Positive Child Guidance (Managing Challenging Behaviour – Tantrums and Biting)

Focus It is all important(predicate) to remember that almost all young children display stages of inappropriate or challenging demeanors such as biting, tantrums, clinging or smash at various times in their development. These behaviours ar ordinarily short-lived and typically improve with guidance and age. There are some children, however, whose challenging behaviours may increase and result in injury to self or others, ca put on damage to property, interfere with acqui multitude new skills and/or social isolation.This report investigates the call onable causes for challenging behaviors (focusing primarily on tantrums and biting) in infants, toddlers and young children and positive child guidance strategies that are important as the basis for intervention and prevention. It is important to deputise in such a way that appropriate, pro-social behaviors are taught, modeled, and reinforced to ensure lifelong success. 18 June 2011 J M Badenhorst-Awasthi ID 20090950 Introduction On average almost 10 % of children younger than five display challenging behaviours (Tremblay, 2000).There has been an increase of children exhibiting challenging behaviours serious enough for parents and teachers to hold out concerned about disrupting family functioning and classroom routines (Powell, Dunlap and Fox, 2006). It is undeniable for parents and teachers (adults) to work collaboratively in identifying causes of challenging behaviour and implementing relevant positive child guidance strategies that go out promote pro-social and acceptable behaviour (Kaiser and Rasminsky, 2003). Pro-social / Acceptable BehaviourConroy and Brown (2004) foreground the following skills or pro-social behaviours that children should acquire before the age of five (on average) Getting along with others Following directions Regulating and identifying emotions Conflict resolutions / solutions Persisting on a designate Engaging in social conversations Cooperative play Positive Child Guidance PCG An increasingly familiar term in the field of Early puerility Education is Positive Child Guidance. PCG techniques, preferably of Punitive Discipline Techniques are endorsed by experts as the best way to respond to challenging behaviour (Flicker and Hoffman, 2002 Miller, 2007).PCG is a process wherein adults use certain strategies, e. g. reasoning, giving choices, problem-solving, negotiation and redirection, when dealing with challenging behaviour (Miller, 2007 Porter, 2003). Challenging behaviours (e. g. tantrums and biting) are seen as an opportunity for negotiation, learning and resolution, instead of something that requires children to be disciplined or punished for (Berk, 2006 Miller, 2007). Factors that influence challenging behaviour According to Flicker and Hoffman (2004) in that location are various factors that influence challenging behaviour ? ? ? ? ? Emotional tedium, anxiety, low self-esteem, fear, overstimulation Family sibling rivalry, divorce, domestic violen ce, abuse Classroom overcrowding, too much clutter, excessive noise Physical hunger, fatigue, illness, soiled nappy Learning difficulties linguistic process and language, ADD/ADHD Environmental poor housing, poverty, community violence Before deciding on the most effective guidance strategy it is very important for adults to consider the (potential) contributing factors. PCG is not a one-size-fits-all approach.It involves developing a close, trusting relationship with the children and parents and individualizing approaches (Kaiser and Rasminsky, 2003). TANTRUMS Definition A tantrum / temper tantrum is an emotional outburst, usually associated with children that are in emotional distress. Typical characteristics are crying, screaming, defiance, anger, stubbornness, ranting, resisting attempts to be pacified and sometimes hitting or kicking (Kaiser and Rasminsky, 2003). Tantrums most commonly happen when children believe (wrongly or rightly) that their wants (not necessarily their ne eds) are not being met (Ministry of Education MoE, 1996).Typically tantrums will occur in children aged between 16 months and three / four years (Berk, 2006). Influencing Factors The forcible environment may affect young childrens behaviour, e. g. inadequate space, noise levels and traffic patterns in the classroom (Miller, 2007 Strain and Hemmeter, 1999). Classroom schedules and routines may be a factor. Children need routines but with some flexibility. It is often the transition times that prove most problematic (Miller, 2007).Children might learn (after the first tantrum) that it is an effective way to get what they want and therefore keep repeating this behaviour (Kaiser and Rasminsky, 2003). Tantrums might occur when a child wants a toy that is being used by other child (jealousy) (Conroy and Brown, 2004). Often tantrums will happen when an adult says no to a child e. g. when changing or leaving an activity or fun stick (e. g. when its time for tea / lunch) or when asked to do something they dont want to do (e. g. cleaning up) (Tremblay, 2002). A CNN Health Report concluded that there are neurological influences for tantrums.The prefrontal cortex, (part of the brain), which is responsible for emotional and social regulation is not yet developed in children and they are therefore less in all probability to have the required skills to negotiate a more controlled behaviour (New Freedom Commission on Mental Health, 2003). Positive Child Guidance Strategies Teachers should make use of observations to establish which factor(s) is/are influencing tantrums. Only by understanding the factor house appropriate strategies be applied (Miller, 2007). There should be minimal disruptive transitions and equitable warning before it occurs.Ensure children know the routine. Teachers should model and praise appropriate behaviour (Miller, 2007). Adults should not progress to up / give in when a child has a tantrum. Children might learn that a tantrum is an effective and immediate means of acquiring what they want. Other children might learn and copy this behaviour (Alter and