Addressing Challenging Behaviors April 28, 2018

What is Meant by Challenging Behavior? Challenging behavior is any behavior that interferes with children's learning, development, and success at play, is harmful to the child, other children, or adults, or puts a child at high risk for later social problems or school failure.

“All behavior is communication”

Factors That Influence Children’s Behavior and Ways to Address Them

1. Medical, physical, or sensory need Up to date medical forms Ex. Allergies

2. Developmental Stage Ex. Biting

3. Individual Differences, Temperaments, and Learning Styles #2 + #3 = DAP Look at your EXPECTATIONS

4. Family Culture Parent Questionnaire Parent Survey

5. Environment Home Classroom Classroom: Change layout of room Sequence of schedule Activities & Routines Adapt materials (pencil grip) Be more flexible with requirements (use photos to show steps) Assistive Technology Devices Visual Support Hands-on assistance (final resort) Inclusive Classroom Profile Home: Plan or contract for home

6. Learning or attention issue or developmental delay Screening!

7. Significant physical or emotional trauma Single event Occurred over time Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Trauma Informed Care

Referral for Services? Screening Developmental Social-Emotional Vision & Hearing Parent Questionnaire Documentation of Interventions/strategies 10 “Data Points” over time Documentation of communication with parents Plan or Contract 1. Observe – Identify most challenging behavior. Pick one behavior to focus on What is child doing Setting- Where? When? Patterns- Frequency? Triggers? 2. Plan your strategy Specifics - When, where, how are you going to do it? 3. Implementation Follow plan Monitor results Give it time Go back to step 2, if necessary

Suspension? Expulsion? Exclusion Resources Expulsion Jan. 1, 2018 - IL School Code: Preschool programs that receive State funds are prohibited from expelling students Preschoolers were far more likely to be kicked out of school than their counterparts in the K-12 system. The preschool expulsion rate of 6.7 per 1,000 preschool students was more than triple that of older grades. 2006 Preschool programs exist to ready young children for kindergarten and the elementary years that lay ahead. Expelling a kid so young, even with problem behavior, just doesn't make sense. "I can't think of a child who's more in need of a school-readiness program," says Gilliam. "It's like taking sick people out of the hospital."

The Life Changing Story https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dF20FaQzYUI