As educators in the classroom, we sometimes encounter difficult behaviors in children that we engage with every day. There are times when the situation and behaviors of children have an impact even on adults in the room, and at times we are unable to deliver a positive message and interact appropriately.
In those times, a method of communication that sometimes happens is that a teacher might send the child into time out, which can have the potential for the child’s behavior and situation to escalate further. But, doing so can often lead to mistrust and the breaking down of relationships and connections between children and adults.
Understanding and maintaining our relationships and connections with one another can be essential and can help decrease those times when negative behaviors seem overwhelming in the classroom.
We know that a child’s behaviors are a form of communication to express a need, want, preference, or avoidance. When a teacher has knowledge of the cause of a behavior, it can help give a clear view and understanding of the actions of the child who is struggling.
Offering safe and reassuring words and comfort instead, of harsh and negative consequences, can have a world of impact on children to know that they are in a safe and caring environment.
Often classrooms may have an area called a “Safe Place” where children and adults can go when they are upset or need a moment to regulate their strong feelings. It is a special spot where children can go to learn how to calm themselves, learn safe language to use when upset, and learn skills to help them better interact with peers and teachers.
It is important to make sure that when a child needs a moment in the Safe Place that an adult sits with them and helps them by modeling and coaching them. By sitting with them, we not only help the child by teaching them these new skills, but we also help by building a positive relationship with the child.
If we remember that children need connection with the adults who care for them and through that connection, we can teach them how to self-regulate, then we stop punishing them when they experience those big emotions and start helping them learn how to work through them in a productive way.
By Casaundra Whisenhunt, Mental Health Assistant
