'Inclusion is a process of identifying, understanding and breaking down barriers to participation and belonging' - Early Childhood Forum (2003)
Difficulties around the behaviour of individual children are a major barrier to inclusion. To be successful, providers will need to access training in behaviour management to help them develop positive behaviour management strategies and a clear policy. Staff should encourage children to communicate and make good use of praise and encouragement. They need to understand and recognise the situations that trigger difficult behaviour in children and where necessary use outside support to develop individual behaviour management plans.
Challenging behaviour is simply behaviour that presents a challenge to whoever is caring for and educating the child. It is not a condition in itself but may be a manifestation of conditions, such as Autistic Spectrum Disorder or Attention Hyperactive Deficit Disorder, or it may be a manifestation of an underlying emotional problem or disturbance. In many cases, what is perceived as a challenging behaviour on the part of the child is also related to factors in the environment to some degree, such as the behaviour of others towards the child.
Challenging behaviour usually refers to behaviours that have a negative impact on the child's social or physical surroundings. Problem behaviours can range from mildly disruptive behaviour to behaviour that can cause physical harm to the child themselves or those around them.
Some of these behaviours, such as temper tantrums or taking off clothes, may be common to all young children at some point in their development. The longer a particular behaviour has been allowed to go on, the more likely it is to have been reinforced. It will come to serve many functions for the child and become harder to change.
A fundamental part of positive behaviour management is for practitioners to think honestly and deeply about their own attitudes, beliefs and emotions towards children whose behaviour is perceived as challenging and/or socially unacceptable. Remember, B is also for belonging.
Websites:
www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/eyfs/site/requirements/welfare/safeguarding/3.
htm
www.children areunbeatable.org.uk/pages/advice.html
www.earlysupport.org.uk
www.cafamily.org.uk/pdfs/behaviour.pdf
www.treehouse.org.uk
www.addiss.co.uk
www.nas.org.uk
