Commissioner Chris Quinn shares his gratitude for the Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership (CYPSP) Let’s Explore Behaviour
resource, which was launched at the Braid Art Centre in Ballymena.
I was delighted to launch the Let’s Explore Behaviour resource today. This is a guide created by parents, for parents, and supported by professionals who understand just how complex family life can be.
What struck me most was the honesty and compassion woven throughout. It doesn’t talk at parents — it stands with them. It recognises the joy, the challenges, and the reality that you simply cannot pour from an empty cup. Supporting your child begins with supporting yourself.
The guide offers practical, doable strategies for everyday moments. From sleep routines and screen time to planning outings and navigating transitions. The CAPE framework (Communication, Action, People, Environment) is a simple but powerful tool to help families make sense of behaviours that can feel overwhelming.
As Commissioner, my role is to ensure every child’s rights under the UNCRC are realised. Including the right to be heard, to be supported, and to have their needs understood. Resources like this bring those rights to life in a meaningful, accessible way.
To every parent and carer who contributed: thank you. Your honesty, courage, and lived experience have shaped something that will help so many others feel supported rather than judged.
And to our community partners — schools, health staff, voluntary organisations — thank you for recognising that supporting a child means supporting the family around them.
This resource is more than a guide. It’s reassurance, partnership, and a reminder that progress is possible.
The ‘Let’s Explore Behaviour’ Parent Guide is available free of charge and can be downloaded here.