Introduction

Piaget's Theory states that children learn through observation and interaction with
their environment. Although this process can be messy and unpleasant, it is
important to recognize that we are not born with all the necessary tools to
regulate our emotions. Even as adults, we all have moments of struggling with
emotional regulation. Children, despite their small size, are complex individuals
who explore the world and experience a wide range of emotions. It is normal for
them to express these emotions in various ways and occasionally lose control. The
task for parents and educators is to address the resulting behaviors, such as
hitting, defiance, yelling, or destructive actions. By exercising patience,
understanding, and employing proven strategies, it is possible to manage a child's
challenging behavior and equip them with the skills they need for self-regulation.

BODY (JUNA)
HOW TO ADDRESS CHALLENGING BEHAVIOR

As an early childhood educator, you encounter various

challenging behaviors in preschool children as they continue to
learn and develop. These behaviors include biting, temper
tantrums, hitting, talking out of turn, screaming, refusing to
cooperate, throwing toys or objects, and lashing out. It's
important to recognize that these behaviors are separate from
the child themselves and to remember that no child is perfect.
The key is to help the child understand their mistakes, learn from
them, and encourage their growth and development.
What is Behavior?
I want to take a moment to discuss what “behavior” is. Behavior is like an “iceberg”. What you
see is only the “tip”. The hitting, throwing toys, and turning over furniture are actually a
symptom of something deeper. The challenge is to find out what is underneath the behavior
that you are missing (see image below), as this is the reason for the behaviors you are seeing.
The key to addressing challenging behaviors is to focus your strategies on the reason for the
behavior - the bottom of the iceberg. By doing this, you are able to change or reduce the
behaviors that you see - the tip of the iceberg.
1 – Being Tired/ Lack of Sleep
So if I’m an adult and I act this way… imagine how a young child is going to act?

Recognizing that lack of sleep is a trigger of child’s misbehavior, child cannot communicate
properly. Because I know that being tired turns her into a crabby kid, I often just send her
straight to bed in place of any discipline.

2 – Being Hungry
There’s a reason why the term “hangry” was invented”. It’s a real thing!

So when my daughter starts to REALLY be mean to me, the first question I ask her is… when
was the last time you had something to eat?

.I didn’t scold her, I didn’t punish her.

What was even more amazing to me was that she was able to recognize that hunger is a trigger
for her misbehavior. She’s 10 years old. It’s almost impossible for a much younger kid to make
that connection.

That’s why it’s important for YOU to make that connection for them, and help recognize the
factors that influence your Childs misbehavior.

3 – Change in Routine
When you have a spirited child, you learn right away that changes in their routine can cause the
worst kind of meltdowns. And while this is very true for the strong-willed child, this also
happens with any young kid.

When you change up a child’s routine, they get really stressed out and the only way they have of
communicating is by flipping out.

Literally.
The best advice you can get is to stick to a schedule as best as you can. But we all know that just
isn’t always possible.

So for those times when you do need to change your kid’s routine, make sure you give them
notice. You may not think they understand, but trust me, they do!

If I knew we were going to someone’s house, nap time changed, or we would be out late, I would
sit my daughter down and explain that to her.

I told her what was going to happen, what to expect, and what I needed from her in terms of
behavior. Whenever she was prepared for a change in routine, she handled it amazingly.

This is also a good time to make sure you have everything else they need from you. Have they
had enough rest? Have

4 – What They are Eating

Kids may act like they can eat anything and be fine, but food can affect them just like it does
adults.

The only difference is, adults know when to listen to their bodies. So when we feel sluggish, we
lay off the heavy food. We know the signs of dehydration and drink plenty of fluids.

If kids are not eating the right kinds of food, they are not going to feel OK. And when they don’t
feel OK, they have meltdowns. Because they don’t know what to do to make themselves feel
better.

So keep an eye on your child’s food intake. Are they having enough protein? Vitamin C? Are
they eating a lot of sugar and then crashing later?

5 – Exercise and Physical Activity

Kids can act like caged animals. Not enough physical activity and they are ready to bite your
handoff.

I can easily sense when my daughter starts to act this way. It seems to happen the most after
school when we are trying to do homework.

She spends all day in the classroom with small amounts of time outdoors doing physical activity.
So by the time she gets home, it’s like she has a herd of wild animals in her body waiting to
escape.

I’ve come to realize that a small amount of exercise helps her out emotionally… a LOT!
6 – Overstimulated
This goes without saying but it’s something we often forget as parents. Kids can freak out
when they are overstimulated.

I know there are times when there are so many things going on at once, or too many people
trying to talk to me that I can feel my anxiety level rising.

Kids can feel the same way but often do not know how to express that to us. So it comes out as
temper tantrums and misbehavior.

If you can, reduce the stimulation and noise around your child. Or if you know you are going to
be in a place where you can’t reduce the stimulation, bring along a familiar toy or game they can
focus on.

7 – Too Much Screen Time

Too much screen time for kids can cause obesity, behavioral problems, sleep problems,
educational problems, and even violence. Just to name a few.

Kids are even way more susceptible to screen addiction than adults are. And when kids get
addicted to something, they can have major meltdowns and tantrums when said item is taken
away.

Prevent this from happening by limiting the time your child spends in front of a screen.

I know, I know… it’s very tempting when we need to get things done and our kids are occupied
with the tablets. But too much of this can just make their behavior worse for you in the long run.

There are times our household takes an electronics break for an extended period of time. During
that time, I notice my daughter becomes a lot more creative (she gets into crafts and
coloring) and her behavior is better too.

