Parent-child play: Conversation guide

Sarah Seekamp, Australia, 2019

Related to Child and family, Child mental health, Infant mental health, Pandemic, Parenting

This resource compliments the practice paper ‘Parent-child play: A mental health promotion strategy for all children’. It is intended to be filled in by parents but provides an opportunity for the child and practitioner involved to talk about the benefits of play in a family.

You may like to use this Conversation guide in conjunction with the Practice resource.

Discover more resources

Practice paper

Parent-child play: A mental health promotion strategy for all children

Sarah Seekamp

This resource provides practical information on the use of play to strengthen child-parent relationships and promote children’s mental health. It has been developed for practitioners working with families who have children aged 0–12 years, including women and men who face adversities that may impact upon their children.
Fact sheet

Parent-child play: Practice resource

Sarah Seekamp

This resource has two components: a conversation guide that practitioners can work through with families, and practitioner notes that provide support for introducing parent-child play and using the conversation guide.
Fact sheet

Using play to support children during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic

Emerging Minds

While social distancing rules are in place, children are unable to play with their friends in the way that they are used to. This makes play time at home especially important. The following five tips (available in 18 languages) can help you use play to support your child’s mental health during COVID-19.
Webinar

Understanding and responding to childhood suicidal ideation: A case scenario

Child Family Community Australia & Emerging Minds

Co-presented with Child Family Community Australia (CFCA), this webinar uses a case scenario to reflect on ethical considerations and practical strategies to help practitioners better understand and support children experiencing suicidal ideation. The panellists will also discuss how practitioners can foster connection, seek the child’s insights, and recognise the strengths of the child and their family.
Short article

The impact of parental incarceration on child behaviour and development

Dr Mandy Truong, Australian Institute of Family Studies

This short article provides an overview of the research evidence on the impacts of parental incarceration on child behaviour and development with a focus on children aged 12 years and under. It outlines the ways in which parental incarceration can impact child outcomes and provides some practice considerations for how practitioners and services can support children.
Research summary

Highlights in child mental health research: April 2025

Prepared by AIFS

This April 2025 research summary provides a selection of recently released papers, systematic reviews and meta-analyses related to infant and child mental health. Each summary includes an introductory overview of the content for the month, followed by a list of selected articles. Each article is accompanied by a brief synopsis which presents the key messages and highlights. Links to abstracts, full-text articles and related resources, where available, are provided.
Practice paper

Responding to childhood suicidal ideation through understanding and curiosity

Amanda Kemperman, Emerging Minds

Children, even at a very young age, can experience significant distress and despair that may lead them to think about suicide. This practice paper highlights the importance of listening and striving to understand children's thoughts, ideas and perspectives on the challenges they face.
Webinar

How to use neurodivergent-affirming strategies to support child mental health

Child Family Community Australia & Emerging Minds

Co-produced with Child Family Community Australia (CFCA), join our panel of speakers as they explore how neurodivergent-affirming practice strategies support the mental health of autistic and ADHDer children.
Research summary

Highlights in child mental health research: March 2025

Prepared by AIFS

This March 2025 research summary provides a selection of recently released papers, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses related to infant and child mental health. Each summary includes an introductory overview of the content for the month, followed by a list of selected articles. Each article is accompanied by a brief synopsis which presents the key messages and highlights. Links to abstracts, full-text articles and related resources, where available, are provided.
Practice paper

Understanding and supporting parental reflective confidence

Nicole Rollbusch

All parents reflect on the needs of their children. But time, opportunity or confidence to do this is limited for some parents. Practitioners can play a vital role in supporting parents to strengthen their reflective confidence.
Research summary

Highlights in child mental health research: February 2025

Prepared by AIFS

This February 2025 research summary provides a selection of recently released papers, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses related to infant and child mental health. Each summary includes an introductory overview of the content for the month, followed by a list of selected articles. Each article is accompanied by a brief synopsis which presents the key messages and highlights. Links to abstracts, full-text articles and related resources, where available, are provided.
Webinar

Supporting non-offending parents after child sexual abuse

Child Family Community Australia & Emerging Minds

Co-produced with Child Family Community Australia (CFCA) this webinar outlines some strategies that you can use to support non-offending parents following a child's disclosure of sexual abuse.

Parent-child play: Conversation guide

Sarah Seekamp, Australia, 2019

Discover more resources

Parent-child play: A mental health promotion strategy for all children

Parent-child play: Practice resource

Using play to support children during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic

Understanding and responding to childhood suicidal ideation: A case scenario

The impact of parental incarceration on child behaviour and development

Highlights in child mental health research: April 2025

Responding to childhood suicidal ideation through understanding and curiosity

How to use neurodivergent-affirming strategies to support child mental health

Highlights in child mental health research: March 2025

Understanding and supporting parental reflective confidence

Highlights in child mental health research: February 2025

Supporting non-offending parents after child sexual abuse

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