Behavioural strategies

Strategies for managing challenging behaviour once it is identified:

Once you have identified if there are any triggers to the behaviour you may choose to try some of these behaviour management techniques:

Reward charts/cards – This is useful for all children in early years setting. You may have a form of traffic light system where the child can visually see when they have received a warning or are displaying unacceptable behaviour. You may choose individual sticker/ hole punch cards. Positive reinforcement often works well.

Praise – Praise the good and ignore the negative. This can not be applied to all situations so it is important that you identify the effectiveness of this strategy through observations. Concentrating on positive behaviour will allow a child to focus on what is expected rather then what is not.

Be positive – Use positive behaviour management techniques and rules by asking for the behaviour you would like to see rather than identifying the behaviour you wouldn’t like to see. For example instead of ‘No running’ ask for ‘walking inside please’

Use visual sand timers and five-minute warnings – This is useful for children who are struggling with transition times. As well as giving the whole group a five-minute warning, specifically, inform the child with the challenging behaviour that they have five more minutes and place the sand timer where they can see it.

Remove anything which can cause harm – If you have a child who lashes out, remove any other children from the situation and if they are likely to throw objects calmly remove these from the child’s reach

Be consistent – Try one approach and stick with it

Key person – Ensure the child has a key person with who they have built a strong relationship, this may enable the child to go to them to express themselves rather than displaying challenging behaviour

Use visual timetables – Again another strategy for a child who is struggling with routine or transition times. Show them using visual images of what is going to happen throughout the day and next.

Stay calm – Sometimes when dealing with challenging behaviour the situation can become overwhelming, it is okay to find the situation difficult and to ask for support from another member of staff.

Create behaviour or routine cards – These can be carried around on a key ring in the practitioner’s pockets. These can then be shown to a child wherever you are.

Tune in – Continue observations and tune in to what the child is really trying to tell you through their challenging behaviour.

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