Guiding Childrens

Behavior
Jason Stives

Early Childhood Education Major

Northampton Community College

What will we learn?

In this workshop we will discuss:

Guiding Childrens behavior

Sudden Changes in Behavior

Challenging Behaviors
Defiance
Biting

Self Control

What is Behavior Guidance?

Behavior guidance is all the things you do and say to help

children learn and demonstrate acceptable behavior
(Putting Children First, 2015).

The aim is for children to improve and control their own

behaviors

Behavior Guidance replaces the word Discipline because

discipline is associated with punishment.

Punishment doesnt help children learn to guide their

own behaviors

Effective ways to guide Behavior

Use words and Actions

Explain

Be firm when you need to

Give choices

Avoid hollow gestures

Try to avoid power struggles

Acknowledge desirable behavior

Model behavior thats appropriate and being asked of

them.

Does age affect what is done?

Age is important in everything you do

Regardless of age, there are common guidelines

Take a positive approach and show respect for the child
Remember that your aim is for children to take
responsibility of their behavior

Strategies for Guiding Behavior

Help them feel secure and let them know you are there
Let them know when they have done something good or have
shown your approval. For example, helping to pickup toys.
Give them choices and make decisions

Sudden Changes in Behavior

At times a child may experience a sudden change in mood or
display an unexpected change in behavior.
In typical children, these changes are mild and not troubling.
Some children may experience more intense and enduring positive
or negative feelings, and sometimes the positive and negative
moods appear in alternating cycles or mood swings.
For some children, mood swings and behavior changes may lead to
mild, moderate or severe problems of adjustment to school and
home life.
(ABCS of Mental Health, 2014).

Challenging Behaviors

The year between 2 and 3 is exciting

Children learn they are separate from caregivers or

parents

Toddlers dont understand logic and still have a hard

time with waiting and self control

Bottom Line: Children want to do what they want, when

they want
(Zerotothree.org)

Types of Challenging Behaviors

Hitting

Biting

Scratching

Kicking

Head banging

Defiance

Typical Labels
High maintenanceViolent
Antisocial
Impulsive
High needs
Spirited
Bad
Oppositional
Out of control
Noncompliant
Hard to manage Mean
At risk
A problem
Disruptive
Attention
Aggressive
seeking
Willful

Labels are extremely powerful, which

is why its wiser not to use themor
if you do, to apply them to the
behavior rather than the child.

Negative labels can all too easily

become self-fulfilling prophecies.
They prevent you from seeing the
childs positive qualities and may
even cause you to lower your
expectations of him

Biting

Biting is common among toddlers

Children bite in order to cope with a challenge or fulfill a

need

Why do children bite?

Language Skills
They are mad or angry at you
Excitement
Overwhelmed by sounds or light
Tired
Teething

Defiance

adaringorboldresistancetoauthorityortoanyopposi
ngforce (Dictionary.com).

This is a period where, children begin to understand they

are separate from caregivers

Naturally eager to seek out more independence

No two children are alike

Toddlers are simply more defiant then others

Children whose emotional reactions are big/intense may

be more oppositional than others

Strategies for Coping with Defiance

Offer a few choices

Validate your child's feelings

Set the limits

Give a reason to listen

Use humor

Encourage your child to use their imagination

Enforce limits without anger

Help children recover

Avoid giving in

Self Control
Stay calm. The calmer you are, the calmer they are
Try a distraction
Ignore kicking or hitting/screaming
Ask the child to help you with an activity such as cooking or took a
look out the window
Take a break
Children are calmer when they can be by themselves in a safe place
Have a quiet corner or cozy corner to calm down in
Use warm caring tone of voice
Give your child a hug
Discuss what happened and what you both can do together to solve
the problem
Use the Turtle Technique

Turtle Technique Activity

Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations of Early

Learning
http://
csefel.vanderbilt.edu/resources/strategies.html#toolspla
ns
Has a variety of social stories that can be used t help
children guide their own behaviors.

Conclusion
Children will test your patience. Its a part of their
growth and development.
Try to stay as calm as possible and its alright to walk
away
Use your words and explain as best as possible why the
behavior isnt alright.

Resources

CSEFEL: Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early

Learning. (2015, January 1). Retrieved April 3, 2015, from http://
csefel.vanderbilt.edu/resources/strategies.html#scriptedstories
Skip Menu. (2015, January 1). Retrieved April 3, 2015, from http://
pubs.ext.vt.edu/350/350-020/350-020.html

SUPPORT US. (2015). Retrieved April 3, 2015, from

http://www.zerotothree.org/child-development/challenging-behavior/

Stonehouse, A. (2006, January 1). Guiding Children's Behavior in a Positive

Way. Retrieved April 3, 2015, from
http://ncac.acecqa.gov.au/educator-resources/factsheets/factsheet6 .pdf