Managing Challenging Behaviors

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Chapter 18
Managing Challenging Behaviors

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When is a Behavior a Problem?
• Most children exhibit mood swings.
• Most children have had at least one
tantrum.
• Children have off days.
• Normal deviations become fixed patterns
when they get the adult attention.

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When is a Behavior a Problem?
(continued)
• Temperament
– Goodness of fit.
– Caregivers and children need to fit each
other.
– Active children need caregivers who respect
and appreciate the child’s need to move.
– Quiet children need a caregiver who
understands their need for more one-on-one
time.

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When is a Behavior a Problem?
(continued)
• How much is too much?
– Occasional outbursts are not a concern.
– Behaviors that increase in intensity need a
second look.
– How much is too much of a behavior?
– Observation will be the key.

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A Tiered Framework for Intervention
• Building positive relationships
• Preventative classroom interventions
• Social emotional teaching strategies
• Planning intensive individualized
interventions

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A Tiered Framework for Intervention
(continued)
• Designing interventions
– Positive behavior support
• Identify the behavior.
• Identify the settings in which it occurs.
• Design interventions with which all team members
are comfortable.

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A Functional Approach to Managing
Problem Behaviors
• A functional approach to managing
problem behaviors
– Examine the environment.
– Examine your own behaviors.
– Use a functional behavior assessment.

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A Functional Approach to Managing
Problem Behaviors (continued)
• Steps to a functional behavior
assessment:
– Identify the problem situation.
– Assess the child and the environment.
– Specify an objective for the intervention.
– Assess the function of the behavior.
– Identify a replacement behavior.
– Plan the intervention.

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A Functional Approach to Managing
Problem Behaviors (continued)
– Implement the plan and ensure that it is
carried out as planned.
– Monitor the child’s progress and continue to
monitor implementation.

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Data Collection and Monitoring
Progress
• Types of data collection
– Frequency—number of times a behavior
occurs.
– Duration—how long each episode occurs.
– Interval—breaking the day up into intervals
and evaluating when the behavior occurs.

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Data Collection and Monitoring
Progress (continued)
• Collecting data
– Record a baseline—observe the child three to
five days before intervention.
– Frequency methods.
– Duration methods.
– Interval methods.

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Common Behavior Problems and
Solutions
• Aggressiveness
– Conflict—seeing what triggers the behavior.
– Managing aggressiveness—watching for the
triggers, eliminating them, teaching
appropriate responses to emotions.

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Common Behavior Problems and
Solutions (continued)
• Disruptive and destructive behaviors
– Need for attention – challenging behavior
gains attention.
– Mastering routines – not understanding or
mastering classroom routines.
– Redirection – gentle reminders of expected
behavior.
– Time-out – break the pattern of responses.

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Common Behavior Problems and
Solutions (continued)
• Noncompliance
– Prevention strategies
• Advance warnings.
• Reduce overload.
• Make requests and give directions clearly and
briefly.
• Provide choices.
• Beware of choices that are not choices
• Focus the child’s attention

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Common Behavior Problems and
Solutions (continued)
• Allow time to comply
• Practice consistency and firmness
• Make sound judgments

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Common Behavior Problems and
Solutions (continued)
• Temper tantrums
– Tantrums are a child’s try at control over
adults.
– Children learn that they need to tantrum
longer to break down the adults.
– Management of tantrums
• Consistency
• Safety
• Identification of underlying causes

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Common Behavior Problems and
Solutions (continued)
• Separation problems
– Children experience separation problems as a
developmental milestone.
– Consistency in routine and caregivers is
important.
– It will pass, but children need to know that
they can trust what is in their environment.

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Common Behavior Problems and
Solutions (continued)
• Overdependence
– Children are clingy to a teacher or parent.
– Teacher needs to walk a fine line:
• Too little attention, child feels rejected.
• Too much attention, child’s behavior increases.

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Common Behavior Problems and
Solutions (continued)
• Withdrawal
– Withdrawn children do not draw the teacher’s
attention.
– They can retreat even further from social
situations.

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Common Behavior Problems and
Solutions (continued)
– Questions to ask
• Does the child engage in activities?
• Do the materials interest the child?
• Does the child spend time watching other children?
• Is the child likely to leave an activity if certain
children approach?
• Does the child play close to some children?

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Common Behavior Problems and
Solutions (continued)
• Inability to share
– To aid children in learning this skill:
• Provide multiples of materials.
• Interest centers should be attractive.
• Encourage a gamelike atmosphere.

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Common Behavior Problems and
Solutions (continued)
• The family’s involvement
– Central role in addressing challenging
behavior.
– Culture influences differences in agreement
about what is considered a challenge or
problem behavior.