Conroy, 2006). Careful plan is very important. Teachers should identify potential triggers and formulate solutions in advance (MoE, 1996). Children with a tendency for tantrums should be encouraged to do relaxing activities such as pissing play, play dough or the sandpit.It is inappropriate to expect toddlers to sit for long periods of time or to engage in large group activities. It is better to tell short, engaging mat times and small group activities (Slee and Hemmeter, 1999). It is important to have enough toys so that all children have an opportunity to play at the aforesaid(prenominal) time. Some centres will deliberately have less toys to encourage problem-solving and negotiation skills. Through observations teachers should identify high interest toys and possible tantrums (Kaiser and Rasminsky, 2003). BITING DefinitionBiting is a piteous and common behaviour for ch ildren aged between fourteen months and deuce years (Kaiser and Rasminsky, 2003). Influencing Factors Probably the most common factor for biting is that children of this age are baffle when they are unable to use dustup to communicate their needs or wants. Toddlerhood is a time of strong emotions and few words. It is a time of many changes and the olfactionings (coupling these changes) can sometimes lead to biting (Berk, 2006). Changes that bring about strong emotions and stress can makes children more prone to biting, e. g. otty training, transitioning to a different room (age group in the centre) or a new sibling (Conroy and Brown, 2004). Sometimes infants and young toddlers might bite when they are teething. Biting eases the irritation and pain of teething (Berk, 2006 Kaiser and Rasminsky, 2003). Hunger and hunger could also be an influencing factor (Berk, 2006). Infants use biting and sucking as a means of exploring and making sense of the physical world. Most objects (that is big enough) will go into an infant/ toddlers mouth (Slee and Hemmeter, 1999). Sometimes children bite when they actually want to kiss someone (Conroy and Brown, 2004).Biting may occur when children are quest attention. This behaviour mostly causes disturbance and focuses the adults attention on the child who bites. Children could also investigate / experiment the cause and effect of biting see / testing what will happen when biting (Conroy and Brown, 2004). Positive Child Guidance Strategies It is important for adults to talk to the child and acknowledge that these changes can be difficult and give the child the opportunity to express their feelings appropriately (Berk, 2006 Alter and Conroy, 2006). Teachers can ask the parents if the child has a favourite teething toy.For toddlers a teething ring / toy can be pinned to their clothes (attached to a short string) and older children can carry a toy in their pockets. Adults should encourage children to use it when they feel like biting. Some children are comforted by a frozen teething toy as this numbs the area and eases discomfort more. For infants and toddlers the adult can slopped a cloth and put it in the freezer. The child can easily suck and chew on this (Kaiser and Rasminsky, 2003). Toddlers and young children should not go for more than two hours without food.It is also important that adults regularly offer children liquids as well. To ease late morning tendency of biting adults can offer a mid-morning snack that is crunchy and tough such as pretzels, rice crackers or biscuits (Slee and Hemmeter, 1999). Adults should ensure that the objects that infants play with are not small enough to swallow. To measure the size of objects try equal it inside a toilet paper roll. If it fits then it is too small. Adults should ensure that appropriate teething toys are available (Slee and Hemmeter, 1999). Teach children the appropriate way of demonstrate affection.How to kiss or hug can be taught. Children shou ld first be taught to consider whether children want a hug or kiss. Adults should teach children to listen to the words that people use when they dont want to be kissed (Conroy and Brown, 2004). To teach the child who has bitten empathy get him/her involved in calming and caring for the person who was bitten (e. g. getting an ice pack). If they see the obvious pain and discomfort and adults asking prompting questions it might discourage a child from biting again (Porter, 2003). Factors and Strategies for both Tantrums and BitingThere are some factors that may lead to both tantrums and biting which include boredom or frustration when children are not adequately engaged with peers, teachers or materials and activities in the centre or at home. Adults should ensure that the materials and activities are engaging, challenging and entertaining for all ages and stages of development. Children should be given a choice of activities which may minimize boredom or frustration (Porter, 2003). F eelings of jealousy or the need for love / attention could also cause tantrums and biting. It is important that adults treat each child equally and fairly.Adults should be consistent in PCG strategy so children can know the boundaries, expectations and acceptable behaviour (Flicker and Hoffman, 2002). . There is a relationship between language inefficiency and challenging behaviours. Children with a language inability will often use tantrums or biting (although inappropriate) to communicate their needs (Hemmeter and Ostrosky, 2006). Hyter (2003) suggest that adults should help develop language skills through songs, repetitions and indicant books (See Appendix C) so that children can express themselves verbally instead of resorting to tantrums or biting (Porter, 2003).Conclusion This report highlighted various factors that influence challenging behaviour (tantrums and biting). For this reason adults (teachers and parents) should work collaboratively in identifying the influencing fa ctor(s) and applying the most effective and appropriate prevention and intervention strategies to increase compliance and the childs development of self regulation and appropriate pro-social behaviours (Berk, 2006 Fox, Dunlap and Cushing, 2002 Kaiser and Rasminsky, 2003 Miller, 2007 ).