The Primary English Teaching Association Australia (PETAA) has launched a guide to help parents spark meaningful discussions about respectful relationships.
Respectful Relationships, a free, open-access resource designed to help parents nurture essential social and emotional skills in their children through thoughtfully selected books and engaging discussion prompts.
Developed in alignment with the Federal Respectful Relationships Initiative, this guide provides parents and carers with a curated selection of diverse and age-appropriate literature for children aged 4–13.
Each book is accompanied by practical discussion points to help families explore important values such as empathy, communication, and healthy relationships.
Why this guide matters
Respectful relationships are foundational to a child’s emotional and social development. From an early age, children begin forming their understanding of respect, kindness, and resilience. By incorporating meaningful conversations into everyday reading, parents can reinforce these critical values at home.
“This guide is designed to make it easy for parents to engage their children in thoughtful discussions about respect, empathy, and positive social behaviour,” said Ms Helen Adam, PETAA President and Associate Professor and Researcher at Edith Cowan University.
“We know that stories are a powerful way to introduce complex ideas, and this resource equips parents with the tools to turn reading time into a valuable learning experience.”
“As a national not-for-profit association for teachers and educators, we are uniquely placed to offer this ongoing support via free resources and training,” said PETAA CEO Ms Megan Edwards.
“PETAA is committed to supporting schools and their communities with the resources they need to enable students to read, write and communicate effectively – to advocate for themselves and others, to share their perspectives and understand and appreciate the perspectives of others, and to become, through essential literacy skills, future citizens equipped to build a better Australia.
“We recommend teachers put the guide on their school’s intranet or parents’ hub, and share this guide far and wide.”
What’s inside the guide?
- A carefully selected list of quality books that explore themes of respect, fairness, and communication.
- Guiding questions to spark meaningful discussions and encourage children to reflect on their relationships.
- Flexible, accessible conversation starters that fit easily into daily routines.
- Additional teacher resources for those looking to explore topics further.
The Parents Guide: Respectful Relationships is freely available for all parents and carers. Download your copy today.
About PETAA
The Primary English Teaching Association Australia (PETAA) is one of the largest professional associations for primary educators in Australia, supporting over 40,000 teachers nationwide. As a not-for-profit organisation, PETAA provides evidence-based teaching resources, professional development courses, and research-driven insights to empower educators in teaching English and literacy across diverse classrooms.
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