Young children sometimes behave in challenging or confusing ways. You may occasionally have thoughts like: “Why does she keep pinching her brother’s nose?” “Why does he put his snack in his hair?” “Why does she cry when it’s time to put shoes on?”
Teachers are taught that all behaviour is communication and they are trained to observe, document, and analyse children’s behaviour to understand what they are “telling” us. With a few tips, you too can start observing your child’s behaviour like a pro.
Any behaviour that occurs over and over is happening for a reason. If you can find the pattern in the behaviour, you can figure out how to stop it.
The first step is simply to write down what happens. Simply making a note of what happened can help you see patterns you may not notice otherwise. So let us understand when these children’s behaviours need to be observed.
Children are attention seekers
For instance, a child frequently dumped milk or juice on his clothes at snack and lunchtime. Once the teacher started writing down the ABCs, she realised that every time the child did this, several teachers would rush to his/her side, talking to him and cleaning him lovingly. The teacher guessed that the behaviour was a bid for attention and care in a crowded classroom. She started giving him more attention when he behaved appropriately and gave only minimal attention when he dumped his juice. The negative behaviour disappeared in a week.
Children lack communication
Children when trying to say but are unable to convey it the way how it should be and this is when they need to be understood. Instances like when a child becomes aloof and doesn’t show interest in any activity might be going through abuse from one of his/her relatives. Unable to communicate this and thus avoids public talking or spending time with others.
Children exhibit behavioural issues
Usually, when children get influenced by others, they imitate the behaviour too. So when a child exhibits unwanted behaviours, it is important to note down whether it is a learnt behaviour. When a child is disconnected from the influential environment, the chances of the occurrence of the behaviour are less.
All together your children are a bundle of all emotions. So when you are struggling with what to do with a certain kind of behaviour, observe why, where from, and how long the behaviour has been seen and thus learn to eliminate it.
