Friendship, belonging and bullying
Friendships play a central role in children’s and teens’ wellbeing, sense of identity and connection to school. Feeling accepted and valued by peers supports confidence and resilience, while difficulties such as conflict, exclusion or bullying can deeply affect a child or adolescent’s emotional health and willingness to engage in learning.
As parents and carers, it can be hard to know how best to support children and teens through changing social worlds. The information linked to this topic is designed to help you understand how friendships develop across childhood and adolescence, recognise signs your child or teen may be struggling socially, and respond in ways that promote safety, belonging and healthy relationships.
Making friends
Friendships can make school feel like a place to belong, yet they are often one of the hardest things for young people to navigate. Help your child build stronger connections that foster confidence, inclusion and discovering shared interests.
Bullying
Bullying can be one of the most confronting challenges young people face at school, leaving parents unsure how to respond. With a focus on empathy, calm action and clear boundaries, the video offers supportive guidance for navigating these complex situations with confidence.
WEBINAR: Building friendships, confidence and resilience
In August 2026, Catholic Schools Maitland-Newcastle hosted a live webinar with Professor Tony Attwood titled Building Friendships, Confidence and Resilience: Supporting Autistic Children to Navigate Social Challenges.
We all want every child to feel accepted, valued and connected within their school and community. For autistic children and young people, positive friendships and supportive peer relationships play a particularly important role in wellbeing, confidence and a sense of belonging. At times, however, autistic students may experience misunderstanding, exclusion, teasing or bullying that can impact these connections.
In this recorded version of the webinar, Tony shares practical, evidence-informed strategies to help parents support their children in developing positive peer relationships, building friendships and strengthening social inclusion. He also explores ways to recognise, respond to and reduce bullying and teasing, providing parents and carers with practical ideas to support their child's wellbeing and social success across home, school and community settings.
WEBINAR: Supporting your child to make friends and respond to social difficulties and bullying
In May 2024, Madhavi Nawana Parker, one of Australia's leading experts in wellbeing and resilience and Director of Positive Minds Australia, presented a webinar for parents and carers titled Supporting your child to make friends and respond to social difficulties and bullying.
Positive friendships and a sense of belonging play a vital role in children's wellbeing, confidence and development. While friendships can bring great joy and connection, many children also experience challenges such as conflict, exclusion, social misunderstandings or bullying as they learn to navigate relationships with others.
In this recorded webinar, Madhavi Nawana Parker shares practical, evidence-informed strategies to help parents support their children to develop healthy friendships, build social confidence and strengthen resilience. She explores how friendships change as children grow, why social challenges can be difficult to navigate, and how parents can help children manage their emotions, develop positive relationship skills and respond effectively to friendship difficulties. Madhavi also discusses the difference between bullying and social misunderstandings, and provides guidance on when parents can support children to work through challenges independently and when it may be appropriate to step in and seek additional support.
WEBINAR: Supporting your teen to make positive connections
Madhavi Nawana Parker is one of Australia’s leading mental health and wellbeing experts and the Director of Positive Minds Australia.
Madhavi’s evidence-based programs are implemented throughout Australia and overseas, providing over two decades of contribution to psychology and counselling and positively impacting thousands of young, disconnected and vulnerable young people.
As a widely published Author, Madhavi’s expertise is highly sought after by schools, allied healthcare organisations and the corporate sector. Madhavi contributes regularly to parenting and education magazines, is an enthusiastic podcast and radio guest and advises on topics including mental health and wellbeing, parenting, and education.
Madhavi’s published work includes, ‘The Confident Minds Curriculum,’ ‘The Resilience and Wellbeing Toolbox,’ ‘Sanguine,’ ‘Thriving Minds,’ and ‘What’s the Buzz? A social-emotional literacy program.’
Helping children build strong and healthy friendships
Friendships are an important part of children's wellbeing, helping them develop a sense of belonging, connection and confidence. While friendships can change and evolve over time, understanding what makes a good friend can help children build positive and meaningful relationships.
In this video, psychologist Andrew Fuller shares practical advice for helping children develop healthy friendships. He explores why self-awareness matters, how to identify the qualities that make a good friend, and why having a range of friendships can help children build resilience, navigate life's ups and downs, and develop a strong sense of belonging.
How to support your child when friendship problems or bullying occur
It can be heartbreaking to learn that your child is experiencing friendship difficulties, exclusion or bullying. While it is natural to feel upset or want to step in immediately, staying calm and working together with your child and their school can make a significant difference.
In this video, psychologist Andrew Fuller shares practical advice for responding when a child is facing friendship challenges or bullying. He explains why it is important to listen without overreacting, maintain open communication, work collaboratively with the school and avoid retaliation. Parents will gain strategies to support their child while helping them navigate difficult situations in a way that protects their wellbeing, relationships and reputation.
How to respond when your child is hurting others
Learning that your child may be hurting others through their words, actions or social behaviour can be difficult and confronting for any parent. While it can be tempting to dismiss the behaviour or focus on punishment, these moments can become important opportunities for learning and growth.
In this video, psychologist Andrew Fuller shares practical advice for responding when concerns are raised about a child's behaviour towards others. He explains the importance of staying calm, understanding what may be driving the behaviour, maintaining high expectations and working with children to develop more positive ways of responding to difficult situations. Parents will learn how to support accountability, encourage empathy and help their child build healthy relationship skills for the future.