BEHAVIOUR MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES
Immediate actions Stay calm and controlled Deal with inappropriate behaviour quickly Explain, appropriately for the child’s age and stage of development, why the behaviour is unacceptable Ensure all staff are consistent in the approach taken
Identify the good Model good behaviour and relationships between staff Use activities which teach positive attitudes, such as turn-taking, sharing and respect Praise appropriate behaviour frequently Look to develop a child’s self-esteem and sense of self-worth
Look for triggers Time of day: is the child hungry or tired? Health: is the child in pain or unwell? Home influences: is the child insecure after the birth of a sibling? Environment: is the child too hot? Change: is the child with a new carer? Activities: is the child bored?
Teamwork Share concerns with colleagues (within confidentiality rules) Share concerns with the child’s parents Adopt strategies together, monitor results and adapt the plan Communicate results to parents and other staff involved with the care of the child
Unhelpful adult actions Laughing while telling a child “no” Using words that a child cannot understand Expecting a behaviour before the child is developmentally ready Giving instructions without waiting for the child to be fully attentive Labelling a child as naughty or bad
Key points Taking account of a child’s stage of development: Supervise Praise and encourage Show patience and stay calm Be a good role model Be consistent in your responses Set realistic boundaries Allow children to take some responsibility
Still concerned? Involve the SENCO Involve the child’s Health Visitor (via parents) Involve the child’s doctor (via parents) Involve an educational or behavioural psychologist Implement inclusion strategies and procedures e.g. providing more 1-to-1 assistance
Activity Think of a child in your setting who is demonstrating challenging behaviour. Describe the behaviour Plan strategies for improvement Monitor progress Review the strategy and amend if necessary