How to Respond Calmly to Challenging Behaviors
When a child exhibits challenging behaviors, it can be difficult to respond appropriately — especially if you are also facing other stressors in life.
Staying calm when your child’s behavior is out of control is essential for setting expectations; responding with frustration only adds fuel to the fire. When you remain calm, you teach your child the proper way to overcome negative emotions and frustrations. Your child sees the adults in his or her life as models for behavior. So, if you remain calm in the face of adversity, your child will eventually learn to stay calm, too.
Strategies to Remain Calm in the Face of Challenging Behaviors
1. Acknowledge Feelings
Don’t mystify your child by pretending everything’s okay. Help them name their emotions (sad, frustrated, angry, or hurt). This gives them the language tools they need to learn how to describe what they’re feeling and and then you can help them find a solution. It can also help to discuss and identify emotions that you and your child witness in others. If you read a book or watch a show and the character is happy, sad, angry, etc. point that out and talk about it together and come up with ideas together of what that character can do to cope with the emotions they are feeling.
2. Change the Setting
Sometimes, a simple change of scenery is enough to disrupt a tantrum’s momentum. Take your child outside or to their bedroom. Help them calm down while processing their feelings. Distraction is a wonderful technique as well. Sing a song, talk about something fun or positive, find something interesting to explore. Once they are calm and ready to talk about their feelings then you can help them express them appropriately.
3. Offer Choices
Challenging behaviors sometimes stem from a child’s feeling of powerlessness. Provide your child small choices throughout the day to give them a greater sense of control.
4. Be Consistent
Consistent rules and routines are essential to helping your child thrive. They’ll know what to expect and what’s expected of them each day.
5. Encourage Positive Behavior
Always celebrate your child’s successes and positive behavior.
Early Childhood Enrichment in a Safe, Structured Environment
At Creative Corner Child Care Center, our early childhood educators create a safe, structured environment that enriches our students each and every day. We teach children strategies for communicating and processing challenging emotions to promote better behavior and positive reinforcement. For more information, call us at (615) 581-0157, use our convenient online form, or stop by today!
