Behavioural Strategies
It is important for us to teach young children about socially appropriate behaviour.
This involves setting clear and consistent limits on what our children can and cannot do.
This is an important part of our role and is helpful for children.
It also reassures children that we’re in charge, not them, which helps our kids to feel safer and more secure.
Suggested behavioural (teaching) strategies:
- Clear behavioural expectations which are understood and consistently upheld
- Modelling appropriate behaviour and language use ourselves
- Avoiding no’s without alternatives – instead providing specific suggestions on what we’d like our children to do
- Consequences which relate to and reinforce a child’s learning
- Recruiting ‘special helpers’
- Providing choice points which do not change the desired outcome. Remember to use ‘when-then’ language rather than bribery (which is often worded as ‘ifthen’).
- Encouraging children to follow instructions by making sure we have their attention and being fun and creative whenever possible
- Managing transitions through the use of warnings, choice and consistency
Key Reflection Questions
Of the behavioural strategies that I’m currently using, which are effective and which are less effective teaching tools?
Are there behavioural strategies that I’m not yet using which might be helpful with my children?
