better interactions better behavior_infographic
BETTER INTERACTIONS BETTER BEHAVIOR
Try these tips to increase positive interactions in the lives of all young children— and watch their behavior improve!
Teacher-child interactions Teacher-parent interactions Child-parent interactions
Brief Reflection Tool
Do I monitor my body-language?
- Yes
- Sometimes
- No
- Ask yourself questions to unearth positive thoughts. (A self-reflection tool like this one can help!)
Do I consider what I say before I say it?
- Yes
- Sometimes
- No
- “I wonder what could be causing stress for Ben?”
Do I demonstrate sincerity?
- Yes
- Sometimes
- No
FAMILY RULES
| Message | Family Vision | Expectations |
|---|---|---|
| “When you dump food on the floor, I have to stop what I'm doing and clean up the mess. It makes me feel frustrated.” | Don’t take a parent’s frustration or criticism personally. Try to hear the worries behind the criticism and focus on how to help. | Post these rules prominently in the house. |
| Be kind | Non-accusatory; great way to involve the child in solving the problem. | Listen to your parents |
| Clean up after yourself | ||
| Be respectful |
| Ask kids about their interests | Brush up on developmental milestones and share your knowledge with parents to ease their anxieties and help them adjust expectations. | Is there enough storage for everyday items? |
| Let them lead the discussion | Communicate genuine interest in their thoughts & feelings | Does furniture placement allow for easy child supervision? |
Do this
- Start positive, organic conversations every day!
- Reassure them with info on developmental norms to minimize frustrations
- Have safety issues been addressed? Are items needed for activities easily accessible?
| Action | Parents | Reinforcement |
|---|---|---|
| Take time to hear what the child is saying | Parents are experts on their kids! | Reinforce positive behaviors with small incentives or visual aids. |
| Don’t jump in with advice right away | Recognize the value of any ideas or solutions they offer. | |
| Repeat the message back in different words | ||
| Encourage child to think about the problem |
and identify a solution
You can find the self-reflection tool in Addressing Challenging Behaviors in Early Childhood Settings
The information in this infographic is adapted from the following early childhood resources:
| Resource | Authors |
|---|---|
| Addressing Challenging Behaviors in Early Childhood Settings | Dawn M. Denno, Victoria Carr, Isaura Barrera & Lucinda Kramer |
| Little Kids, Big Worries | Alice Sterling Honig |
| Using Skilled Dialogue to Transform Challenging Interactions | V. Mark Durand |
| Optimistic Parenting | Meme Hieneman, Karen Childs, & Jane Sergay |
| Parenting with Positive Behavior Support | Susan Hart Bell |