Imagine what it would feel like to have a class full of children who self-regulate when upset and nobody gets hurt day after day, again and again - all without feeling like you’re putting out fires, running around to challenging behaviors…
Sounds like a dream, right?
Well, of course there will always be some challenging behavior in preschool but it is possible to proactively support children to learn to self-regulate, cooperate, and use their words way more often than their hands.
And while it may feel impossible to get there - especially if you’ve never done it before - it’s not impossible.
That’s exactly why I want to share 3 simple challenging behavior prevention ideas that can start to shift everything in that direction for you.
Because the key to preventing challenging behaviors consistently, every day, is to have a stance, set of tools, and strategies that run on auto-pilot…
These are things that start as a PRACTICE.
And do require you to practice, practice, practice so you can hone your skills.
But they are not impossible and they are not rocket science.
It’s about adopting the right stance, tools, and strategies. And implementing them consistently.
#1: Adopt an ‘I Got This’ Mindset. I know this one can sound totally annoying and pollyanna. But don’t shoot the messenger! “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right” (credited to Henry Ford). So practice getting your head in the game (“I got this! I got this. Yep, I got this.”) and believe you can help every child or don’t bother reading #2 or #3.
#2: Respond to Children with ‘Yes, And’: Some people think this one means I am saying let children do whatever they want or allow dangerous or disruptive behavior but that’s not quite it. ‘Yes, and” means we accept the reality of the situation, acknowledge the need, feeling or desire behind the behavior. And, work to respond and connect with children by picking our battles and building on their interests. YES, I see you want to paint on the wall, yes that looks fun, yes I know you’re apartment just got painted and that’s what the painters did…AND what we can do is get a box from the kitchen and paint that just like a house. There are endless ways to apply ‘yes, and’.
#3: Use Play-Powered Prevention Strategies: Make clean up time a game based on the favorite game of your current group. Sing the handwashing reminders. Put less compelling books in the library and science center and read great, imaginative fiction that you know you-know-who (the child that disrupts circle) with love. Use humor. Take the playdough out to teach the letters. Do more of the play-powered things you already do.
The best part about these three simple challenging behavior ideas?
(Simple does not always mean easy by the way - you do need to figure out how to apply them to your setting).
You can use them in your classroom every day and over time they become automatic habits.
So if consistently preventing challenging behavior is something that’s been a goal of yours, then give it a try.
I think you’ll be surprised at how effective these 3 SIMPLE ideas can be.
You just may start to shift challenging behavior in your classroom over just a few weeks.
Which one of these 3 simple strategies can you commit to practicing?
Let me know here in the COMMENTS below.