8 – They are Worried or Scared

Kids have different ideas than us about what’s scares or what their worries are. And sometimes
that doesn’t come across in the best way.

You may think you have everything covered, but to your child, there may be something that is
scaring them that you don’t even know about.

Take a minute to find out WHY they are acting up. It might end up being a simple
miscommunication that can easily be fixed with a little conversation.
9 – Expressing Emotions
Kids have the hardest time of anyone expressing their emotions. And this can often be one of the
biggest factors that influence a child’s behavior.

When kids act up and misbehave, it can be really hard as adults to keep our cool. The frustration
builds and we lose our tempers too. That’s when we snap and our initial reaction is to yell at our
kids.

But what we should do is take a step back, and try to look at the situation more clearly. Taking
time to figure out WHY your child is having an outburst is the key to making them stop.

Try to understand what they are feeling or what emotions they are having. Finding that out is
your best bet to calming down your child’s outburst.

10 – Life Changes
Life changes can be stressful for adults. And that’s when we are the ones planning it all.

So then imagine the point of view from a child.

Changes in their life can be confusing and even scary. Even if we think they are a good thing.

The best way to help your child through any life changes is to sit them down and talk them
through it step by step. Just making assumptions they will “be ok” is never good enough for a
child.

11 – Learning Challenges
Don’t forget to take into account the needs of your specific child. Kids with Autism, learning
disabilities, or even kids that are not as emotionally advanced as other kids can be prone to
outbursts more than others.

You need to take into account your individual child’s needs. Do they have a learning disability?
Are they maturing slower than other kids their age?

The worst thing you can do is assume that your child can handle the same things as other kids
their age.
 12 – Friendships
As your child gets older, they will become more and more influenced by their surroundings and
that includes their friends.

Children will observe other kids and how they react to certain situations. So factors that
influence another child’s behavior could potentially influence your child as well.

Kids also start to become influenced by the opinion of other kids much younger than you would
expect. My daughter was barely out of 1st grade when she started to notice kids making fun of
her, or being mean to her. Or even worrying about what clothes she wore compared to other kids.

If a meltdown or temper tantrum happens shortly after a day she was at school, the first question
I ask my daughter is if anything happened with her friends.

HOW TO DEAL WITH CHALLENGING BEHAVIORS IN PRESCHOOL

STRATEGIES TO HELP TEACHERS AND PARENTS WITH CHALLENGING BEHAVIOR
REINFORCEMENT
What is Positive Reinforcement?
 Positive reinforcement focuses on the good instead of the bad. It encourages good
behavior by rewarding that good behavior with praise or tangible rewards Bad behavior
isn’t treated with more attention but rather is ignored.

Positive reinforcement in preschool refers to the practice of providing rewards

or praise to encourage and strengthen desired behaviors in young children. It is
a strategy used by educators and caregivers to create a positive learning
environment and promote the development of appropriate social and academic
skills.
Why Use Positive Reinforcement?

 Positive reinforcement can be a great tool in any parent’s toolbox. Instead of scolding bad
behavior, positive reinforcement encourages good behavior which is less damaging to a child’s
confidence and conduct. As humans, we yearn for a feeling of approval from our friends, family
and peers. Children, especially, want the approval and accolades of their elders. They aim to
please and when positively reinforced, good behavior becomes much more consistent and
prevalent than bad behavior.
positive reinforcement is a powerful tool in preschool settings as it encourages
desired behaviors, builds self-esteem, establishes a supportive environment, develops
intrinsic motivation, reinforces social skills, reduces negative behaviors, and promotes
a love for learning. By employing positive reinforcement strategies, teachers can
create a positive and enriching educational experience for preschoolers.

 For example, your child could act out in an attempt to get your attention. Not sitting still at the
dinner table, interrupting, or talking out of turn, and disrespecting others are all solid examples of
this. When your child exhibits these behaviors and you react negatively, they are getting the
attention they want, which to them seems like a reward. They are most likely to repeat these
behaviors any time they want you to focus on them instead of the TV, their siblings or whatever
else you might be doing at the time.

How to Use Positive Reinforcement

 Ignore bad behavior

ignoring bad behavior and focusing on positive responses to good

behavior, parents can avoid getting caught in a cycle of reprimanding,
punishing, and frustration. When a child engages in undesirable behavior,
the parent should calmly state that the behavior is not acceptable and
explain how the child should behave instead. However, when the child starts
to exhibit the desired behavior, it is important to provide positive
reinforcement to encourage its continuation.

 Praise and reward good behavior

 Remember that every child is different, and what motivates one child may
not work for another. Pay attention to your child's individual preferences
and interests when selecting rewards. Also, be mindful of using positive
reinforcement in a way that fosters intrinsic motivation and encourages
your child to develop a sense of responsibility and self-discipline.

 Be consistent

being consistent in recognizing and reinforcing positive behavior is an effective

way to promote desired behavior patterns and foster healthy communication
within the family.
CONCLUSION

In conclusion, effectively managing children's challenging behavior involves

several key strategies. Clear and consistent expectations and boundaries help
children understand what is expected of them, reducing confusion and frustration.
Positive reinforcement and rewards motivate children to display appropriate
behavior, while a nurturing and supportive environment fosters open
communication and reduces challenging behaviors. Teaching alternative coping
skills and problem-solving techniques empowers children to handle emotions and
conflicts constructively. Implementing consequences and age-appropriate
disciplinary measures helps children understand the consequences of their actions
and learn from their mistakes. Involving parents and caregivers in the
management process ensures a consistent approach and reinforces positive
behavior. It is important to tailor strategies to individual children and consistently
implement them, fostering positive behavior and creating a supportive
environment for children to thrive.