CHALLENGING BEHAVIOR

Very young children use behavior to communicate their needs and feelings, establish important connections with the people around them, and learn about the world and how the world responds to them. Developmentally, young children will often use aggression, defiance and other behaviors as they work to build skills in the domains of flexibility, frustration tolerance, and problem-solving, and as they learn appropriate language and social skills.

Challenging behavior is any behavior that interferes with children’s learning, development, and success at play, is harmful to the child, other children, or adults, or puts the child at risk for later social and communication problems. Common types of challenging behavior include:

• self-injurious behavior (such as hitting, biting)
• aggressive behavior (such as hitting others, screaming, spitting, kicking)
• defiance (such as non-compliance)
• destructive behavior directed at property (such as throwing objects or purposefully destroying things)
• or emotional outbursts (such as tantrums)

Challenging behavior is a natural part of child development as they learn to communicate, interact, and manage emotions. Often, it reflects a child’s need for control in an overwhelming world, but their ability to self-regulate is still developing. For most challenging behavior, it’s not that a child “won’t” behave differently, but that they “can’t” yet. Educators must respond with skill and patience, balancing immediate safety with guiding children toward self-regulation and positive social interactions.

RESPONDING TO CHALLENGING BEHAVIORS

We believe children learn best when they feel safe, supported, and connected. Our educators use positive guidance strategies like redirection, modeling, problem-solving, visual cues, and calming techniques to help children navigate big feelings and learn appropriate behaviors.

Sometimes, a child may need gentle physical support to help keep themselves or others safe. When verbal and visual guidance are not enough, educators may use calm, supportive physical redirection such as holding a child’s hand, using a gentle guiding touch, offering hand-over-hand assistance, or helping a child move to a safer space. Physical redirection is always used with care, reassurance, and respect—never as punishment, intimidation, or control.

Our staff are trained to use the least intrusive approach possible and to respond in ways that are developmentally appropriate for each child. Any significant incidents are documented and shared with families when appropriate.

Physical punishment, handling children in anger, or any unsafe or inappropriate restraint practices are strictly prohibited.