Guidance Challenges

Causes of Behavioral Problems

• Overstimulation/overexcitement• Breaks in routines• Noise – Children react differently to noise, some are

more sensitive to it than others

• Waiting time

• Frustration – Children may feel discouraged, defeated, or like

they are out of control

• Physical problems– Hearing, vision problems, medications,

Helping children cope with stress

• Calmly accept the child’s behavior if possible• Talk to child about their feelings and help them

recognize and deal with those feelings • Reassure child that you care about him/her • Offer comfort, closeness and encouragement• Provide a supportive, affectionate

environment • Effective praise

Specific Problems: Negativism

• Children saying “no” to everything or doing the opposite of what they are asked

• Accept a child’s negative behavior, if not harmful

• If it is something they must do for safety and health, let the child know through your voice and body language that you expect cooperation

• Do not hurry a negative child

Specific Problems: Stealing

• Preschool children do not know the difference between mine and yours

• If you notice something missing, alert other childcare workers

• To handle stealing, help children learn to respect the possessions of others

• Minimize opportunities for stealing

Specific Problems: Anger

• Discourage hurting behaviors • If they do hit another, stop them

immediately • Ignore outbursts • Redirect anger through activities that

involve the use of the child’s hands

Specific Problems: Biting

• Often bite when upset • You can address this problem at a class

meeting• Let the children have signal if they think

someone is about to bite them • Limit number of playmates during play time • Isolate the biter

Specific Problems: Tattling

• Typical behaviors for many children • Try to ignore tattling behavior – suggest the

child tells the one they are tattling on to do the action.

Specific Problems: Exploring the Body

• If a child is exploring their body in public, guide that child away from the public

• Do not shame a child that is exploring their body – gently remind them that it is not polite to do this in public

Specific Problems: Thumbsucking

• Many children suck their thumbs to relieve tension or stress

• Do not make a child quit sucking their thumb – it may have the adverse effect and make them want to do it more often

• Accept and ignore the behavior

Specific Problems: Fear• Common childhood fears include falling from high

places, putting faces in water, thunder, the dark, ambulances, or animals.

• Fear of the unknown • Help these children curb their fear (i.e., children

who are afraid of the dark should have a small light kept on for them)

• Accept their fears • Talk to children about their fears and explain it to

them