Managing Strong Emotions and Behaviour
At a Glance
- Behaviour Support Plans provide safe, structured strategies for managing strong emotions and challenging behaviour.
- Plans may include positive behaviour support, restricted practices, or, in some cases, psychotropic medication under professional guidance.
- Restricted practices can only be used if included in an approved plan and authorised by specialists.
- Prohibited practices, such as corporal punishment or humiliation, are never allowed.
Helping children manage strong emotions
Strong emotions can sometimes look like challenging behaviour. Children may act out, withdraw, or test boundaries when they feel scared, frustrated, or overwhelmed. These behaviours are often a way of expressing big feelings, not a deliberate attempt to be difficult. Your calm, consistent support helps them feel safe and learn to manage their emotions.
You’re not alone -there is a range of ideas, techniques, strategies, and support services available. Work with your caseworker to access the guidance and services you need. Asking for help is a strength, not a failure.
Challenging behaviour is behaviour that may put the child, you, your family, or others at risk. It is different from everyday difficult behaviour and may include:
- Verbal or physical abuse, threats, or assaults
- Sexualised behaviour or harassment
- Running away
- Antisocial actions such as stealing, damaging property, or picking fights
- Repeated or uncontrollable behaviours that cause concern
Some children may seem unable to control their actions, or display behaviours frequently or over long periods.
“My strategy is to just step back. You have to tell yourself occasionally, ‘I need to step back and cool off.’”
Stephen, carer, St Ives
You are not expected to manage challenging behaviour alone. Your caseworker and other experts, such as psychologists, can help identify the least intrusive and most supportive ways to address behaviour.
Positive parenting
Positive parenting focuses on proactive, day-to-day support. It creates a respectful, sensitive environment that helps children achieve their goals. Your caseworker can support you to:
- Use discipline that respects the child’s rights
- Adjust strategies based on the child’s needs
- Learn new techniques for managing behaviour
- Adapt the home environment to reduce triggers
Behaviour support strategies
Behaviour support strategies are used when behaviour is escalating or consistently challenging. They:
- Identify the behaviour to be addressed
- Look at what happens before and after the behaviour
- Set consequences and supportive responses
- Include training and guidance for carers
- Explain how and when strategies will be reviewed
These strategies do not include restricted practices unless specifically authorised in a Behaviour Support Plan.
Behaviour Support Plan, psychotropic medication, restricted & prohibted practices
Behaviour Support Plans are carefully designed strategies to help manage challenging behaviour safely. They may include approved approaches such as positive behaviour support, restricted practices, or, in specific cases, psychotropic medication — always under professional guidance. Some practices, like corporal punishment or humiliation, are never allowed. The plan helps carers know what is safe, legal, and effective, and ensures children receive support that respects their rights and wellbeing.
When challenging behaviour is beyond what you can reasonably manage, a Behaviour Support Plan may be required. It is prepared by a qualified professional and aims to:
- Strengthen the child’s positive behaviours and interests
- Understand the causes of challenging behaviour, including trauma
- Equip carers with strategies to prevent or manage concerning behaviours
- Clearly identify if, and under what circumstances, restricted practices can be used
Behaviour Support Plans are regularly monitored:
- At least annually by your caseworker
- In line with case plan reviews
- More frequently if the plan involves medication or restricted practices
Psychotropic medication
If prescribed for mental health reasons, psychotropic medication must form part of the Behaviour Support Plan. It should never be the primary strategy and must always be used alongside positive behaviour strategies.
Some ways of managing behaviour are restricted by law. You cannot use these practices unless they are included in the child’s approved Behaviour Support Plan.
Restricted practices (including physical restraint) can only be used:
- After less restrictive strategies have been tried
- For approved, time-limited purposes (maximum three months)
- Under specialist authorisation
Using them for punishment or convenience is strictly prohibited.
Restricted practices that may be used in a Behaviour Support Plan include:
- Psychotropic medication — used specifically to manage behaviour, not for other purposes
- Non-exclusionary time-out — briefly withdrawing attention to help the child notice the impact of their behaviour
- Exclusionary time-out — removing a child from a situation temporarily
- Response cost — withholding valued items or activities as part of an agreed strategy
- Restrictive access — limiting access to items, activities, or experiences with physical barriers
- Physical restraint — only to safely restrain a child when authorised
If you’re ever unsure whether a strategy or approach counts as a restricted practice, contact your caseworker for guidance.
Some ways of managing behaviour are never allowed. These are illegal and must not be used in any circumstances.
Prohibited practices include:
- Any corporal punishment — smacking, hitting, or similar
- Punishment intended to humiliate or frighten
- Immobilising a child with physical or chemical restraint outside an authorised Behaviour Support Plan
- Force-feeding or withholding food
- Using medication without proper authorisation, consent, or a Behaviour Support Plan
- Punishing techniques like hot/cold baths, adding irritants to food, or squirting liquids on the child
- Over-correction — punishments that are far greater than the behaviour
- Confinement or containment — locking a child in a room or space they cannot leave
- Threats to withhold family contact or alter the child’s Case Plan
- Denying basic needs or supports
- Unethical practices — for example, rewarding with cigarettes
- Any act or failure to act that is an offence under NSW civil or criminal law
In very rare circumstances, a Behaviour Support Plan may authorise certain restraints, such as sedation, but only under specialist guidance.