CHALLENGING BEHAVIOUR
Our aim is to bring the best out of every pupil that attends Ermine Street Church Academy
Feelings, thoughts and behaviours are all linked together. We feel what we feel as a result of thoughts and experiences, and perhaps the behaviour of others, but in turn these feelings will change our own thoughts and behaviour. Children are just the same.
Every child will present with some level of challenging behaviour at some point, pushing to see what the response is from someone else. It is part of learning boundaries and expectations. However for some children, their challenging behaviour can be more significant and begin to change their relationships with others, and control what they can and can’t do…it can start to be a factor that controls them and those around them.
It is important to see a child and their behaviour as two separate things…we can love the child, but not like their behaviour. Having this mindset sometimes help to look more objectively at the possible causes of a child’s behaviour – as it will almost always be telling us something, or result from some underlying reason.
Investigating the situations and circumstances in which a child’s behaviour becomes challenging can give clues to triggers and possible reasons for the behaviours seen, and in doing so help everyone to understand and consider support strategies that may help.
My Smile Chart - recording children’s behaviour
When a child becomes angry, it is important that they can regulate their emotions and manage them without it impacting on others. Helping them to recognise the signs that they may be becoming agitated or anxious and giving them to skills or tools to calm these feelings before they escalate can really help a child’s behaviour. Here are a few ways in which you can help your child recognise escalating feelings, and how to help them keep or become more calm again.
The exact way to support a child showing challenging behaviours will depend on the underlying reasons and the specific behaviours they show. If a more specific approach is needed, then please speak to us and we will find the best way to help you and your child together.
Many of the strategies and ideas mentioned on the ‘Emotions’ and ‘Sensory Processing’ pages could also be useful in supporting children showing challenging behaviours.