Cultivating Empathy in Preschool-Aged Children: A Guide for Parents

If you have heard that the rules around mobile phones and electronic devices in early childhood settings have changed, you are right. If your child attends a childcare centre in NSW, these changes are already in effect.

Here is a plain-English breakdown of what changed, why it happened, and what it means for your family.

Why Did the Laws Change?

The changes were introduced as a child safety measure. In 2025, Australia’s Education Ministers agreed to amend the Education and Care Services National Law to address concerns about the potential for personal devices to be used to capture, store, or transmit images of children in care without authorisation.

The intent is straightforward: children in early learning settings deserve an environment where their privacy and safety are actively protected.

What Changed Nationally

From 27 February 2026, amendments to the national Education and Care Services National Law took effect across Australia. Under these changes, educators and staff who work directly with children are restricted from using personal electronic devices in care settings.

Before this, from 1 September 2025, all early childhood education and care services nationwide were required to have written policies in place addressing the use of digital devices.

What Changed in NSW

NSW moved ahead of the national timeline. The Education and Care Services (Supply, Authorisation and Use of Devices) Order 2025 took effect on 6 November 2025, applying across NSW’s 6,000 or more early learning services, including long day care centres, preschools, and family day care.

Under this order, educators and staff must use service-issued or service-authorised devices rather than their own personal devices when working directly with children.

What Counts as a Personal Device?

The definition is broad. A personal device is any device owned by an individual (not the approved provider) that is capable of capturing, storing, or transmitting an image. This includes:

Mobile phones
Smartwatches
Cameras and tablets
iPads and laptops
Hard drives, USB drives, and memory cards
Wearables such as camera glasses

Who Does the Ban Apply To?

The restrictions apply to anyone working directly with children at a service, including permanent and casual educators, students on placement, volunteers, contractors, and allied health professionals delivering programs on-site.

Parents, carers, and other visitors are not covered by the ban. In NSW, parents and carers remain free to use their personal devices during drop-off, pick-up, centre visits, and events involving their own children. There are also authorised exceptions for essential purposes, including emergencies and health or disability support needs.

What About Screen Time for Children?

These new laws specifically address staff device use, not children’s screen time. Screen time limits for young children are not mandated within childcare regulation at a national level.

The relevant guidance comes from the federal Department of Health and Aged Care’s 24-Hour Movement Guidelines, which recommend no screen time for children under 2 years, and no more than 1 hour per day for children aged 2 to 5 years. These are health guidelines, not regulatory requirements.

What This Means for Your Family

If your child attends a childcare centre in NSW, their service is already required to operate under these rules. Any educator or staff member working directly with your child should not be using a personal device to take photos or videos. Only service-authorised devices should be used for that purpose.

If you have questions about how your centre handles digital devices or image capture, you are well within your rights to ask. Most services will have a written policy in place that covers exactly this.

At Clovel, the safety and wellbeing of every child in our care is at the heart of everything we do. If you would like to know more about how we support your child across our centres, we would love to have that conversation with you.

Empathy is a crucial quality that lays the foundation for healthy social interactions and compassionate relationships. As parents and caregivers, you play a vital role in nurturing empathy in your preschool-aged children. By fostering their emotional intelligence and encouraging understanding, you can shape their ability to connect with others on a deep and meaningful level.

To help, we’re sharing 5 effective ways parents can help build empathy in their preschool-aged children.

1. Lead by Example

Children learn best through observation and imitation. As parents, you are the most significant role models in the life of a child. Showcase empathy in your daily interactions, both within the family and beyond. Be mindful of your words, actions, and reactions when faced with situations that require empathy. Demonstrate kindness, compassion, and understanding towards others, and your children will absorb these qualities naturally. By consistently modeling empathy, you will provide a powerful example from which your child can create their own empathetic behaviors.

2. Encourage Perspective-Taking

Help your preschooler develop the ability to see things from another person’s point of view. Engage in conversations that prompt them to consider different perspectives and feelings. For example, while reading a story, discuss how the characters might be feeling or why they acted in a certain way. Encourage your child to express their own emotions and thoughts, fostering open and empathetic communication. By fostering perspective-taking skills, you can instill empathy as a habit of the heart.

3. Nurture Emotional Literacy

Emotional literacy is the foundation of empathy. Teach your child to recognise and understand their own emotions as well as those of others. Label different emotions and discuss their causes and effects. Encourage your child to express their feelings and validate their experiences. When conflicts arise, guide them toward finding constructive solutions and understanding the emotions involved. By nurturing emotional literacy, you enable your child to empathise with the emotional states of others and respond with kindness and care.

4. Practice Kindness and Gratitude

Acts of kindness and gratitude cultivate empathy by fostering a genuine concern for others. Encourage your preschooler to engage in simple acts of kindness, such as sharing toys, comforting a friend, or helping a family member. Foster gratitude by teaching them to appreciate the efforts and generosity of others. By actively participating in kind and grateful behaviors, your child will develop an empathetic mindset that values the well-being of others.

5. Expose to Diverse Experiences

Expose your preschooler to diverse cultures, communities, and experiences. Encourage them to interact with individuals from different backgrounds, fostering an appreciation for diversity and promoting empathy. Read books or watch movies that showcase characters from various cultures and backgrounds. Engage in activities that celebrate different traditions or customs. By expanding your child’s worldview, you open the door to empathy, respect, and understanding of others.

Empathy is a powerful tool that allows children to connect deeply with others and navigate the complexities of social interactions. And it’s important to remember that your guidance and support are invaluable in fostering empathy, shaping your child’s character, and contributing to a more empathetic world.

Lyn Connolly

Founder and Company Director

Lyn Connolly is the Founder and Company Director of Clovel Childcare & Early Learning Centres, a family‑owned group of eight centres across Western Sydney established from her first service at Merrylands. Active in early childhood education since 1977, she also serves as President of the Australian Childcare Alliance (ACA) NSW, representing providers in state and federal consultations, media, and public hearings.

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