Challenging Behaviors in Early Childhood Settings

Learn to manage a wide range of challenging behaviors in early childhood settings with this strategy-filled resource for teachers and other professionals. Based on the latest research and the authors' classroom experience, the book helps early childhood teams assess the classroom environment and link effective behavioral interventions to developmentally appropriate curricula and teaching practices. Preservice and in-service professionals will discover how to

• understand the needs of individual families and foster strong partnerships with them
• design classrooms with customized supports for children with challenging behaviors, from establishing schedules and setting limits to developing curricula and designing the classroom space
• address specific behavioral challenges during selected times in the daily schedule—group, nap, play, lunch, and more
• pinpoint each student's challenges and needs and develop appropriate informal interventions
• decide if and when a formal intervention plan is needed and collaborate with other members of the team—including therapists, administrative personnel, parents, and classroom aides—to develop and implement the plan
• evaluate the intervention plan for consistency, ease of use, acceptability, and effectiveness, making revisions if necessary
• plan for a crisis and decide whether to seek outside support

Filled with classroom-based strategies for working with students with or without disabilities, realistic vignettes, and checklists that help readers assess their current practices and implement the suggested strategies, this book gives early childhood teams invaluable guidance on working with children with challenging behavior and building positive relationships with their families.