While childhood can be seen as a carefree time when children are free to have fun with few responsibilities, increasingly we see childhood as a time when children are confronted with many challenges. These challenges can become apparent in school settings or when parents are confronted with behavioural or mental health concerns. Increasingly, partly driven by learnings from COVID19, research is beginning to explore children's experiences and build better understandings about the impact of societal pressures, parenting practices, technology and a lack of play based learning. Presentations at emergency departments during and since COVID 19 relating to self harm, suicidality and disordered eating heightened this awareness.

The aim of this workshop is to explore how psychologists can better recognise early signs of distress in children, create spaces for children to have an opportunity to voice concerns and to effectively support parents to better understand their children's needs. A socioecological approach will be taken to explore the range of risk and protective factors which impact on children's mental health and wellbeing. Factors which are unique to children will be explored in terms of recognising needs and considerations when working with parents of young children. Ethical issues such as consent, assent. mandatory reporting and confidentiality will be explored as well as evidence-based interventions that are effective with children and their parents. Case examples will be worked through to consider what role parents might play in the interventions to ensure that children are well supported in a sustainable way.

A key goal of the workshop will be to assist psychologists to gain confidence in working with children and families through recognising the value of early intervention and the effectiveness of partnering with families to support children in various settings.