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| Author | Topic: Dealing with Challenging Day Care Behavior |
| Fiona Lohrenz |
posted 4/23/08 5:46 PM
Dealing with Challenging Day Care Behavior A healthy, safe environment in a pre-school can facilitate children’s needs by developing necessary skills to develop their social and behavioral milestones. Taking turns, politeness, sharing and making choices are the ordinary preschool activities that offer opportunities for the development of these milestones. Developing self-discipline in preschoolers can be achieved by: Instead of praising the child, praise the behavior A child’s self esteem should be nurtured and encouraged Take into account a child’s age and stage of development when setting limits Help children to learn and understand boundaries by using play and games with rules Children will imitate adult behavior so lead by example Do not isolate or humiliate a child When you say ‘No’…mean it. Consistency is key. Make sure your expectations and rules of behavior are clear Always reward good behavior Self-direction, self-control, cooperation and self-esteem will be encouraged should day care workers use these positive methods of discipline. On the other hand, using the following as a means of correction is never acceptable: Any physical restraint, biting, hitting or shaking Never humiliate, threaten or isolate a child- such emotional punishment is unacceptable Never deprive a child of food Unacceptable behaviors i.e. bullying and temper tantrums should be dealt with using a range of strategies. Methods which have proven successful include: Remove the child from the situation or distraction techniques Telling the child why the behavior will not be tolerated Offering the child an opportunity to regain control and become calm The range of approaches mentioned would apply when dealing with the unpleasant behavior that is ‘biting’ – this being deemed pretty difficult behavior also. Children who display challenging behavior should have, with the involvement of parents and carers, a work plan developed specifically for them. When appropriate, parents should be involved, informed and supported to follow these work plans at home. Sometimes it is necessary to seek additional support in the form of outside specialists. This is not a negative thing and should be supported by parents and provider and a positive way forward. The childcare worker should be supported to work on a one to one basis with a child who may be biting or displaying other challenging behavior over an agreed period of time. The childcare worker will specifically engage the child in extending their interests and helping the child to avoid the behavior. Difficult and challenging behaviors, both in adults and children, respond positively to calm, constructive, consistent actions. Be patient, be vigilant, stick to your guns and you will out! Owning and operating a day care for 10 years provides Fiona Lohrenz with lots of material for her child care articles. Not to mention her childcare website and DVD guide to Starting a ChildCare business: www.startchildcare.com You can find her at her website: http://www.childcareonly.com http://www.childcareonly.com |
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