While working with young children and families is rewarding, it can also be complex, intense, and stressful. Understanding and responding sensitively to the unique needs and behaviors of all young children and families is hard work. In partnership with families, early care and learning programs can help ensure children have the best start possible. Explore the resources below to learn strategies to help Head Start program staff and families understand and respond positively to challenging behaviors.
Responding Positively to Your Child’s Behavior
Children sometimes misbehave or exhibit challenging behavior. How a parent responds can make a big difference in how a child develops. Treating children with kindness and respect helps them to treat others in the same way. Parents who nurture themselves and their children are teaching their child positive lifelong skills. In this brochure, find tips and tools to help parents and staff learn ways to positively respond to children's behavior.
Biting: A Fact Sheet for Families
Biting is a common but upsetting behavior of toddlers. It is important for parents to address biting when it occurs. In this fact sheet, find tips for parents and program staff on how to better understand issues around biting.
Understanding Children's Behavior as Communication
Explore ways early childhood staff can partner with families to understand and respond to children's behavior as communication. Find strategies for working with families of children ages birth to 5.
Behavior Has Meaning
Discover the importance of understanding that all behavior has meaning and is a form of communication. Unpack how understanding children's behaviors relates to the Framework for Effective Practice. Learn strategies adults can use to interpret children's needs, intentions, and emotions while supporting their social and emotional development.
Understanding and Managing Young Children’s Behavior
Very young children are learning a great deal in an incredibly short period of time. Infants and toddlers learn what is expected of them through their relationships with family members and teachers. Explore ways to understand infants' and toddlers' social and emotional development. Learn how parents and staff can develop proactive strategies to support children's development.
Social-Emotional Development and Challenging Behaviors
Social and emotional skills are integral to children’s healthy development and their success in school and life. When staff and parents learn effective responses to challenging behavior, children are more likely to have positive relationships and successful experiences in school. Use this resource to identify strategies that best support children who may be struggling to engage appropriately with others or to express their emotions.
Challenging Behavior: Prevention Strategies for Children With Disabilities
Children often engage in challenging behaviors because there is a message they are trying to communicate. In this webinar, listen as presenters discuss prevention strategies for challenging behaviors. Explore ways to customize these strategies using a child's Individual Education Program (IEP). Learn about the types of support teachers can provide for children’s needs.
Supporting Children With Challenging Behaviors
Head Start teachers often struggle to support children with challenging behavior in the classroom. Watch this webinar to learn ways to shift the focus from reacting to misbehavior to proactive planning for child’s success. This session offers strategies for teachers as well as free and accessible resources for supervisors.
Read more:
Stress, resilience and trauma, Challenging behaviors
Resource Type:Article
National Centers:Health, Behavioral Health, and Safety
Last Updated: October 29, 2020