickets at the booking page for the online sessions? +

When booking, please enter the name of only one attendee. At the end of the training, CELA will gather the names and details of all team members through an evaluation survey. This survey will also be used to gather names so that we can issue certificates of attendance and verify payment for all participants.

National Quality Standard Areas

Area 1 – Educational Program Practice

Area 5 – Relationships with children

Area 6 – Collaborative partnerships with families and communities

Available Dates

  • Tue, 25 Feb + 4, 11, 18 & 25 Mar 25 🕒 10am - 12pmBook now

    Understanding and Responding to Children's Behaviour: Exploring the Why Behind Behaviour

    Date: Tuesday, 25 February 2025
    Time: 10.00am - 12.00pm
    Delivery Method: Webinar
    Venue: Webinar

    Understanding and Responding to Children's Behaviour: Trauma Responsive Practice and Pedagogies

    Date: Tuesday, 04 March 2025
    Time: 10am - 12pm
    Delivery Method: Webinar
    Venue: Webinar

    Community of Practice Q&A session

    Date: Tuesday, 11 March 2025
    Time: 10.00am - 12.00pm
    Delivery Method: Webinar
    Venue: Webinar

    Understanding and Responding to Children's Behaviour: Empowered and Enabled

    Date: Tuesday, 18 March 2025
    Time: 10.00am - 12.00pm
    Delivery Method: Webinar
    Venue: Webinar

    Understanding and Responding to Children's Behaviour: Building Better Behaviours

    Date: Tuesday, 25 March 2025
    Time: 10.00am - 12.00pm
    Delivery Method: Webinar
    Venue: Webinar

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